What Is Jackfruit and Should You Eat It?

If you've been to a grocery store lately, there's a good chance that you encountered a large, green and spiky fruit sitting next to other tropical produce. It's called a jackfruit and it's something you'll be seeing lots more of.

This bulbous fruit can be used for both savory and sweet dishes, depending on its ripeness. Because of its size, however, it can be an incredibly intimidating food. Not only can it weigh up to 50 pounds, but it also has a thick, green rind surrounding the fleshy inside. Luckily, it's also available prepped–in a can or in the refrigerated section. Here's the healthy scoop on the trendy fruit you may not have tried–including what it tastes like, how to eat it and its health benefits.

What is jackfruit?

There are multiple ways jackfruit can be used. It's often cooked in vegetarian dishes. Many have compared the texture to pulled pork when marinated in a barbecue-like sauce. For savory dishes like this, you'd use young jackfruit or unripe jackfruit. Green jackfruit is freshly picked, but once it ripens, however, it's orange-yellow, sweet, sticky and perfect for desserts and smoothies.

According to Nyree Zerega, Ph.D., director of the Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University, the smallest of this tropical fruit she's encountered was around 15 pounds. While the fruit is indigenous to India and Bangladesh, Zerega notes that it's also grown in Southeast Asia–you can find jackfruit trees in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. "It grows in the tropics and subtropics. So for example, it can survive in Florida, and people do grow it there," Zerega says.

In the United States, jackfruit is having a moment as people rave about its unique flavors and savory applications. In countries where the fruit is indigenous, however, it's more of a neglected crop. "In India, a lot of times it is considered a poor man's crop. So, it isn't as valued," Zerega says. "Animals will eat them, but they can also just sit there and rot. It can go to waste."

Eating and Preparing Jackfruit

Before using the fruit in his own menus, Richard Landau–chef and co-owner of Philadelphia vegan restaurants Vedge, V Street and Wiz Kid–had heard of its magical abilities to taste like meat. Landau still doesn't believe that it tastes like meat, but he does believe in its capabilities. According to him, when fresh jackfruit is used in savory dishes, it tastes similar to artichokes. "It's not going to suddenly wean all of these Southern people off of pork," he jokes.

Even as a chef, Landau sees the fruit as an intimidating animal. His recommendation? Buy it canned. "You can be heroic and make some great Facebook and Instagram pictures if you want to get your own jackfruit from the store and hack it up, but it's a lot of work. If you're not comfortable with a knife it can be a little dangerous," he says. "It's OK to experiment slowly. You don't have to be a cowboy."

According to Landau, the voluminous fruit–both whole or prepared–can be found in Asian markets, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

While menu items at his restaurants include tasty concoctions such as jackfruit Philly cheesesteaks sautéed with mushrooms and fried onions, Landau enjoys cooking it up a different way when at home. Two words: jackfruit carnitas.

Jackfruit Nutrition

Jackfruit is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin B6 and fiber. While registered dietitian Theresa Shank agrees that buying the canned version is easier than raw jackfruit, she recommends double-checking that the fruit is packaged in water or its own juice and doesn't contain sweeteners.

And while jackfruit may mimic the texture of pulled pork, Shank makes it clear that it is actually very low in protein. So low, in fact, that you get only about 1-2 grams of protein per 1/2-cup serving. So if you're hankering for jackfruit carnitas for dinner, make sure the rest of your day has some healthy plant-based protein sources.

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