I remember foraging a few of these back when I was a kid in Boy Scouts. Fun fact: The thorns aren't just on those little beige bits. It's covered in tiny little spikes all over it like hairs (probably related to a kiwi). And even then, in the beige dots, there are hundreds of little spines that embed in you if you're not careful. Worth it tho.
Hey! The first think I thought when I tried one was that it tastes like a kiwi! Well, actually the first thing I thought was how do I get all these tiny, microscopic hair like needles out of my hands, lol. I didn’t know better and plucked the fruit directly from the plant w bare hands!
I ate one that I had picked today. They were very tasty with LOTS of seeds. Tasted like a watered down version of a cherry, texture of a kiwi and very juicy. Think it would be best used in ice cream or an additional flavoring to a frozen drink.
Every time my gram came, she always brought them and they were so delicious, I remember how to cut it and every thing 😂😅, I’m glad this was recommended to me since I miss it so much
Things brings back so much memories as a kid. I used to go into this Jungle like place and looking for these with friends when i was about 10 years old woow. nostalgia
Man ! Your video is a surprise to me , I have been eating this fruit all my life and it’s very common in North Africa, pls advise people with diabetes to consume it whenever they have chance because it balances the sugar level in the blood and also it’s great to cure hangover 😆
So many comments!I'm in Florida where we grew the "dragon"fruit variety. Now I have the smaller ones growing very happily. Neither one has had thorns on the fruit. I cut them in half and they just push out in 2 pieces. If you eat them when they are hard and kind of greenish, they will be a bit sour, but they get very sweet and flavorful if left to ripen. Just found out how nutritional they are so now, I'll eat more. The flowers bloom at night and are huge and lovely. So easy to grow from a piece broken off .That's where the stickers are!!
I picked a wild one in Nevada and thought I was being super careful around the thorns. I never felt any pricks, but when I got off the trail I looked at my thumb and forefinger to see over 50 thorns in little clusters in my fingers and blood everywhere, lol!!
I'm working in south Texas on an oil rig n just picked several fresh off the cacti. I had never saw one before. Looking forward to eating a couple tonight.
Awesome!! Just make sure to clean those thorns off really really well, you can burn them off with a lighter, rub a rock on them, cut them off with a knife, use tongs to handle it until you get all the thorns off. They are brutal if they get in your skin.
I recently picked some up, I'm grateful for the video! Thank you. I love trying new fruits/vegetables, and it's not always so straightforward on how to prepare!
I live in the Midwest, we went on an AP Bio trip, my teacher said they were edible. Not thinking about the spines, I grabbed it, pealed it and ate it. Very good raw and fresh, but my hands were covered in tiny spines.
I still remember finding a wild cactus fruit under the mulberry tree at my grandpa’s old homestead. I was five. He let me pick it and eat it by myself like a big girl. He did give me a warning about the thorns, and I mostly managed to avoid them.
Yeah, I went to swapmeet at their closing time. I saw these strange fruit that I want to try. So while I was picking, the vendor told me to take the whole box with five dollars, because some of them were so soft and barely can be picked with choice. I went home, spent a lot of time to separate the thorns and washed the fruit. And quickly tore the skin and put them in jars to the refrigerator. I then used them add on to smoothie and make red jello with gelatin. Very tasty fruit. Thanks for the video. I now know that it is a healthy thing.
I remember how these were around the homestead where l grew up in rural South Africa 🇿🇦. As children we used to take them but we were warned to not take them 😂. They had thorns everywhere and those thorns were so painful and itchy. We actually never got taught how to eat them because they were wild. They were so juicy and sweet. My grandma used hot water 😂to take the thorns off my hands and face. Happy childhood memories.
In Sicily people cut these fruits as you do but they use a fork and a knife. We stick the fork in the middle of the fruit to hold it in place. First we cut both ends. When cutting the peel on the upper part, we just move the knife a little under the fork, between its tines. Usually it's better to put on gloves to handle them. The little hairs they have on the surface can penetrate the skin and hurt.
Yep! Several ways to open it. Thick leather gloves are ideal. Especially if you are picking the fruit yourself. But here in the States, the stores that sell these, have to remove the little thorns/hairs first before they can sell them. So much lower risk.
Have been wanting to try the fruit for a while. Finally bought a couple. It was refreshing and just sweet enough. Thank you for this video, I was prepared to eat it like an apple lol
I’m living in AZ now and I am psyched to try these! Thanks! One of my favorite things in the world is trying new fruit. Nature provides, it’s a miracle
That is awesome! I love black mission figs. I had one in my patio garden, until my parents moved here, then I planted it in their backyard, haha. Figs grow really well here in Phoenix. The prickly pear do too! lol
I didn’t know about the smaller thrones but after eating I felt my tongue is itching and at the same time found few thrones on hand 🥲 now searching if I somehow swallow then I might die 🥲 can you tell me please is that any side effect of eating those tiny thrones?( Writing from germany it’s not common here)
mmm oh no, yeah definitely not a good thing if you eat those tiny thorns. stick your tongue out in the mirror and look closely to see if you see any sticking out. They are so small sometimes they are hard to spot. With that said, you could also just have a mild allergy to the fruit and that is why your tongue was itchy, but then again I am not a medical doctor. I would say if you experience a lot of pain then head to the Doctor for sure.
Omg i remember my mother would bring these from the store and I would always end up with little pins on my hands and it would hurt but its soooo gooood!!!
@@inthekitchenwithmatt They did but somehow I would get these little tiny microscopic pins in my hands I would have to take them out very carefully it still didn't stop me from eating them lol
My fruit does not have thorns.They grow fast and fruit In about 6 to.12 months. I'm in central Florida and have grown them in South Florida the same way. Also my seeds were a delight . The Thank you for the demo and just bringing them to our attention. You either love em--or you don't !😊
Awesome, just be super careful if you decide to pick one and eat it. Those little thorns on the outside are no joke! But if you buy them at the store they should already be removed, but just double check.
Thanks! Yes those are edible too but need to be prepared properly, but definitely edible. I guess not the whole plant but the pads and the fruit definitely are. :)
Usually they are ripe July through October depending on where you live. IF they are deep purple like this, I would pick them, they can stay 2 to 5 weeks in the fridge. If you have a lot of them, make jam or jelly with it. :)
You can use a torch to take care of the thorns. I hit them with my propane torch real fast and the thorns will quickly burn up and then i use a pair of tongs to pull them off the plant.
These were brought centuries ago to from the Americas to southern Italy especially Sicily and have been a very important fruit in Sicilian culture for a while. Seems not to have maintained quite the interest it used to have especially I don’t see it much among diaspora communities here in the United States but as a Sicilian American I’ve been reconnecting with the cuisine of my ancestors and rediscovered this fruit. So happy to be able to enjoy it here. I do know in indigenous communities of the US southwest it’s a very important part of cuisine and has been adapted by Anglo, hispanic and other immigrant cultures in the area as well. Outside the Southwest it’s mainly available in hispanic stores but still when I enjoyed it in southern Arizona I couldn’t help but think I’d come full circle having searched for the roots of my culture from thousands of miles away and discovered it’s source not far from my own “backyard.”
That is so awesome, Matt! Yeah it is funny, here in the Phoenix area, you can see them growing on the side of the road in the suburbs. There is one road that I always drive on that has tons of the plants that are always loaded with prickly pear fruit when in season. It's a shame they aren't super popular. Great little fruit!
Cool! Yeah there are tons growing wild here in Arizona, but apparently we are't supposed to pick them, haha, I guess we are supposed to leave them to the wildlife. but when in season, it seems like most supermarkets here carry them.
Thank you so much for this learning video on cactus pear. I received some in a pantry and had never seen this fruit before let alone how to eat it. Thanks 😊
Cool... I live in El Paso, TX. I've seen them at Walmart and the local grocery stores. I might pick some up next weekend. Might even try to harvest some wild ones when they're in season.
Awesome!! Just be super careful when harvesting them in the wild. Use tongs, heavy duty leather gloves, etc. You can use a lighter to burn off the spindles, or a rock and rub them off. Those are no joke, and a pain if you get them stuck in you.
@In The Kitchen With Matt Yeah.. I'm pretty familiar with how to handle cacti. Thanks for the tips. Shoot I've stepped down on a couple when I was a young soldier out on a training patrol. The barbs punctured through my Army boots. I also had brushed up against one doing a night patrol. Not fun..
I have wanted to try cactus fruit ever since moving to New Mexico. I just grabbed some wild fruit, deciding today is the day, and your video was very helpful. Thank you. For anyone wondering, I would describe it kind of like eating a mild watermelon in flavor. It's very nice.
Hi Matthew, as long as it is from a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia), you would eat them the same way. As far as I know, there are a few varieties that vary in color.
Bought some to try today at the Korean food store . They aren't half bad. Wasn't sure If I ate it the correct way because of the seeds, so here I am. I even took a spoon and scraped offed the pulp from the skin. Lots left behind. That part tasted good too.
just got one from the store, literally just took a bite and thought i was eating wrong because of all the seeds inside of it. i was eating the skin too, lol. thank god i found your video !
lol! the skin is edible but you have to be so careful because of those little spiky thorns. But since you bought them at the store chances are they cleaned the thorns off well enough. Glad you tried it though! It is so fun trying new fruits.
Hold/pick them with metal tongs. A few ways to remove the tiny thorns/glochids. Put them in a colander and run water over them and shake the colander, that will help remove them. You can use a lighter or kitchen torch and burn them off. You can use a rock to rub them off. You can use tweezers to pull them out.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt oh wow thank you so much! Those are all awesome ideas and that will be really helpful they are waiting for me to go eat them right now Thank you for replying!
Awesome!! I have heard of that name as well. I believe the Indian Fig opuntia, is the most common culinary species. And thank you so much, glad you liked the video!
Hi there! It really depends on the variety of cactus fruit. Not all cactus fruits are edible, however most are. As long as you know for sure it is Prickly Pear cactus, then the fruit is safe to eat, even if they are smaller. but if harvesting them, and not buying them at the store, be super careful about the spines/spindles. Use tongs, thick leather, gloves, etc. Use flat rocks to remove the spindles, or you can burn them off too.
No. If it is supposed to be a red prickly pear it will not ripen after it is picked and still green. But there are varieties of prickly pear that are green/greenish yellow when ripe. So it depends on the variety.
im having one now, but i love love love the one with the white inside instead. there is definalty a major taste different. i think the ine with the white inside has sssssooooooo much more sweeter the flavor is stronger - its literaly like eating candy....great substitude!!!
Be very careful of the thorns, they are taken off at the super markets. Eat at your own risk if taken from the cactus directly. Use thick leather gloves or grip it with tongs and then you can burn off the thorns with a candle or something or rub them off with a rock, or just cut that outer layer off, but don't touch the thorns and don't just bite into it.
Hi Kristy, first wear leather gloves, then use tongs or something to pick them. Some people just take a flat rock and rub it over the spine area. Another way is to stick a fork in one end and then run the spine areas over a flame and that will burn them off.
Every year we pick massive amounts for $0.00. Very affordable Jellies, syrups, drinks. It’s the bomb. Drink cactus juice It’ll quench ya There’s nothing quenchier It’s the quenchiest
I got some in the grocery store and we got spikes and needles stuck all over our fingers, lips and I got one in my tongue too! Did the store fail to remove the thorns? How do we get the needles out?
oh wow, ouch!! Is it in the States that you got it? I believe here in the States they have to remove them before they can sell them, but I am not sure. Use tweezers to pull them out.
@@greenelephant8888 Oh interesting! Yeah it is very possible they weren't sure how to handle that fruit. All the stores I have seen them in, all have the spindles removed. So sorry that happened to you!!!
I saw so many Prickly Pear on the hill but some people don’t know what is it then pick it and open the fruit after that just throw it on the soil😩. I hope they learn how to eat from your video.😊
Check with your local grocer or if you live near London, try Borough market! Probably other big markets in other cities too but Borough should have them.
Sure, if you don't mind the hard crunchy seeds. You could probably use tweezers to pick them out, but that will take some time. I personally don't mind eating them. Or people can eat around them and spit them out.
Question, my mom had me try a piece, there was no skin, I ate it and it was really good unfortunately i got a couple of splinters stuck in my mouth, will they leave eventually? they're like hairs and very annoying, I can't take them out they're too small. also they we're wild as she picked them while we were travelling. should i worry?
oh no, yeah you need to be very careful when picking them wild. You may need to see the dentist, or maybe your mom can use small tweezers and pull them out. Sorry for the late reply I have been on vacation.
lol yes cactus fruit like this and dragon fruit can be a good laxative when eaten in larger quantities or if you aren't used to eating them.@@NikkiBornRight
Yeah they are pretty hard, either spit them out or you can swallow them as well. Or make jam or jelly with it, in that case you will strain out the seeds.
OMG, just saw this one now - we actually have this cactus growing in our backyard. The previous owners of our property planted it years ago. Once a year we harvest them - the local birds and other wildlife often get to them before we do - but there are plenty to go around. They are delicious but a real pain to peel without getting those tiny sharp barbs..... everywhere. Also if you can handle the tiny seeds in them, they remind me of a kind of sweet melon.
That is awesome you have one in your yard. Yeah they are everywhere here. There is one road right next to me that has them growing on the side of the road. You can also buy them at the nursery. However, apparently we aren't supposed to pick the ones growing wild in the desert. They are to be left for the wildlife, haha.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt I guess it's worth putting up with some thorns/barbs when you're getting them for free Lol. They sell them here in supermarkets too all cleaned up and easy to peel - but I won't buy them on principle. I suppose that's my 'frugal genes' surfacing :). Oh and by the way, it was baking day today so I was making a chocolate bread, banana bread and a white loaf - when eldest son walks into the kitchen and sees me kneading dough. His response was: 'Cool Ma, are you making that great raisin bread?' (Your recipe). Guess what I am doing tomorrow?
@@josephinebloggs5771 lol yeah, I buy them at the supermarket, just because they are cleaned. But when I have a house with a decent backyard I will grow a few. haha your son has good taste! haha :)
@@inthekitchenwithmatt Be warned if you do plant one. They can take over the garden if they're happy with your climate - and they are hardy as heck. As I said before, the previous owners planted it along with a few peach trees, a lemon tree, mulberry and an apple tree. Then several years ago we had a cold snap one winter that was unprecedented for our climate. Black frost, snow, sleet - the whole nine yards. We now have two peach trees and the cactus. The frost killed off the rest of them.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember foraging a few of these back when I was a kid in Boy Scouts. Fun fact: The thorns aren't just on those little beige bits. It's covered in tiny little spikes all over it like hairs (probably related to a kiwi). And even then, in the beige dots, there are hundreds of little spines that embed in you if you're not careful. Worth it tho.
hahaha awesome! They are all over here in Arizona. Yes, you need to be super careful with these, haha.
How do you remove the spines?
@@kirstyssmith
I use a bakers torch.
Rarely do I get many spines.
They’re barbed and no fun.
But they burn right off.
@@respectfullydisagree711 I learned this too late and now there are a million barbs embedded in all of my fingers
Hey! The first think I thought when I tried one was that it tastes like a kiwi! Well, actually the first thing I thought was how do I get all these tiny, microscopic hair like needles out of my hands, lol. I didn’t know better and plucked the fruit directly from the plant w bare hands!
From Kenya in Africa. Grew up eating cuctus fruit...the adventure and the experience with its micro-thorns is legendary!!!
Indeed! haha darn little micro thorns! We have them all over here in the greater Phoenix area.
I ate one that I had picked today. They were very tasty with LOTS of seeds. Tasted like a watered down version of a cherry, texture of a kiwi and very juicy. Think it would be best used in ice cream or an additional flavoring to a frozen drink.
Glad you tried it and liked it!
Every time my gram came, she always brought them and they were so delicious, I remember how to cut it and every thing 😂😅, I’m glad this was recommended to me since I miss it so much
So nice to hear, Danny.
That’s awesome, I love memories like that
Things brings back so much memories as a kid. I used to go into this Jungle like place and looking for these with friends when i was about 10 years old woow. nostalgia
Awesome!
Finally have them at my local Walmart. I'm having one now
Cool!!! :)
same
Omg same I’m looking up how to cut them xD
Same but we go ours at a Mexican store
Also found them at walmart except it's just the tag there is always a differnt fruit in that bin I am pretty sad
Man ! Your video is a surprise to me , I have been eating this fruit all my life and it’s very common in North Africa, pls advise people with diabetes to consume it whenever they have chance because it balances the sugar level in the blood and also it’s great to cure hangover 😆
Yeah they are awesome and very healthy!
Really I have a Catus full I tried it last year pretty tasty
Theysell it in Morocco it's so good lol
@@jamesmekawy4394 Awesome!
My mother suger level is not come fown from last 3 months after medications and insulin take .please suggest me what should i do.
I've always known that they were edible, and we have them all over where I live in CA, but never knew "how" to eat them. Thanks!!
You are very welcome, Kristi! :) :)
So many comments!I'm in Florida where we grew the "dragon"fruit variety. Now I have the smaller ones growing very happily. Neither one has had thorns on the fruit. I cut them in half and they just push out in 2 pieces. If you eat them when they are hard and kind of greenish, they will be a bit sour, but they get very sweet and flavorful if left to ripen.
Just found out how nutritional they are so now, I'll eat more.
The flowers bloom at night and are huge and lovely.
So easy to grow from a piece broken off .That's where the stickers are!!
Yeah I have both Pink/Red and Yellow dragon fruit videos on here as well. A little different in taste and texture than this kind of cactus fruit.
Dragonfruit is not prickly pear. Very different plant.
I picked a wild one in Nevada and thought I was being super careful around the thorns. I never felt any pricks, but when I got off the trail I looked at my thumb and forefinger to see over 50 thorns in little clusters in my fingers and blood everywhere, lol!!
lol yeah, you have to be super careful with them.
how did you get them out??
I'm working in south Texas on an oil rig n just picked several fresh off the cacti. I had never saw one before. Looking forward to eating a couple tonight.
Awesome!! Just make sure to clean those thorns off really really well, you can burn them off with a lighter, rub a rock on them, cut them off with a knife, use tongs to handle it until you get all the thorns off. They are brutal if they get in your skin.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt I had a few stick me but think the callouses helped considerably. Note to self , next time wear gloves.
@@1969aquarius Yes! Thick leather gloves or tongs work great for harvesting them.
Great. Me and my daughter are about to try cactus fruit for the first time wanted to make sure we do it right.
Awesome!
I bought one the other day to try, and maybe grow. thanks Matt
Welcome!
I recently picked some up, I'm grateful for the video! Thank you. I love trying new fruits/vegetables, and it's not always so straightforward on how to prepare!
That is awesome!! you are welcome! It's so fun right? I love trying fruits too, so many to try, and so little time. haha
I just had one, it was great! Mine was mildly sweet, but really juicy. The seeds were interesting but it was easy to just not chew that hard lol
Glad you got to try one and liked it! :)
This is delicious, I always thought it was complicated to eat. So glad I watched this video. Thanks!
You are very welcome! :) Just be careful of those thorns!
I live in the Midwest, we went on an AP Bio trip, my teacher said they were edible. Not thinking about the spines, I grabbed it, pealed it and ate it. Very good raw and fresh, but my hands were covered in tiny spines.
ouch!! yes those tiny spines are a nuisance! And hard to get out as well.
glochids, no fun to get them on your hands but tweezers and duct tape help if u do
I just picked some today! Excited to try
Awesome!
Here in Tucson, AZ these are everywhere.
I live in the East Valley, AZ tons of them up here too!
I still remember finding a wild cactus fruit under the mulberry tree at my grandpa’s old homestead. I was five. He let me pick it and eat it by myself like a big girl. He did give me a warning about the thorns, and I mostly managed to avoid them.
Awesome!!
Mostly?
Yeah, I went to swapmeet at their closing time. I saw these strange fruit that I want to try. So while I was picking, the vendor told me to take the whole box with five dollars, because some of them were so soft and barely can be picked with choice.
I went home, spent a lot of time to separate the thorns and washed the fruit. And quickly tore the skin and put them in jars to the refrigerator. I then used them add on to smoothie and make red jello with gelatin.
Very tasty fruit.
Thanks for the video. I now know that it is a healthy thing.
That is awesome! And a great price!
I remember how these were around the homestead where l grew up in rural South Africa 🇿🇦. As children we used to take them but we were warned to not take them 😂. They had thorns everywhere and those thorns were so painful and itchy. We actually never got taught how to eat them because they were wild. They were so juicy and sweet. My grandma used hot water 😂to take the thorns off my hands and face. Happy childhood memories.
Awesome!! Happy memories for sure! Glad you were able to experience them.
I’ve had some in my back yard in Texas all these years, would I be able to eat them I’m wondering?
Just been and picked some before the day got too hot here in central TX! As a UK woman here this is an informative video! Thank you :)
You are welcome! Watch out for those little thorns!!!
My local store had these 6 for a dollar, so I bought 2 dozen.
Had to come back to say these are SOOOO GOOOOD
Awesome!!! Glad you were able to buy them and try them. That is a good price too!
Mom recently bought them 5 for a dollar
In Sicily people cut these fruits as you do but they use a fork and a knife. We stick the fork in the middle of the fruit to hold it in place. First we cut both ends. When cutting the peel on the upper part, we just move the knife a little under the fork, between its tines. Usually it's better to put on gloves to handle them. The little hairs they have on the surface can penetrate the skin and hurt.
Yep! Several ways to open it. Thick leather gloves are ideal. Especially if you are picking the fruit yourself. But here in the States, the stores that sell these, have to remove the little thorns/hairs first before they can sell them. So much lower risk.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt Good to know ;)!
Have been wanting to try the fruit for a while. Finally bought a couple. It was refreshing and just sweet enough. Thank you for this video, I was prepared to eat it like an apple lol
Glad you finally got to try it and liked it! :) You are welcome! and good thing you didn't eat it like an apple haha
Awesome - thank you! 🙂
You are welcome!
Thanks for the guide Matt! Very helpfull
You are very welcome! :)
I’m living in AZ now and I am psyched to try these! Thanks!
One of my favorite things in the world is trying new fruit. Nature provides, it’s a miracle
Awesome!! I live in AZ too. :) So fun trying new fruits.
do you just eat the stuff off seed or after its peeled can you eat it that way
Eat everything (inside the peel) once it is peeled. You can chew or swallow the hard seeds or just spit them out. :)
Eating one as I watch! Hmmm delicious
hahaha awesome! :)
My Jewel Albertsons has them on sale today so I got 2 red ones. I also got black mission figs. It was time to try new fruits. Very healthy too.
That is awesome! I love black mission figs. I had one in my patio garden, until my parents moved here, then I planted it in their backyard, haha. Figs grow really well here in Phoenix. The prickly pear do too! lol
My grandpa gave me a few, and I was like "yah, I'm gonna eat those (sarcastically)" but, now I'm really gonna. Thanks.
hahaha awesome!! You are welcome. :)
Thank you so much for the video, we still have many in Malta.
You are welcome!! That is cool!
I didn’t know about the smaller thrones but after eating I felt my tongue is itching and at the same time found few thrones on hand 🥲 now searching if I somehow swallow then I might die 🥲 can you tell me please is that any side effect of eating those tiny thrones?(
Writing from germany it’s not common here)
mmm oh no, yeah definitely not a good thing if you eat those tiny thorns. stick your tongue out in the mirror and look closely to see if you see any sticking out. They are so small sometimes they are hard to spot. With that said, you could also just have a mild allergy to the fruit and that is why your tongue was itchy, but then again I am not a medical doctor. I would say if you experience a lot of pain then head to the Doctor for sure.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt thank you so much for your quick reply 🙏🏻
@@JourneyofaBengali You are welcome!
Nice i just try one they are very sweet and juicy thanks for sharing
You are welcome! glad you got to try it!
Omg i remember my mother would bring these from the store and I would always end up with little pins on my hands and it would hurt but its soooo gooood!!!
Wow, the store didn't remove all the thorns?? They are pretty tasty!
@@inthekitchenwithmatt They did but somehow I would get these little tiny microscopic pins in my hands I would have to take them out very carefully it still didn't stop me from eating them lol
Every time my gram came, she always brought them and they were so delicious
I always wondered what people did with those! Thank you for the video, I will definitely try one. I see them at the Mexican store. Best wishes!
You are very welcome Stacy! :) Best wishes to you as well! :)
The green one I had was mostly seeds. Very light flavor mildly sweet. More of a cucumber 🥒 taste with high water content.
Yeah both varieties have a fair amount of hard seeds. Glad you got to try one!
the seeds add a nice texture to the fruit if you ask me.
Yeah! I don't mind the seeds. :)
Found this incredibly helpful.
Thanks!
I am glad! You are very welcome. :)
My fruit does not have thorns.They grow fast and fruit In about 6 to.12 months.
I'm in central Florida and have grown them in South Florida the same way. Also my seeds were a delight .
The
Thank you for the demo and just bringing them to our attention. You either love em--or you don't !😊
Awesome! You are welcome!
I never thought about eating one until I saw these videos I'm going to try this year
Awesome, just be super careful if you decide to pick one and eat it. Those little thorns on the outside are no joke! But if you buy them at the store they should already be removed, but just double check.
Awesome! Is the whole plant edible like the flat big “leaves” that the fruit grows on?
Thanks! Yes those are edible too but need to be prepared properly, but definitely edible. I guess not the whole plant but the pads and the fruit definitely are. :)
They are so tasty. I spit all the hard seeds out carefully. It's a hassle. The taste is great and refreshing, though.
Glad you like them!
How long is the fruit good on my cactus ? There’s lots n of them on there and it’s December now in Tennessee
Usually they are ripe July through October depending on where you live. IF they are deep purple like this, I would pick them, they can stay 2 to 5 weeks in the fridge. If you have a lot of them, make jam or jelly with it. :)
You can use a torch to take care of the thorns. I hit them with my propane torch real fast and the thorns will quickly burn up and then i use a pair of tongs to pull them off the plant.
Yes!! Or a lighter if you don't have a torch.
These were brought centuries ago to from the Americas to southern Italy especially Sicily and have been a very important fruit in Sicilian culture for a while. Seems not to have maintained quite the interest it used to have especially I don’t see it much among diaspora communities here in the United States but as a Sicilian American I’ve been reconnecting with the cuisine of my ancestors and rediscovered this fruit. So happy to be able to enjoy it here. I do know in indigenous communities of the US southwest it’s a very important part of cuisine and has been adapted by Anglo, hispanic and other immigrant cultures in the area as well. Outside the Southwest it’s mainly available in hispanic stores but still when I enjoyed it in southern Arizona I couldn’t help but think I’d come full circle having searched for the roots of my culture from thousands of miles away and discovered it’s source not far from my own “backyard.”
That is so awesome, Matt! Yeah it is funny, here in the Phoenix area, you can see them growing on the side of the road in the suburbs. There is one road that I always drive on that has tons of the plants that are always loaded with prickly pear fruit when in season. It's a shame they aren't super popular. Great little fruit!
I didn't know that one can buy them. We always picked them ourselves but that is very cool!
Cool! Yeah there are tons growing wild here in Arizona, but apparently we are't supposed to pick them, haha, I guess we are supposed to leave them to the wildlife. but when in season, it seems like most supermarkets here carry them.
I've never had this fruit, but your video makes me believe it is very good.
Thanks, Sarah! If you like trying new fruits, give it a try, if you can find it where you live.
Thank you so much for this learning video on cactus pear. I received some in a pantry and had never seen this fruit before let alone how to eat it. Thanks 😊
You are very welcome!! :)
Cool... I live in El Paso, TX. I've seen them at Walmart and the local grocery stores. I might pick some up next weekend.
Might even try to harvest some wild ones when they're in season.
Awesome!! Just be super careful when harvesting them in the wild. Use tongs, heavy duty leather gloves, etc. You can use a lighter to burn off the spindles, or a rock and rub them off. Those are no joke, and a pain if you get them stuck in you.
@In The Kitchen With Matt Yeah.. I'm pretty familiar with how to handle cacti. Thanks for the tips. Shoot I've stepped down on a couple when I was a young soldier out on a training patrol. The barbs punctured through my Army boots.
I also had brushed up against one doing a night patrol. Not fun..
@@davidb1975a Ok awesome! And you are welcome! Yeah, definitely not fun haha.
I have wanted to try cactus fruit ever since moving to New Mexico. I just grabbed some wild fruit, deciding today is the day, and your video was very helpful. Thank you.
For anyone wondering, I would describe it kind of like eating a mild watermelon in flavor. It's very nice.
Glad you gave it a try, Erick!! Yeah, mild watermelon with hard crunchy seeds, is a great way to describe it.
Just ate my first one along side with you. Pretty tasty but you are right very crunchy seeds
Glad you gave them a try! They are great in smoothies, the blender crunches up the seeds nicely too. But I don't mind eating them like this haha.
Can you eat the green cactus fruits in the same way as the purple? Do the green ones come from different species of cactus?
Hi Matthew, as long as it is from a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia), you would eat them the same way. As far as I know, there are a few varieties that vary in color.
What about the mushy stuff on the peeling can that be eaten.
On the inside of the peel? Yes you can scrape that off if you like.
Where do you get them? I ain't never seen then, I don't think I have..
My local ranch market has them in season and the International market does as well.
Bought some to try today at the Korean food store . They aren't half bad. Wasn't sure If I ate it the correct way because of the seeds, so here I am. I even took a spoon and scraped offed the pulp from the skin. Lots left behind. That part tasted good too.
Glad you gave them a try!
@@inthekitchenwithmatt I'll try any fruit once ( but some of these prices are crazy right now ! )
@@suedefringe Same!! I love trying new fruits. Definitely expensive!
just got one from the store, literally just took a bite and thought i was eating wrong because of all the seeds inside of it. i was eating the skin too, lol. thank god i found your video !
lol! the skin is edible but you have to be so careful because of those little spiky thorns. But since you bought them at the store chances are they cleaned the thorns off well enough. Glad you tried it though! It is so fun trying new fruits.
I have to try it out looks good thanks for sharing time to go to the store lol have a wonderful weekend 👍👍❤️❤️
Thank you! You are very welcome :) haha yes give it a try. :) Have a wonderful weekend as well!
@@inthekitchenwithmatt you're welcome my friend 😘
@@Meliecaandkids :) :)
I’ve tried cactus down here in Texas! It taste like okra kiwi and raspberries but yet like a cucumber 🥒!!!!
Awesome you were able to try it, Elizabeth! :)
Here in Utah you can buy the green prickly pear fruits from a store called rancho markets
Nice!
In Texas you have to be quick or wait till the hot scorching summer
Same it gets pretty darn scorching here in Phoenix haha
Can you eat the soft part you peeled off? It looks edible.
yes technically you can eat the whole thing, but people don't because you may accidentally eat the spindles.
ok thank you but i have a problem, the ones we have have those sharp thing ALLL over them how do i east them in a better way without getting hurt?
Hold/pick them with metal tongs. A few ways to remove the tiny thorns/glochids. Put them in a colander and run water over them and shake the colander, that will help remove them. You can use a lighter or kitchen torch and burn them off. You can use a rock to rub them off. You can use tweezers to pull them out.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt oh wow thank you so much! Those are all awesome ideas and that will be really helpful they are waiting for me to go eat them right now Thank you for replying!
@@Ash-fw6ve You are very welcome! :)
I got a Black Knight Prickly Pear recently. Do you happen to know if this variant produces edible fruit?
I am pretty sure it does! :)
do you know how to get rid of the small thorns left in fingers?😭 am i allowed to just leave them there or?
Use tweezers to pull them out that is the best way. Do not leave them in your fingers.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt thank you so much! i’ll do that right away! what would happen if i leave them in my fingers
@@netflixwrld It could get infected, or the body may naturally force them out over time.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt ohh okay tysm for letting me now!
@@netflixwrld Welcome!
very popular and cheap fruit here in morocco we call it "indian fig" good video
Awesome!! I have heard of that name as well. I believe the Indian Fig opuntia, is the most common culinary species. And thank you so much, glad you liked the video!
We have them up here in WA state but they are a little smaller, I was wondering if they are still safe to eat.
Hi there! It really depends on the variety of cactus fruit. Not all cactus fruits are edible, however most are. As long as you know for sure it is Prickly Pear cactus, then the fruit is safe to eat, even if they are smaller. but if harvesting them, and not buying them at the store, be super careful about the spines/spindles. Use tongs, thick leather, gloves, etc. Use flat rocks to remove the spindles, or you can burn them off too.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt okay thank you!
@@irishhockey2181 You are welcome!
I live in North Carolina and these are everywhere
Awesome!
I tried one for the first time today, gotta say, for now the 2nd best fruit i've ever eaten, 1st place goes to fuji apples
Awesome!
Do they grow around Las Vegas?
Yes it grows in the Desserts of Nevada.
In the same as their leaves how do you cook those
I don't have a video for those, but I am pretty sure there is one on here. And yes the pads are edible too.
If they are green do you put them in the window till they turn red?
Can you eat them while they're green
No. If it is supposed to be a red prickly pear it will not ripen after it is picked and still green. But there are varieties of prickly pear that are green/greenish yellow when ripe. So it depends on the variety.
im having one now, but i love love love the one with the white inside instead. there is definalty a major taste different. i think the ine with the white inside has sssssooooooo much more sweeter the flavor is stronger - its literaly like eating candy....great substitude!!!
also regrigorated taste AAAMAAZZZNNNNGG!!!
Glad you got to taste it!
Is da skin interior scoopable wit a spoon?
Yeah you can cut it in half and scoop it as well. But then you have to worry about the outer skin and any thorns that may be leftover.
Very helpful! Thanks!
You are very welcome!
I some on a cactus in New Mexico should I eat it?
Be very careful of the thorns, they are taken off at the super markets. Eat at your own risk if taken from the cactus directly. Use thick leather gloves or grip it with tongs and then you can burn off the thorns with a candle or something or rub them off with a rock, or just cut that outer layer off, but don't touch the thorns and don't just bite into it.
Hi. What's the difference between this caucus pear and soursop? They look the same. I can't tell them a part. Thanks for sharing.
Hello, you must be thinking of something else, the soursop looks nothing like a cactus Pear. This is a soursop en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soursop
How do you remove the spines if you collect them from the tree, succulent?
Hi Kristy, first wear leather gloves, then use tongs or something to pick them. Some people just take a flat rock and rub it over the spine area. Another way is to stick a fork in one end and then run the spine areas over a flame and that will burn them off.
Every year we pick massive amounts for $0.00.
Very affordable
Jellies, syrups, drinks.
It’s the bomb.
Drink cactus juice
It’ll quench ya
There’s nothing quenchier
It’s the quenchiest
Awesome! :)
I find it really cool that these grow in both Israel and Texas
That that is awesome!
Because?
They are awesome if you dry them out and use as seasoning
Nice! Yeah, so many uses for them.
An old native American seasoning combo my family told me was bears root with that, trust me it's unique but delightful
@@ndnofmana521 Cool!
I got some in the grocery store and we got spikes and needles stuck all over our fingers, lips and I got one in my tongue too! Did the store fail to remove the thorns? How do we get the needles out?
oh wow, ouch!! Is it in the States that you got it? I believe here in the States they have to remove them before they can sell them, but I am not sure. Use tweezers to pull them out.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt Yes, but it was a Russian grocery store in the US, i think they don't know what they are doing
@@greenelephant8888 Oh interesting! Yeah it is very possible they weren't sure how to handle that fruit. All the stores I have seen them in, all have the spindles removed. So sorry that happened to you!!!
Thank you! First time buying them, and had no clue what to do! lol
You are very welcome, Janel!
Thank you for this video👍
You are very welcome!
I saw so many Prickly Pear on the hill but some people don’t know what is it then pick it and open the fruit after that just throw it on the soil😩. I hope they learn how to eat from your video.😊
Yes a lot of people don't know how to eat them. And thank you! :)
Were can I find this in UK 😢
I have no idea! haha. Do you have any specialty markets?
Just bought one right now from an organic food store
@@xelivo8315 Glad you found one!
Check with your local grocer or if you live near London, try Borough market! Probably other big markets in other cities too but Borough should have them.
When I harvest them in my yard , I use a conifer branch to sweep off the thorns .
Nice!
Can i eat seeds too? will that be harmful?
Yes you can eat the seeds, they are pretty hard and crunchy, you can just swallow them. Or spit them out.
Do you recommend them for fruit salad?
Sure, if you don't mind the hard crunchy seeds. You could probably use tweezers to pick them out, but that will take some time. I personally don't mind eating them. Or people can eat around them and spit them out.
Question, my mom had me try a piece, there was no skin, I ate it and it was really good unfortunately i got a couple of splinters stuck in my mouth, will they leave eventually? they're like hairs and very annoying, I can't take them out they're too small. also they we're wild as she picked them while we were travelling. should i worry?
oh no, yeah you need to be very careful when picking them wild. You may need to see the dentist, or maybe your mom can use small tweezers and pull them out. Sorry for the late reply I have been on vacation.
Are they in season specific times of the year?
Hi there! yep, in the Northern hemisphere they are in season late summer through early winter.
I just picked some on my trip around Sardegna and will cut into a few just about now :)
Nice! Be careful of those spindles/thorns!
@@inthekitchenwithmatt told my mom the same thing when she picked them. She didn't listen :D thank you!
@@Nanna0708 You are welcome!!
Shoot I just juiced one with some other things and didn’t peel it will I be sick soon?
The skin is edible, but you just need to use caution because of the little thorns.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt thank you yep no issues but it’s definitely a good laxative 😉
lol yes cactus fruit like this and dragon fruit can be a good laxative when eaten in larger quantities or if you aren't used to eating them.@@NikkiBornRight
I bought the green ones. The seeds are very hard to bite through. Actually, it's impossible. Should it be? Thank you for the video.
Yeah they are pretty hard, either spit them out or you can swallow them as well. Or make jam or jelly with it, in that case you will strain out the seeds.
Thank you for your instruction! I've never eaten them but just bought one. I bought a purple one and a green one.
You are very welcome! :)
OMG, just saw this one now - we actually have this cactus growing in our backyard. The previous owners of our property planted it years ago. Once a year we harvest them - the local birds and other wildlife often get to them before we do - but there are plenty to go around. They are delicious but a real pain to peel without getting those tiny sharp barbs..... everywhere. Also if you can handle the tiny seeds in them, they remind me of a kind of sweet melon.
That is awesome you have one in your yard. Yeah they are everywhere here. There is one road right next to me that has them growing on the side of the road. You can also buy them at the nursery. However, apparently we aren't supposed to pick the ones growing wild in the desert. They are to be left for the wildlife, haha.
@@inthekitchenwithmatt I guess it's worth putting up with some thorns/barbs when you're getting them for free Lol. They sell them here in supermarkets too all cleaned up and easy to peel - but I won't buy them on principle. I suppose that's my 'frugal genes' surfacing :). Oh and by the way, it was baking day today so I was making a chocolate bread, banana bread and a white loaf - when eldest son walks into the kitchen and sees me kneading dough. His response was: 'Cool Ma, are you making that great raisin bread?' (Your recipe). Guess what I am doing tomorrow?
@@josephinebloggs5771 lol yeah, I buy them at the supermarket, just because they are cleaned. But when I have a house with a decent backyard I will grow a few. haha your son has good taste! haha :)
@@inthekitchenwithmatt Be warned if you do plant one. They can take over the garden if they're happy with your climate - and they are hardy as heck. As I said before, the previous owners planted it along with a few peach trees, a lemon tree, mulberry and an apple tree. Then several years ago we had a cold snap one winter that was unprecedented for our climate. Black frost, snow, sleet - the whole nine yards. We now have two peach trees and the cactus. The frost killed off the rest of them.
@@josephinebloggs5771 Yeah, they are considered an invasive species in Australia for that reason.
These are so good
Agreed!