Grapefruit is nothing if not divisive. With its tart, bitter taste, it’s safe to say that most people either love it or hate it. But I think the latter option is because they simply haven’t found the right way to enjoy it yet!
This post is full of new and novel ideas about how to eat grapefruit. Whether consumed fresh, seasoned, or processed, the health benefits of grapefruit are also undeniable, making this amazing citrus a worthy addition to anyone’s diet.
Read on to discover how to eat grapefruit in 21 different ways!
How to Eat Grapefruit in 21 Different Ways
1. Fresh
First on our list is the most obvious of ways to eat grapefruit – fresh from its rind. If you love a bit of a tart, refreshing taste, scoop your grapefruit straight out of the skin using a grapefruit spoon or cut it (using our guide on how to cut grapefruit) into segments with a sharp knife. Grapefruit is a great breakfast fruit and works just as well as a snack, too, especially when you think of how healthy grapefruit really is.
When eating grapefruit fresh, try to avoid the hard, white flesh (called pith) located between the segments. This contains most of the fruit’s sourness and isn’t always the most pleasant-tasting part of this magnificent citrus.
2. With Sugar
If you want to add some sweetness to your grapefruit, a small sprinkle of sugar goes a long way. Traditionally, brown sugar is used to bolster a grapefruit’s taste, but if you don’t want to load your breakfast with unnecessary sucrose, an artificial sweetener works just as well.
Simply cut your grapefruit in half with a serrated knife, add your sugar of choice, and enjoy.
3. With Salt
While this might sound counter-intuitive, adding salt to your fresh grapefruit is one of the best ways to eat grapefruit and counterbalance the fruit’s natural bitterness and bring out its sweetness.
From a scientific point of view, this is because salt blocks some of the taste receptors embedded in our tongues, making us less likely to taste the bitterness. Grapefruit sprinkled with salt, therefore, actually tastes sweeter.
If you really want to pop the fruit’s flavors, consider sprinkling it with moderate quantities of both sugar and salt.
4. In Juice
As far as citrus goes, grapefruit is a delightfully juicy fruit, so why not capitalize on this by making a big old jug of grapefruit juice to enjoy by itself or use as a mixer? You can enjoy a glass of grapefruit just as is, or you can mix it with lemon or orange and sugar. Either way, it’s a refreshing treat and is also very good for your health.
In fact, studies have shown that the regular consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit products can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. For more information on this topic, read about the amazing health benefits of grapefruit juice.
5. Boiled
When wondering how to eat grapefruit, chances are that “boiling” isn’t the first thing to come to mind. But it’s a great way to incorporate it into different parts of your diet! Cooking grapefruit makes it easier to cut, and releases more of its juice. To boil these citrus fruits, simply place the entire fruit in a pot of hot water and wait for a few minutes until you can smell the aroma of grapefruit oil rising from its skin.
Then, remove the flesh from the grapefruit peels and dice it, ensuring you remove any bit of pith in the process. Toss the fruit pieces in olive oil and salt, and voila!
6. Grilled
Want more interesting ways to eat grapefruit? By grilling grapefruit, you can caramelize its natural sugars, lending a heightened sweetness to its taste. Cut your grapefruit in half horizontally or slice it into segments with a sharp knife, and place it on the heat for five or so minutes.
After grilling, you can add a delicious topping like honey, brown sugar, or cinnamon for even more of a taste sensation.
7. In a Salad
Ripe grapefruit segments are an excellent addition to any variety of seasonal salads, and one of the best ways to eat grapefruit in general. Not only are they colorful, but their acidic flavor also complements several key salad ingredients, like avocado, spinach, beetroot, onion, and watercress.
Long considered good for weight loss, too, why not consider adding some beautiful grapefruit sections to your next leafy meal? These tart fruits are full of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and grapefruit salads pair exceptionally well with white meats like fish.
8. In Smoothies
Eighth on our list of how to eat grapefruit is one of my favorites! Because of its undeniable health benefits, grapefruit and its juice are winning additions to smoothies. This superfruit pairs well with lemon, pineapple, coconut, strawberry, and banana, to name but a few, and adds potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber to your drink.
Grapefruit is also comparatively lower in sugar than most fruits, which is another reason to add it to your smoothies!
9. In Salsa
If you’re looking for a stellar alternative to tomatoes in your salsa, you should consider adding some chopped grapefruit. With its sour, citrusy flavor profile, grapefruit perfectly complements popular salsa ingredients like avocado, cucumber, and onion.
10. As Candied Peels
More than ever, we are becoming conscious of food waste, and a great way to ensure you use 100% of your grapefruit is to make candy from their peels.
Indeed, this may not be the healthiest treat, but it is a perfect combination of sweet and sour and is a delightful snack for both young and old consumers. Dip candied grapefruit peels in dark chocolate for a taste sensation of note.
11. In Curd
If you’re a hobby grapefruit grower, or you just happen to have an abundance of these fruits, why not make some grapefruit curd? It is one of my favorite ways to eat grapefruit! This is a great way to preserve your grapefruit produce and is a real treat with ice cream or panna cotta, or even over toast.
12. Blowtorched
Similar to grilled grapefruit, blowtorched grapefruit takes this traditional breakfast fruit to a whole new level. Sprinkle a little sugar on a halved grapefruit and torch it for a few seconds until the sugar is caramelized. Then, dust the fruit with a pinch of salt and serve with tasty accompaniments like yogurt, honey, and nuts.
13. With Fish
Lemon is a well-known companion to baked or fried fish, but did you know that grapefruit tastes just as delicious when served with seafood? Now you have one more answer to the question of how to eat grapefruit!
Baking fish with slices of grapefruit is a great way to amplify its natural flavors. As it cooks, the juice from the sliced grapefruit will soak into the flesh of the fish, creating a genuinely mouth-watering flavor profile and a juicy meal. Add pepper, salt, and basil to really take this dish to new heights.
14. In Glazing
As a bittersweet, sticky glaze, grapefruit can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. For cakes, muffins, or biscuits, mix grapefruit juice with a bit of powdered sugar and top your baked goods with this delicious icing.
Steaks and roasts can be glazed with a grapefruit juice, honey, and pepper mixture for a flavor that is out of this world.
15. In Jam
Grapefruit pairs super well with other citrus fruits like lemons and oranges, making it a prime candidate for marmalades and jams. Indeed, a chunky grapefruit jam is delightful on a piece of warm buttery toast, and its natural acidity results in an unusual but unmissable taste sensation, irrespective of whether you enjoy fresh grapefruit or not.
This is a way to eat grapefruit that is definitely worth a try.
16. With Cheese and Crackers
Who’s to say that the answer to “how to eat grapefruit” is that it only belongs at the breakfast table? In fact, this fruit tastes exceptional when consumed on a cracker with goats’ cheese, camembert, or brie. With its eye-catching ruby tones and its tart but sweet taste, grapefruit is a must-have addition to charcuterie boards.
17. In Baked Goods
If you can’t quite get past grapefruit’s bitter edge, you may prefer it baked into a cake, tart, or loaf. And the good news is that there are hundreds of sweet and savory recipes that incorporate this citrus and turn it into a variety of baked goods.
When baked, grapefruit loses some of its acidity, making it far more bearable for those who are not a fan.
18. Dipped in Chocolate
Grapefruit sections dipped in chocolate are an easy-to-make treat that goes a long way. Generally considered affordable fruits, grapefruit portioned into bite-sized pieces, dipped in dark chocolate, and sprinkled with coarse salt is a high-class nibble that won’t go uneaten on a dessert platter but also won’t cost an arm and a leg. Plus, they’re a lovely accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee after dinner!
19. In Sparkling Wine
Grapefruit mimosas are a contemporary twist on a classic favorite. Fresh grapefruit juice mixed with a little champagne or sparkling wine and garnished with a slice of this refreshing citrus fruit is an excellent addition to a brunch party and a fun way to add this vitamin-rich fruit to your dietary intake for the day (everything in moderation, of course!).
20. As Grapefruit Cups
The hard outer edge of a grapefruit’s skin is a great vessel for a variety of fillings. To spice up a splendid breakfast in bed for a friend or loved one, consider creating a grapefruit cup to be served alongside other breakfast items like toast and coffee.
With a sharp knife, remove the flesh of the grapefruit from its shell, and dice it. Remove any bits of pith. Add yogurt, honey, salt, sugar, and cinnamon before returning the mixture to the hollowed-out peel. This is a novel way to present this gorgeous fruit.
21. In Fruit Salad
Who doesn’t love a refreshing fruit salad? With its distinct taste and body-boosting benefits, adding grapefruit sections to your fruit salad is a no-brainer way to eat grapefruit. Not only does fresh grapefruit contain a multitude of nutrients, but it’s also downright tasty when combined with the right companion fruits.
Pineapple, other citrus fruits, berries, and bananas go great with grapefruit in fruit salads.
Adding Grapefruit to Your Diet
The benefits of grapefruit cannot be overlooked. While to many, it is simply a bitter fruit, the amounts of calcium, dietary fiber, soluble fiber, and vitamins it contains is worth coming up with unique ways for how to eat grapefruit.
Soluble fiber, in particular, prevents cholesterol from entering the bloodstream, and healthy blood cholesterol lowers the risk of clogged blood vessels and blood clots. With that being said, the blood pressure-lowering properties of grapefruit can impact prescribed blood pressure drugs, so before you suddenly incorporate large quantities of grapefruit into your diet, first consult your doctor to be safe.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Eat Grapefruit
Q: Does grapefruit impact medication?
A: Because of the health benefits of grapefruit, it can affect some medications, from antihistamines to prescription blood pressure drugs. This is not because it is bad for you, but instead because grapefruit tries to overcorrect imbalances in the body. Needless to say, this occurs only when grapefruit is consumed in large, sudden quantities. In moderation, you should not experience any side effects from eating grapefruit.
Q: Will eating grapefruit help with weight loss?
A: Grapefruit doesn’t burn fat, but it boosts weight loss because it is packed full of nutrients that are good for you. Serving this fruit before meals will also help make you feel fuller faster, and deter you from eating foods that may be less healthy in large quantities. In fact, according to WebMD, the grapefruit diet has outlasted most other popular diets.
Now You Know How to Eat Grapefruit in 21 Different Ways!
The grapefruit flavor is distinct but delicious, and it has long been a favorite fruit for its health benefits, support in weight loss, and versatility. With so many different ways to eat grapefruit, now is the perfect time to start experimenting with how to eat grapefruit in a way that is best for you!
What is your favorite way to eat grapefruit? Let us know in the comments below. Want to learn more about grapefruits? Next, visit our grapefruit trees page to discover information on planting, growing, caring, cooking, and more!