How To Cut A Kiwi: A Step-By-Step Guide

Sweet, mild, and gently acidic, kiwi makes a delicious addition to smoothies, fruit salads, salsas, and any number of other dishes. While the bulk of American kiwi growth happens in California, it's also very possible to cultivate thriving kiwi plants in the South, giving you an ample supply of this refreshing fruit.

But if you want to use kiwi for any cooking project, you'll need to learn how to cut kiwi first. To help guide you through the process, we've enlisted Rachel Ball, the executive pastry chef of Millers All Day in Charleston, South Carolina. Here's what you need to know about selecting, cutting, and using kiwi when preparing your favorite meals.

What To Look For When Buying (Or Harvesting) Kiwi

While some fruits make it easy to gauge their ripeness on sight, the kiwi's fuzzy and fibrous outer skin doesn't allow for such shortcuts. Instead, you'll need to pick up the kiwi and use your sense of touch to tell whether it's ready to eat.

Gently press down on the kiwi with your thumb—if you can feel a bit of give, then the kiwi is ripe. It needs more time if it stays hard and unyielding when applying pressure.

Luckily, you can speed up the ripening process by storing the kiwi in a paper bag with an apple or a banana and keeping the bag in a warmer section of your kitchen (like a counter space right below a window that lets in direct sunlight). The apple or banana will give off ethylene—the gas that helps fruit ripen—and this added boost will make your underripe kiwi perfectly edible in one to two days.

How To Cut A Kiwi

Whether you need kiwi for a fruit salsa or want to snack on some slices, here's a step-by-step guide for cutting kiwi perfectly every time.

Step 1: Wash The Kiwi

Even though you'll most likely remove the kiwi peel before eating the fruit, it's still important to wash the skin thoroughly before peeling and cutting, according to Ball. Bacteria can reach the inner fruit through the skin, so running the kiwi under a stream of cold water and giving it a thorough scrub with a produce brush is smart.

Step 2: Slice Off The Ends

First, Ball uses a sharp paring knife to "cut a small portion of each end" of the kiwi. "This will make the fruit easier to peel," she explains. The flat surfaces of the ends will sit better on a cutting board or plate as you prepare for the next step.

Step 3: Peel The Skin

"With a thin-blade peeler or your paring knife, peel the kiwi from top to bottom to remove the skin," says Ball. However, Ball urges you to "take your time and try to leave as much flesh as possible."

Alternatively, some people suggest you use a spoon to peel a kiwi. Gently run the cupped side under the skin, prying the skin from the fruit's flesh. You may need to use a knife to start the separation, but this spoon trick should work perfectly on a ripe kiwi.

Step 4: Cut The Kiwi Into Shapes

If you're looking for kiwi rounds, position your knife at the thickness level you'd prefer and slice straight down.

For a diced kiwi, cut the whole kiwi in half, then cut those pieces in half (or in quarters for smaller pieces), and finely chop the fruit into cubes.

How To Store Kiwi After It's Been Cut

If you want to store your sliced kiwi to enjoy later, Ball says you can keep it "in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator." To get even more longevity out of it, add the kiwi to a freezer-safe bag or container and "put it in the freezer. It'll keep for 10-12 months," she adds.

Recipes That Use Kiwi

Now that you have lots of sliced, diced, or peeled kiwi, consider these uses:

• Banana Dogs
• Fruit Sushi
• Rainbow Fruit Pizza