Did your papaya come out sour? Follow these tips to recover its sweetness

Nothing better for summer than a great fruit salad. And the papaya It is one of those that is produced throughout the year in different areas of the country such as Madre de Dios, Arequipa, Tingo María, Ica, etc. Unlike other fruits, which are grown seasonally, this one adapts to conditions such as drought and rain, so production does not stop. Papaya being a good option to eat, nothing worse than discovering that you got a bitter one. Follow these tips to restore its sweetness.

WHERE DOES THE BITTERNESS COME FROM?

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme, present in papaya, which provides different benefits to the body, such as helping to reduce inflammation in the stomach. Mainly, it is extracted from the latex of the green fruit before it begins to ripen.

Papaya sometimes becomes bitter due to excess papain and this enzyme is found in higher proportions in the peel. Therefore, choose one with a uniform color from yellow to bright orange; free of spots, brown tones or holes in the skin. The texture should be smooth and firm.

If you chose one of green tones or, despite looking good tones, it is bitter, follow these tips.

HOW TO REMOVE BITTERNESS?

You only need 1 container with water and salt. Place the papaya in this container and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir, then rinse the fruit under cool water several times until all traces of salt are removed. This will make the bitter taste disappear.

Another option is to draw transversal lines (from base to base) with a knife so that a liquid comes out where the presence of the bitter taste is felt. Let rest between 2 to 3 hours. Afterwards, wash the papaya, peel it and discard the skin. Chop the fruit and store it in the refrigerator.