Culinary Arts
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What are defining characteristics of fruits?
What are some ways that you could group
fruits together?
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Berries – small juicy fruits with thin skin.
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Drupes – have an outer skin covering a soft, fleshy fruit; fruit
surrounds a single hard seed.
◦ Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and gooseberries
◦ Cherries, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums
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Pomes – central seed containing core surrounded by thick layer
of flesh.
◦ Apples and pears
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Citrus fruits – thick outer rind; a thin membrane separates the
flesh into segments.
◦ Oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, limes, tangelos, kumquats
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Melons – large juicy fruits with thick rinds and many seeds.
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Tropical Fruits – these fruits are grown in tropical (warm)
climates and are considered to be exotic.
◦ Cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew
◦ Pineapple, starfruit, mango, and papaya
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Ripe fruits have reached top
eating quality.
Test for ripeness by pressing
gently to see if it gives.
Underripe fruits have reached full size, but not full
ripeness.
Pears and bananas can be bought underripe.
Color and smell are ripeness indicators.
Immature fruits – fruit that has not reached full size.
They have poor color, flavor, and texture.
Avoid enzymatic browning by adding juice that
contains vitamin C
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQeUcXg1cU
◦ How to ripen fruit at home
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2 cups per day recommended
Fruits are high in vitamins, low in fat, and a good
source of fiber.
Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. Other fruits like
cantaloupes and strawberries also have vitamin C.
Cantaloupe, apricots, and deep yellow fruits are good
source of vitamin A because of beta carotene.
Oranges, strawberries, cantaloupe and dried fruits
contain calcium.
Most servings of fruit are equal to one
cup.
◦ ½ cup of dried fruit equals one cup of fresh.
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Buy what you will use in a short time. Do not
stock pile, it will go bad.
Look for signs of freshness and ripeness.
Avoid bruised, soft, damaged, and immature
fruits.
Consider your needs. Damaged fruits for
pies or cooking; good fruit for fruit trays and
displays.