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Papaya is a fruit. Once considered an exotic fruit, papayas' rise
in popularity has made them more easily available.
Papayas are spherical or pear-shaped fruits that can be as much
as 20 inches long. The Papayas commonly found in the market usually
average about 7 inches long, and weigh about one pound. Papaya's
flesh is a rich orange color, with either yellow or pink hues.
Papaya has a wonderfully soft, butter-like consistency and a deliciously
sweet, musky taste. Inside the inner cavity of the fruit are black,
round seeds encased in a gelatinous-like substance. Papaya's seeds
are edible, although their peppery flavor is somewhat bitter.
The fruit, as well as the other parts of the papaya tree, contain
papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. Papain enzyme is
especially concentrated in the fruit when it is unripe. Papain
is extracted to make digestive enzyme dietary supplements and is
also used as an ingredient in some chewing gums.
Papaya History: - Papayas, native to Central America, have been
long revered by the Latin American Indians. Both Spanish and Portuguese
explorers brought papayas to many other lands to which they journeyed,
including India, the Phillipines, and parts of Africa.
This revered tropical fruit was reputably called "the fruit
of the angels" by Christopher Columbus.
In the 20th century, papayas were brought to the United States
and have been cultivated in Hawaii, the major U.S. producer since
the 1920s. Today, the largest commercial producers of papayas include
the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
How to Select and Store Papayas - If you want to eat them within
a day of purchase, choose papayas that have reddish-orange skin
and are slightly soft to the touch. Papayas that have patches of
yellow color will take a few more days to ripen.
Papayas that are totally green or overly hard should not be purchased,
unless you are planning on cooking them, as their flesh will not
develop its characteristic sweet juicy flavor.
While a few black spots on the surface will not affect the papaya's
taste, avoid those that are bruised or overly soft. Papayas are
more available during the summer and fall, however, you can usually
purchase them throughout the year.
Papayas that are partially yellow should be left
at room temperature where they will ripen in a few days. If you
want to speed this process, place them in a paper bag with a banana.
Ripe papayas should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed
within one or two days, so you can enjoy their maximum flavor.
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