In Season: Grapefruit
With National Grapefruit Month upon us (yes, even fruit get a month of celebration), we thought what better time to introduce this refreshing tropical citrus, which is in season now.
The Backstory
The grapefruit as we know it today was first introduced to Florida in the 1820s. The name stems from the way the fruit grows — in grape-like clusters. Today, you can find grapefruit from Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Those from Arizona and California are in markets from January through August. Florida and Texas grapefruits are available from October through June.
The Varieties
Grapefruits come seeded and seedless. The seeded grapefruit are turned into juice and varieties include white, pink/red, and star ruby/rio red. White grapefruit has a yellowish-white flesh; the other types range from a pale yellow-pink to the brilliant ruby red (hence, the Ruby Red product name). All grapefruit sport a mix of sweet and tangy flavors. The skin should be glossy, round and smooth, and the heavier your grapefruit, the juicer it will be.
The Nutritional Facts
With only 80 calories, fiber and no fat or cholesterol, grapefruit is a great addition to your diet. They’re famous for having tons of vitamin C — one medium fruit contains about 73% of your daily need. Grapefruit also contains a whopping 24% of your vitamin A needs — pink and red varieties have more than the white ones. Besides being an antioxidant, vitamin A helps maintain healthy skin and hair.
A Note of Warning
Certain medications interact with fresh grapefruit and grapefruit juice. To find out about specific medications, ask your doctor, and for more infromation, check with the CDC.
Ways to Enjoy Them
Slice a grapefruit in half and eat it for breakfast or as a refreshing snack. Having a hard time scooping out the flesh? There are special serrated grapefruit spoons. You can also juice them for a vitalizing morning drink.
Too tart to eat plain? Top grapefruit halves with a teaspoon of brown sugar or strawberry marmalade. You can also toss grapefruit segments in spinach or mixed green salad or use grapefruit juice for a seafood marinade or in homemade vinaigrette. I enjoy adding a grapefruit salsa to fish or pork. You can even broil grapefruit for a warm and tangy treat.
Shopping Tip: When picking them out, look for fine-textured, brightly colored skin. Fruit should be firm, yet spring back to the touch. For best results, keep wrapped in a plastic bag and place in your refrigerator drawer for up to two weeks. And remember, the heavier, the juicier the fruit will be.
- Grapefruit recipes to try:
- Broiled Grapefruit with Vanilla Ginger Sauce
- Grapefruit, Onion, and Basil Salad
- Ruby Red Mimosa
Grapefruit is one of my all-time favorites – from the simplicity of a grapefruit half with breakfast to the burst of flavor it brings to salad, they’re such an easy and delicious way to get a daily dose of vitamins.
Texas Rio Star and Florida Indian River or California Star Ruby are the best. At this point Texas is about done and Calif is too early so look for Indian River.
I absolutely love Texas Ruby Reds! They are so sweet and juicy. Just cut and eat. I still have a couple in my fridge so I better eat one right now while they are still good.
Try Oro Blanco and Melo Gold- both so juicy and sweet right now in Fresno, California. In a few more weeks, the Star Ruby will be at its sweetest and it does win the prize for its glistening ruby colored flesh!
I eat a grapefruit the same way I eat an orange. I peel it, and then seperate the slices, and then I take the skin off of the slices, then pop it in my mouth. It’s the best way to get all the juice
Yum! I just blogged about wonderful, healthy, juicy grapefruits on my website. I also included a healthy recipes for grapefruit vinaigrette and a a fresh garden salad with grapefruit sections, pecans, and avocado.
i love grapefruit-my sister made a cream cheese grapefruit pie it had sections of grapefruit on top- believe me i wanted to eat it all-it was so delious