You might believe you’ve got all the fruit knowledge you need, but here are 15 surprising facts about this delightful food category that could catch you off guard:
Jackfruit has the potential to reach weights of up to 100 pounds.
Jackfruit has the potential to reach a staggering weight of 100 pounds and grow to lengths of up to 3 feet.
Square watermelons enjoy popularity in Japan.
In Japan, square watermelons have gained popularity. Grown into cubes, they cater to the need for space-saving in a country where compact refrigerators are the norm.
Apple bananas are unrelated to Apples.
Apple bananas may puzzle you with their name, especially if you’ve tasted them in Hawaii. While young, they exhibit a tangy sweetness reminiscent of apples. As they ripen, their flavor transforms into a tropical delight, resembling notes of pineapple and strawberry. Despite their name, apple bananas have no actual connection to apples.
Peaches and nectarines are practically indistinguishable from each other.
Peaches and nectarines share a strong genetic resemblance. The key distinction lies in their outer appearance: peaches feature fuzzy skin, while nectarines boast a smooth exterior.
Combining grapefruit with specific medications can pose serious risks.
Mixing grapefruit with certain medications, like cholesterol-lowering statins, can be dangerous. Grapefruit and its juice can interfere with the way these medications are metabolized, potentially leading to either too much or too little medicine being absorbed by the body.
Peel your pomegranates while submerged in water.
To easily extract the seeds from a pomegranate, cut it in half and place it in a bowl of water. This method helps the seeds separate easily while the pith floats to the surface, making the process less messy compared to cutting it on a countertop.
Your apple might be more aged than anticipated.
Your apple might be older than expected due to advancements in cold storage. Harvested in the fall, it can be kept in storage until it’s sold in the following spring or summer.
The lineage of every Hass Avocado can be traced to the original Hass Mother Tree.
As per the California Avocado Commission, the Hass Avocado is native to California. Discovered in La Habra Heights, California, the Hass variety serves as the origin for every Hass avocado globally.
Oranges aren’t the optimal source of vitamin C.
Oranges may not be your top choice for vitamin C. While many fruits and vegetables provide this essential nutrient, kiwis surpass oranges with double the vitamin C content, along with additional vitamins and minerals such as potassium.
Bell peppers are technically classified as fruits.
Bell peppers are indeed fruits. According to botanical classification, a fruit originates from a plant’s flower and contains seeds. Therefore, bell peppers, along with squash, cucumbers, and pumpkins, fall into the category of fruits rather than vegetables.
Coconuts and avocados are the sole fruits that contain fat.
Most fruits are naturally fat-free as their calories primarily come from carbohydrates. However, two exceptions are coconut and avocados, which obtain the majority of their calories from fat.
Raspberries boast the highest fiber content among all berries.
Raspberries stand out as the berry with the highest fiber content. While all fruits provide fiber, raspberries offer an impressive 8 grams per cup, surpassing other berries in fiber concentration.
Placing bananas in a bag can accelerate the ripening process of avocados.
Putting bananas in a bag can speed up the ripening of avocados. If you have an avocado that’s not quite ripe, place it in a paper bag along with a ripe banana or apple. The ethylene gas emitted by the banana or apple will hasten the ripening process of the avocado.
Prunes prefer to be referred to as dried plums.
Prunes prefer the term “dried plums,” which has become a matter of public relations. Research conducted by the California Dried Plum board revealed that women aged 25 to 54 react more positively to the name “dried plums” compared to “prunes.”
A drupe is a type of stone fruit.
A drupe belongs to the category of stone fruits. Drupes are characterized by their tough pit or stone, which can either be freestone or clingstone. Examples of drupes include peaches, plums, and cherries, as well as walnuts, almonds, and pecans, although we consume the seed inside these rather than the fruit itself.
