When buying persimmons, it is important to know how to choose a sweet fruit and avoid a bitter taste.
There are several signs that allow you to distinguish a ripe and juicy persimmon from an unripe and tart one.
Appearance of the fruit
The first step in choosing a sweet persimmon is to evaluate its appearance. Ripe fruits usually have a rich orange or even reddish hue.
The peel should be smooth and slightly transparent, without obvious damage or dark spots.
Such defects may indicate the onset of rotting or improper storage of the fruit.
Consistency and softness
Sweet persimmons are quite soft to the touch. When lightly pressed, the skin gives slightly, indicating ripeness.
If the fruit is too hard, it is most likely not ripe yet and will have a tart taste.
However, you should not choose overly soft fruits, as this may indicate overripeness.
Shape and dimensions
Ripe and sweet fruits are often round in shape and large in size.
This is especially true for the varieties “Korolek” and “Sharon”, which are known for their juiciness and sweet taste.
Fruits with an elongated shape, on the contrary, can have tart properties, even if they look ripe on the outside.
The presence of a seal on the peel
There is one interesting sign that allows you to determine the ripeness of persimmon - the so-called seal.
It is a dark spot on the top of the fruit that occurs as a result of the natural ripening process. The presence of such a seal indicates that the fruit is ripe and sweet.
The importance of proper storage
Even if persimmons are not fully ripe, they can be left to ripen at room temperature. It is important to know that proper storage improves the taste.
For example, fruits placed in a bag with apples will ripen faster, since the ethylene released accelerates the ripening process.
Seasonality and influence of variety
The choice of sweet persimmon is also influenced by its variety and season. For example, the varieties "Korolek" and "Sharon" are traditionally considered the sweetest.
It is important to buy the fruits during their ripening season, which usually falls in autumn and early winter. During this period, persimmons are the juiciest and most delicious.
Ways to eliminate astringency
If the purchase was unsuccessful and the fruits turned out to be tart, there are several ways to get rid of the bitterness.
One of them is freezing the fruit for several hours. After defrosting, the persimmon becomes sweeter and loses its astringency.
Another method is to keep the fruit in warm water for 24 hours, which helps to destroy the tannins.
