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Don’t Touch! How to Peel a Prickly Pear Safely

Prickly pears, also known as cactus fruit, are delicious and nutritious but can be a challenge to handle and peel due to their tiny, hair-like thorns called glochids. These can easily embed in your skin, causing irritation. Here’s a safe and effective way to peel a prickly pear without getting pricked.

Tools You’ll Need:

  • Tongs

  • A sharp knife

  • A cutting board

  • A large bowl or plate

Steps to Peel a Prickly Pear:

  1. Wash the Fruit:

    • Start by washing the prickly pears while still in their skin to remove any loose thorns. Use tongs to hold the fruit under running water to avoid touching the thorns.

  2. Use Tongs to Handle:

    • Always use tongs to handle the prickly pears during the peeling process. This will keep your hands at a safe distance from the sharp glochids.

  3. Cut Off the Ends:

    • Place the prickly pear on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife and holding the fruit with the tongs, slice off both ends of the prickly pear. This includes the top, where the flower was, and the bottom.

  4. Make a Vertical Slice:

    • Carefully make a long, vertical slice through the skin of the prickly pear. Ensure not to cut too deeply; you only want to slice through the skin.

  5. Peel Away the Skin:

    • Use the tongs to grip the edge of the skin where you made the vertical slice. Gently pull back the skin, which should peel away in a large piece if ripe. Continue until all the skin is removed.

  6. Slice or Cube the Fruit:

    • Once peeled, you can slice or cube the fruit as desired. Transfer the prepared fruit to a large bowl or plate.

Tips for Serving:

  • Chill Before Serving: Prickly pears are especially refreshing when served chilled. Consider refrigerating the peeled fruit for an hour before serving.

  • Serving Suggestions: Enjoy them on their own, toss them into a fruit salad, or blend them into smoothies.

Additional Caution:

  • Dispose of the Peels Carefully: Ensure to dispose of the peels in a way that they won’t cause harm to anyone unaware of the thorns.

Peeling a prickly pear safely requires a bit of care, but with the right tools and technique, you can enjoy this exotic fruit without any discomfort from its thorns.

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