How to Eat Carambola (Star Fruit): Raw, Cooked, & in Drinks

Star fruit (also called carambola) is a tropical fruit that looks like a star when you cut it. It’s known for its sweet, slightly tangy flavor that has been described as a blend of papaya, orange, and grapefruit, or a mix of pineapple and lemon. Keep reading for basic steps on preparing a star fruit for eating, along with ways to use star fruit (either raw, cooked, or as a garnish), with tips from personal chef Jason Mayer. You’ll also discover the benefits of eating star fruit and why those with kidney problems should avoid star fruit altogether.

How to Cut & Eat Star Fruit

Personal chef Jason Mayer says you don't necessarily have to remove the skin, but you can if you prefer. Here's how to prepare and eat a starfruit:

Wash the starfruit, which appears yellow when it’s ripe.
Slice off the brownish edges (optional).
Carefully cut away the skin from the flat sides of the fruit (optional).
Cut the star fruit into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch (6.35-mm to 1.27-cm) pieces.
Remove the seeds if you prefer (or if you have a seed allergy).
Enjoy raw in salads and as a garnish, in main dishes, or in cocktails and juices.

Section 1 of 6:

How to Prepare Star Fruit (Carambola)

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Wash a ripe star fruit with yellow skin. Ripe star fruit is firm and has vibrant yellow skin, along with a hint of brown along the edges. Wash the fruit, using your fingers to scrub away any loose dirt hiding in the crevices while rinsing it under cool, running water.^{[1]
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- Mayer suggests that “there may be only one color on the outside of the fruit.”^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jason Mayer
  Personal Chef
  
  Expert Interview} Usually, the more yellow the skin is, the sweeter the fruit will be.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Jason Mayer is a personal chef whose services include private home dining, cooking classes, weddings, event catering, and restaurant consulting.
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Slice along the brownish edges before eating (optional). Even though every part of the star fruit is edible, you may want to remove the brown edges, which can taste bitter. To do so, hold the star fruit steady with one hand or brace the bottom against a cutting board or counter. Glide a sharp cutting knife along the edge of the star fruit. Make the cut where the green or brown part of the edge begins length-wise, and slice thinly only to remove the discolored portion of the edge.^{[3]
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- The brownish edges are located along the 5 “star points” of the fruit.
- The entire star fruit is edible, so you do not need to peel it or remove the seeds before eating it (unless you have an allergy to seeds).
- If you do wish to remove the skin, slice the skin away from the flat sides of the fruit with a paring knife.
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Cut the star fruit into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch (6.35-mm to 1.27-cm) slices. Using a sharp knife, slice off the ends first by cutting 1/2-inch (1.27-cm) off both ends of the star fruit. Then, cut the fruit across the broad side, dividing it into star-shaped slices that are roughly 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch (6.35-mm to 1.27-cm) wide.^{[4]
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- Poke through the center of the star fruit with the tip of your knife to remove any visible seeds if you wish to remove them before eating.
- Mayer notes that star fruit is "sometimes green inside,” but not always.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jason Mayer
  Personal Chef
  
  Expert Interview} It depends on how ripe the starfruit is; the inside can be anything from a pale green to an orange color.
- A cut star fruit can be refrigerated for about 2 to 3 days.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Eat Star Fruit (Raw & Cooked)

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Include star fruit in a fruit salad. Toss slices of star fruit with other tropical fruits to create a colorful blend of sweet-and-sour flavors.^{[6]
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- Fruits that pair well with star fruit include banana, strawberry, kiwi, mango, pineapple, papaya, grapes, and citrus fruits.
- You can toss the fruit salad gently with a lemon vinaigrette, orange glaze, honey, or fruit cocktail syrup to add another dimension of flavor.
- For an even more tropical twist, garnish the fruit salad with a sprinkling of shredded coconut.
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Mix star fruit into leafy green salads. Star fruit makes an appealing addition to simple green salads.^{[7]
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- Keep the salad simple with ingredients like romaine lettuce, chives, sweet bell pepper, and avocado. Avoid traditional garden salad ingredients like carrots, cucumbers, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Opt for light vinaigrette dressings, like lemon vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, or Italian vinaigrette. Tangy French dressings can also complement the flavor of star fruit well.
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Use star fruit as an eye-catching garnish. Decorate dishes and platters with sliced star fruit for an edible garnish.^{[8]
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- Add sliced star fruit to the tops of tropical-flavor cakes or ice cream.
- Decorate plates of tropical entrees, like teriyaki-marinated chicken, with artistically placed slices of star fruit.
- Cut a small slice from a piece of star fruit and hang it off the side of a cocktail glass.
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Add star fruit to cake or bread. Use mashed star fruit in fruit bread or sliced star fruit in upside-down cake.^{[9]
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- Combine 2 cups (500 ml) flour, 1 1/2 tsp (7.5 ml) baking powder, and 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt. Add this to a creamed mixture made from 1/2 cup (125 ml) butter, 1 cup (250 ml) sugar, 3 eggs, 1 tsp (5 ml) white wine, and 2 cups (500 ml) mashed star fruit. Stir in 1 cup (250 ml) chopped coconut and cook in a standard loaf pan for 50 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).
- Arrange 3 to 4 sliced star fruit on the bottom of a greased 9-inch (23-cm) cake pan. Pour a standard yellow cake batter or spice cake batter over the sliced star fruit and bake according to the recipe's instructions. Invert the cake onto a serving plate before serving.
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Use star fruit as an accompaniment to poultry or seafood dishes. The flavor of star fruit pairs well with chicken, duck, and many types of fish and seafood.^{[10]
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- After preparing chicken fried rice, tropical chicken stir-fry, or Asian-inspired chicken stir-fry, add fresh slices of star fruit to the dish.
- Cut the star fruit into small pieces and add it to chicken salad, tuna salad, or lobster salad.
- Grill chicken, tuna steaks, prawns, or duck and serve the star fruit alongside it, either fresh or grilled.
Create star fruit preserves. Cook chopped star fruit on the stovetop with sugar and tropical fruit juice. Use finer pieces of star fruit and more liquid to create a jam, or larger pieces and less juice if you’re making chutney.

Section 3 of 6:

How to Make Star Fruit Beverages

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Prepare a pureed star fruit juice flavored with other fruit juices. For a non-alcoholic beverage, mix pureed star fruit with simple fruit juices or water.
- Mix 1 lb (450 g) star fruit with 1 thumb of ginger, 1 tsp (5 ml) lime juice, 4 cups (1000 ml) of water, and sugar or honey to taste. Strain the juice and serve.
- Add carbonated water to this mixture for a non-alcoholic star fruit spritzer.
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Make a tropical smoothie. Blend star fruit with other tropical fruits, like dragon fruit or passionfruit, and juice to create a thick, fruity drink.^{[11]
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- Blend 3 seeded star fruit, 1 diced mango, 3 cups (750 ml) orange juice, 2 cups (500 ml) ice cubes, 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) ground cinnamon, and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) honey until smooth. If desired, add chunks of pineapple, strawberry, or banana to the smoothie, as well.
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Create a star fruit cocktail. Mix pureed star fruit with fruit liqueur and rum for a refreshing alcoholic beverage.
- Blend 1 star fruit with 1/4 cup (60 ml) orange liqueur, 1/2 cup (125 ml) rum, 1 cup (250 ml) orange juice, and several ice cubes. Garnish with slices of star fruit.

Section 4 of 6:

The Benefits of Star Fruit

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Star fruits are an excellent source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C protects against infections and can help boost the immune system. Starfruits also contain Vitamins A and B complex, along with minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. More details on the nutritional information of a 91-gram starfruit are ahead:^{[12]
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- Calories: Approximately 28 calories
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 6.1g
- Fiber: Approximately 3g
- Vitamin C: Approximately 31 milligrams
- Minerals: Potassium and magnesium
- Antioxidants: Vitamin C, gallic acid, quercetin, and other immune-supporting compounds..
- A larger-sized star fruit (approximately 124 grams) can have 42.7 mg of Vitamin C, which represents roughly 50% of the recommended daily intake.^{[13]
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The fiber found in a star fruit can help promote good digestive health and regular bowel movements. Those looking to lose weight may feel fuller when eating a star fruit, due to its fiber benefits.^{[14]
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Star fruits contain antioxidants known to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In addition to Vitamin C, they contain beta-carotene, flavonoids (including quercetin, epicatechin, and gallic acid), proanthocyanidins, and tannins, all of which are known to help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, while protecting against cell damage.^{[15]
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- These antioxidants can aid in lowering the risk of heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases because they tend to neutralize free radicals.
- Mayer goes on to state that “buying better ingredients, including more fresh fruit, is the best thing you can do” for your own health and well-being.^{[16]
  X
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  Jason Mayer
  Personal Chef
  
  Expert Interview} If you’re interested in adding more tropical fruits to your diet, a star fruit is a great place to start!

Section 5 of 6:

Are star fruits dangerous to eat?

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Star fruits can be dangerous for those with kidney issues. These include chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), or those associated with being on dialysis. The fruit contains a neurotoxin that healthy kidneys can filter out, but damaged kidneys are unable to do so.^{[17]
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- Go to a hospital if you experience symptoms of "star fruit intoxication" after consuming the fruit. Symptoms usually manifest themselves 30 minutes to 14 hours after an individual consumes the fruit. Rarely, star fruit intoxication can even cause death.
- Symptoms: Insomnia, hiccups, vomiting, numbness, muscle convulsions or decreased strength, and confusion.

Section 6 of 6:

More About Starfruit

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Star fruits (also called carambola) are tropical fruits native to Southeast Asia. They grow on carambola trees in places that also include the Caribbean, South America, Florida, and Hawaii. Ripe star fruits are bright yellow in color, while unripe star fruits are greener. They have 5 to 6 often brownish ridges that run along the length of the fruit. When cut, starfruits have a 5-pointed star shape.^{[18]
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- Star fruits are considered a type of citrus fruit, with a tart yet sweet flavor.
- Take our fun What Fruit Am I quiz to see if you’re a star fruit!

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How should I store a starfruit?

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The fridge is the best place. They will last for a week or so if they aren't too old already.

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Where does starfruit grow?

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Carambola, commonly referred to as starfruit, is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a species of tree native to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The fruit is popular throughout Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Micronesia and parts of East Asia.

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How can I get the fruit to ripen faster?

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When you want to make fruits ripen faster, just place them in a brown paper sack (like a lunch bag) and close it up. The natural ethylene gas that fruits emit while ripening will create an environment conducive for faster ripening, while still allowing the fruit to get fresh air as well. This works great for bananas, apples, and avocados too.

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