How to Peel a Kiwi

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Kiwifruit (also known as Chinese gooseberries, or "kiwi" for short) is a versatile fruit often used in salads, dressings, marinades, pavlovas and as a fruit topping for ice cream. The enzymes in kiwifruit also make it an excellent tenderizer for meat.^{[1]
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The delicate flesh of the kiwifruit requires careful peeling to avoid damaging the fruit by gouging or splitting. Removing the skin with a knife or vegetable peeler is a common method, as is scooping out the flesh with a spoon. You can even blanch a kiwifruit to remove the skin. Here are three methods for peeling a kiwifruit.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Serrated Knife or Vegetable Peeler

1
Hold the kiwifruit firmly in your non-dominant hand.
2
Place the blade of the knife or peeler at the top of the kiwifruit. Use your dominant hand to hold the peeler or knife.

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3
Apply gentle pressure until you feel the skin give under the blade. You may need to make a small nick in the skin to get a hold.
4
Use a sawing motion to peel from the bottom to the top of the kiwifruit - peeling away from your hand to avoid accidentally cutting yourself. Peel gently – don't cut deeply or you'll remove too much of the flesh of the fruit.
5
Work your way around the whole kiwifruit using the gentle sawing motion.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Peeling kiwifruit with a spoon

1
Cut off both ends of the kiwifruit using a serrated paring knife.
2
Slip a spoon in between the skin and the flesh of the fruit (a tablespoon is usually a good size of spoon to use). The back of the spoon should rest against the inside of the skin.
3
Apply a small amount of pressure against the skin and gently turn the kiwifruit with your other hand, scooping the flesh away from the skin. When the spoon gets back to the starting point, the kiwifruit should pop out of the skin.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing the Skin

1
Fill a pot with enough water to cover the kiwifruit. Bring the water to a rolling boil.
2
Drop the whole kiwifruit into the boiling water and blanch it for 20 to 30 seconds.
3
Scoop the kiwifruit out of the boiling water and run it under cold water. When it's cool to the touch, you should be able to peel the skin off with your fingers.
4
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

If I blanch the kiwi in the boiling water, will it taste different?

Community Answer

No, it won't taste much different, but it will change the texture pretty drastically.
Question

Are kiwis a good fruit for weight loss?

Community Answer

Kiwis are low in calories, so they can be a good snack choice if you're trying to lose weight.
Question

What constitutes a portion of blueberries?

Community Answer

1/2 a cup. If you weigh your food to determine serving size, a 1/2-cup serving of fresh blueberries equals approximately 75 grams or 2.6 ounces.

Warnings

Don't boil a kiwifruit that is overripe. The flesh is too soft, and you'll end up with nothing but mushy pulp. If this does happen, make kiwi jam or relish!

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The enzymes in kiwifruit will cause gelatine and aspic to not set; kiwifruit also curdles milk, making it an undesirable addition to homemade ice cream.^{[3]
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