Zest: Tests from Cook's Illustrated show that frozen zest retains most of its flavor, unlike storing it in the fridge or on the counter.Cut segments: can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.Cut grapefruit: If you've cut a grapefruit in half, wrap the exposed part with plastic wrap and store in the fruit drawer of your fridge.Whole grapefruit: you can leave them on the counter for about a week, or they will last 3 weeks in the fridge.Scarring on the fruit's outer peel is perfectly fine, but you don't want to see hard or soft spots on the peel (a sign of deterioration). Larger grapefruit (compared to ones of the same variety) indicate they were left longer on the tree, so they will be sweeter. Grapefruits that are heavier for their size are juicier (because more water content makes them heavier). You can add sugar, salt, or even fat to fix it. If you run into bitter grapefruit, don't despair. Flame, ruby reds, and Oro Blanco all have lower bitterness. Less bitterness: bitterness inhibits our ability to taste sweetness, so varieties lower in bitterness make the fruit seem sweeter.Try buying grapefruit in March, April, and May. Late season: late season grapefruit are often sweeter because they were left longer on the tree.Look for bigger grapefruit within the same variety for a better chance at a fruit that ripened longer on the tree. Fully tree-ripened: the longer they ripen on the tree, the sweeter they are and the larger they get.Getting a super sweet grapefruit isn't just about picking the right variety, a few other things go into it as well: Look for Flame or ruby red varieties (including Rio Red and Star Ruby). You can find them between December and March. The season for these two varieties is shorter since they aren't grown as widely as red grapefruit. They are known for having almost no bitterness, low acidity, and high sugar levels.Īn agriculturalist at the University of California says Melogolds are better for mass-farming, but Oro Blancos have better flavor. These varieties both have pale yellow flesh and are seedless. Oro Blanco and Melogold are a cross between pomelos and white grapefruit. This variety is mostly sold to companies that make grapefruit juice and is rarely sold to consumers. However, the flavor is excellent and is great for juicing. The predominant variety, Duncan, is choke full of seeds. It's very rare to find white grapefruit sold in the stores. They are also usually less bitter than red varieties. They have a good balance of sweet and tart, with a more complex flavor than other types. Pink grapefruit have a more salmon-pink colored flesh than red varieties. Flame grapefruit are one of the sweetest varieties. It's a mutation of Ruby Red that was discovered in a citrus grove in Texas. If you can find red grapefruit labeled as Flame, give them a try. Two of the main varieties are Rio Red and Star Ruby (sometimes labeled as, Rio Star). These include several types of grapefruit that might be labeled as 'Ruby Red' or by their varietal names. Ruby Red has since become an entire category of grapefruit grown in Texas as a result of breeding programs to get redder and sweeter flesh. Ruby Red grapefruit is one of the most popular varietals grown today. Grapefruit have become more marketable over the years thanks to breeding programs that increase the sugar content while also reducing the number of seeds. A general rule of thumb is that the sweeter varieties have a deep red flesh. There are white, red, and pink varieties. See what's in season at the same time: January, February, March, April, May, June, November, and December. In fact, I often don't start buying them from any source until January. So you are more likely to find sweeter ones later in the season. The longer the fruit is left to ripen on the tree, the larger and sweeter they get. California grapefruit are available from January through June. Southern California has recently become a big player in the grapefruit industry and their season covers the summer supply gap in the Florida and Texas market. Texas and Florida are the two dominant grapefruit growers, with their season starting in November and lasting until May. That's because they ship well, thanks to their thick, protective peel. If you don't live in a state that grows grapefruit, you can still get high quality ones in your area. Grapefruit are available from fall through spring, thanks to the different climates from big growers like Texas, Florida, and California. However, their bitterness can make them taste less sweet, which is why people often add sugar. In fact, they are a cross between an orange and a pomelo. In-season, ripe grapefruit are almost as sweet as oranges.
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