Once you’ve learned How to Cut a Kiwi, you can enjoy this healthy fruit whenever you like. Peeling the skin with a knife or spoon is incredibly easy, and can be done in no time at all. Sliced or diced, this sweet and tart treat is perfect for desserts, yogurt, fruit salads, and even smoothies!
Kiwifruit are one of my favorite healthy snacks. Served up in a parfait with Healthy Homemade Granola, or blended in a Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie, they pack a big punch of flavor!
The problem is, they can seem awfully tricky to peel. Or they did, at least, until my hubby showed me just how simple it really is!
Whether using a knife or a super simple spoon method, now I know how to peel and cut a kiwi in less than a minute. Which means I get to enjoy this sweet, tropical fruit any time I want – and you can, too!
Once peeled, you can thinly slice them into rounds, cut them into wedges, or dice them into cubes for all your kiwi needs.
What is a Kiwi?
Kiwifruit, also known as Chinese gooseberry, are a large variety of edible berry native to China and New Zealand. Their numerous black seeds and vibrant green flesh are covered in a thin layer of brown skin, featuring their iconic fuzzy texture.
Favored by soldiers stationed in New Zealand during World War II, they became popularized in Great Britain and America in the 1960s. Today, they make for a vibrant addition to smoothies, juices, baked goods, and much more.
How to Cut a Kiwi – 3 Easy Ways!
The basic steps for preparing a kiwi are simple to follow with these methods:
Method #1: The Knife
Using a sharp chef’s knife or small paring knife, slice off about ½ inch from each end. Be certain to remove the entire stem of the kiwi.
Stand the fruit on a cutting board, cut-side down. Starting from the top, slice into the fruit to trim away the skin, cutting as closely to it as possible.
Cut in a downward motion along the curvature of the fruit while doing so, to ensure the least amount of flesh is cut off as possible. Discard the strip of kiwi skin, rotate the fruit slightly, and repeat.
Continue around the entire kiwi until all of the skin is removed, and then slice the fruit as desired!
Method #2: The Whole Spoon
Cut away both ends of the kiwi by ½ an inch, as noted above. This removes the stem, and makes accessing the inside of the fruit easier.
Place a spoon with a relatively sharp edge where the flesh of the kiwi meets the skin. Make sure you are in the fruit and not poking out through the skin.
Gently work your way into the fruit while also beginning to rotate the kiwi. Keep the spoon in close contact with the skin of the kiwi as you go around the fruit.
The fruit will eventually become completely separated from the skin. You’ll end up with a cylinder of fruit and a round circle of peel that can be discarded.
Slice or dice the kiwi as desired, and enjoy!
Method #3: The Half Spoon
With a sharp chef’s knife or small paring knife, cut the kiwi in half widthwise.
Do not cut through the stem end, you want to cut into the belly of the fruit, leaving the stem ends intact.
Place a spoon with a relatively sharp edge into the kiwi where the flesh meets the skin. Once again, be careful not to poke all of the way through the skin.
Gently work your way into the fruit while also beginning to rotate the kiwi. Keep the spoon in close contact with the skin as you go around the edges.
Scoop out the kiwi once you get to the base of the fruit. This can be a little more challenging on the side with the stem, so this is where a spoon with a slightly sharp edge comes in handy.
Once the kiwi is free of its skin, it may be cut up however you desire.
Prep and Storage
- To Store: Peeled and/or cut kiwis may be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
- To Freeze: Leftovers may be frozen in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 4-6 months.
- To Reheat: To thaw, simply transfer from the freezer to the fridge overnight. Drain away any excess liquid once thawed.
FAQs
Not only is kiwi skin entirely edible, it’s actually very nutritious, packed with fiber and antioxidants! Because of its fuzzy texture, however, many people prefer not to eat it.
Yes, even when removing the skin it is always recommended to wash a kiwi before cutting it. This is because bacteria can be introduced to the inside of the fruit by the knife, when it slices through to the green flesh.
Much like a peach or an avocado, you can test the ripeness of a kiwi by gently squeezing the fruit. It shouldn’t be rock hard, but rather have a slight give or softness to it.
Store kiwis at room temperature in order to ripen them. To speed up the process, seal them in a paper bag along with a ripe banana or apple for a day or two.
Yes! Kiwis are very nutritious, relatively low in calories, and have many health benefits. The high amounts of fiber help to aid digestion, and vitamin C and antioxidants boost your immunity! The nutrition facts for a 2-inch kiwi include: 42 calories, 0.4 grams fat, 215 mg potassium, 10 grams carbs, 2.1 grams fiber, and 0.8 grams protein.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Trim the ends. You want to make sure all of the tough white pieces located at the stem end are cut away.
- Use a spoon. Look for a spoon the same size as the kiwi, to remove all of the skin while saving the most flesh.
- Ripen it quickly. Place the kiwi in a paper bag with a banana or apple in order to ripen it faster.
- Keep them fresh. If your kiwi is nearly or as ripe as you want, store it in the fridge instead of at room temperature.
- Identify ripeness level. A ripe kiwi will smell fruity and will have a slight give when squeezed.
Make it a Meal
Once you have peeled your kiwi, it can easily be cut into rounds, wedges, or cubes as desired.
It can be served up as a healthy garnish to sweet treats like an oatmeal, a parfait, or a pavlova. It can even act as a bright pop of color on a fruit platter, or a fruit-topped custard tart!
The pieces of a peeled kiwi can also be frozen into ice cubes for drinks, or blended into a Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie. Diced up small, it looks and tastes amazing in a Very Berry Fruit Salsa.
For the simplest experience, enjoy it even as a snack on its own.
More How-To Fruit Guides
Learn how to easily prepare even more fruits for the recipes noted above, with these simple tutorials:
- How to Cut a Mango
- How to Cut a Pineapple
- How to Cut a Pomegranate
- How to Peel Peaches
- How to Cut an Apple
- How to Freeze Strawberries
- How to Freeze Blueberries
How to Cut a Kiwi
Once you’ve learned How to Cut a Kiwi, you can enjoy this healthy fruit whenever you like. Peeling the skin with a knife or spoon is incredibly easy, and can be done in no time at all.
Ingredients
- 1 kiwi
Instructions
Spoon Method #1:
-
Using a sharp paring or chef’s knife, cut and remove both ends of the kiwi.
-
Place a spoon with a relatively sharp edge where the flesh of the kiwi meets the skin.
-
Gently work your way into the fruit while also beginning to rotate the kiwi. Keep the spoon in close contact with the skin of the kiwi as you go around the fruit. You should end up with a cylinder of kiwi fruit and a round circle of peel that can be discarded.
-
Slice the kiwi into rounds, wedges, strips, or cubes. Enjoy!
Spoon Method #2:
-
Cut the kiwi in half widthwise. Do not cut through the stem end, you want to cut into the belly of the fruit.
-
Place a spoon with a relatively sharp edge into the kiwi where the flesh meets the skin.
-
Gently work your way into the fruit while also beginning to rotate the kiwi. Keep the spoon in close contact with the skin of the kiwi as you go around the fruit.
-
Scoop out the kiwi once you get to the base of the fruit.
-
Slice the kiwi into rounds, wedges, strips, or cubes. Enjoy!
Knife Method:
-
Using a sharp paring or chef’s knife, cut and remove both ends of the kiwi.
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Place the kiwi flat side down on a cutting board.
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Starting from the top, place the knife into a piece of the kiwi flesh right next to the skin.
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Trim a piece of skin from the kiwi by cutting in a downward motion along the curvature of the fruit, making sure to keep your knife completely in the flesh.
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Rotate the kiwi and then repeat this around the entire kiwi until all of the skin is removed.
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Slice the kiwi into rounds, wedges, strips, or cubes. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Prep and Storage
-
To Store: Peeled and/or cut kiwis may be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
-
To Freeze: Leftovers may be frozen in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 4-6 months.
-
To Reheat: To thaw, simply transfer from the freezer to the fridge overnight. Drain away any excess liquid once thawed.
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