- The fuzzy brown skin of a kiwifruit is edible and high in nutrients.
- Using a spoon is the easiest way to peel a kiwi.
- Once peeled, it's easy to slice, dice, or cut a kiwi into wedges.
- Visit Insider's Home & Kitchen Reference library for more stories.
Kiwis are small green-fleshed fruit with speckles of edible black seeds and a large array of flavors. Unripe kiwis tend to be very tart, but ripe fruits are sweet, juicy, and have a flavor akin to strawberries, says Traci Weintraub, founder and head chef at Gracefully Fed.
As a versatile fruit, kiwis provide a flavorful addition to any dish, but their small size and fuzzy skin make it tricky to know how exactly they should be cut and eaten. Fortunately, with a few tools, it's easy to prepare cut kiwi for any meal or snack.
Can you eat kiwi skin?
You can absolutely eat the skin of a kiwifruit. The skin's fuzzy texture may be off putting to some, but it's actually a higher source of vitamin C and fiber compared to the fruit's green flesh.
"I generally peel kiwis before using them in a recipe since it looks nicer, and not everyone likes the taste and texture of the peel," says Ann Ziata, chef-instructor of health-supportive culinary arts at the Institute of Culinary Education. Kiwi peel tends to have more tartness than the ripened flesh, so keeping or removing it is up to personal preference.
How to peel a kiwi
Both Ziata and Weintraub say they prefer using a spoon to peel kiwi. Because of the kiwi's shape and the fuzzy skin, it can be awkward to trim the skin off with a knife.
This peeling method requires a small spoon and a small paring knife.
1. Wash the kiwifruit. Rinse the fruit under running water to get rid of any potential contaminants.
2. Slice off the ends. Place the kiwi on a cutting board and cut off both ends. Weintraub recommends slicing off just where the rough ends are, about ¼ of an inch.
3. Carve out the fruit. Once you've cut off the ends, place your spoon near the edge of the skin and carefully position it between the skin and flesh of the fruit. Slide it around the fruit in a circular motion to dislodge the inner flesh. Ziata recommends using a thinner spoon, as the thicker the spoon, the more flesh will be attached to the skin as you peel.
4. Let the flesh slide out. After you've carved out a circle, the flesh should slip out easily from the sleeve-like peel.
How to cut and store kiwi
You can cut kiwi into slices, cubes, or wedges. Make sure to use a sharp knife, as it will help you achieve even slices, Weintraub says. Be sure to peel the kiwi before you cut it, if desired.
- Round slices: To cut the kiwi in rounds, lay the kiwi on its side and use a knife to slice across the short side of the fruit. Continue this motion, slicing the kiwi as thick or as thin as you prefer. If you're adding kiwi rounds to a platter and want a uniform look, discard the end pieces — or eat them as you prepare the fruit.
- Cubes: To cut the kiwi in cubes, Weintraub says to slice the fruit into rounds as thick or thin as desired, then cut equally spaced rows going down the kiwi slice. To dice, make perpendicular cuts to the rows, which will create small squares. You can pile pieces of kiwi on top of one another to make cutting more efficient. But be careful if your kiwi is overly ripe, as stacking the pieces can cause them to slip.
- Wedges: To cut the kiwi into wedges, slice the fruit lengthwise across the long end of the kiwi, then cut the two pieces in half. Cutting the fruit into rounds or wedges is a good way to get the full flavor profile, including the seeds, says Weintraub.
You can store cut kiwi for up to two days in an airtight container in the fridge. Kiwi is no longer good to eat when it starts to become slimy.
Insider's takeaway
Ripened kiwi flesh has a sweet flavor balanced by tart seeds and flesh. Because ripe kiwis are often soft and juicy, the easiest way to peel them is to use a spoon. When dicing or slicing kiwifruit, make sure to use a cutting board and a sharp knife. Enjoy prepared kiwi as a snack or add it to sweet and savory dishes.