Grapefruits have beautiful pink or golden flesh, tons of juice, and a bright aroma, but what can taste interesting, tart, mildly sweet, and pleasantly bitter to some may be unpalatable to others. If you are not used to the taste, or if you are particularly sensitive to bitter flavors, grapefruit may be completely off the table. However, there are several different strategies that can help you fix that bitter taste starting with the actual variety that you choose to purchase.
Oro blanco grapefruits are the sweetest of the bunch and have very little bitterness, but they also lack much of that characteristic tartness. Most of the grapefruits that are consumed — around 75% — are red, so this variety can sometimes be hard to find, but it is a great option for those who are after as little bitterness as possible. Red grapefruits are also not as bitter as pink and white grapefruits, but that sweeter flavor profile also creates less complexity of flavor.
Drizzle honey or agave syrup over the fruit. According to Lindsey Chastain, founder and CEO of The Waddle and Cluck, these natural sweeteners are the liquid gold that bitter grapefruit craves. “The sweet syrup interacts with the fruit’s juices to form a balanced, pleasant sweet-tart combo,” she says.
How you cut a grapefruit matters
That sharply bitter flavor in grapefruit comes from a flavonoid compound called naringin. While there is some naringin in the flesh of the fruit, most of it lives in the membrane, spongy pith, and outer zest. Because of this, it is not ideal to peel a grapefruit by hand and eat the whole segments like you would with an orange. Having each wedge encased in skin introduces way too much bitterness. It is a little tedious, but you are better off slitting open each section and peeling off the membrane segment by segment. Alternatively, cut the grapefruit in half along the equator. Then, use a sharp paring knife to cut along either side of each segment. You can also use a handy double-blade grapefruit knife to make this step go a little faster. After you have cut around each piece of fruit, you can simply scoop it out with a spoon.
You can also cut citrus fruit into tender, juicy supremes. Cut off both ends of the grapefruit so it can sit upright on your cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut along the curve of the fruit from top to bottom, and remove the zest and pith like you are peeling a whole pineapple. Then, hold the peeled grapefruit, and cut along either side of each line of membrane to remove each segment.
Add sugar to counteract grapefruit’s bitterness
No matter how you cut it, a little sugar can go a long way in fixing the bitter taste of the grapefruit. It makes sense that sugar can help to mask bitter flavors — consider coffee, tea, chocolate, alcohol, cranberry sauce, or candied citrus peels, for example. Grapefruit too can benefit from a sprinkle of sugar, a spoonful of honey, or a drizzle of maple syrup.
A really delightful way to enjoy this combination is in a grapefruit brûlée. Sprinkle a halved grapefruit with sugar, and then pop it under the broiler for a couple of minutes. Just keep a close eye on it because melting sugar can go from perfectly golden to totally burnt in just a few seconds. The sugar creates a delectable, crunchy shell, and the warm fruit softens slightly and starts to release its natural juices. If you have one, you can also use a handheld blow torch to quickly melt sugar to avoid messing with a finicky broiler.
Take the bitterness out of grapefruit
FAQ
What neutralizes grapefruit?
Why is my grapefruit so bitter?
How do you neutralize a bitter taste?
What do people sprinkle on grapefruit?
How do you remove bitterness from grapefruit?
Some people douse grapefruit in sugar or an artificial sweetener to cut through the tart acidity; however, a sprinkle of salt, although it seems strange, is an effective way to neutralize its bitterness. Try it out at home by cutting the grapefruit into bite-size wedges, and then sprinkle it with salt.
What is the method to wash grapes to get rid of pesticides?
Scientific evidence shows that bicarbonate of soda might be effective for removing pesticide residues. The general recommendation is to soak for 15 minutes in 2 cups of water with 1 teaspoon of bicarb.
How to reduce the bitterness of grapefruit?
Related Questions More Answers Below. Sugar helps, but a pinch of salt works as well. Salt actually turns down the bitter receptors on the tongue, thus reducing the bitterness of grapefruit. It also works with coffee; a pinch of salt in the grounds cuts the bitterness of black coffee.
Is grapefruit bitter?
Grapefruit, which is in season September through April, can be extremely bitter, even when it’s at its juiciest. Some people douse grapefruit in sugar or an artificial sweetener to cut through the tart acidity; however, a sprinkle of salt, although it seems strange, is an effective way to neutralize its bitterness.