How to Eat a Grapefruit

Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

Last Updated: July 9, 2024 Fact Checked

Grapefruits are a delicious fruit in the citrus family. They are sometimes a bit tangy, but a sprinkle of sugar will help make them sweeter. The grapefruit is very healthy eaten as a snack or as part of your breakfast. You can eat it any way you want: peeled or cut in halves, eighths, or quarters. Read below for several different methods of eating a grapefruit, as well as some great, healthy recipe ideas.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Eat a Grapefruit in the Rind

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Grapefruits should be hard, but not too hard. Grapefruits don't ripen much once they are picked, so choose wisely.^{[1]
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Cut the grapefruit.
Take a bite, avoiding the bitter, hard-to-chew "walls" separating the grapefruit's segments.^{[3]
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If this method if too messy for you or you dislike the amount of rind you encounter, use the method below or try segmenting the grapefruit.

Mary Fox

Dec 20, 2017

"Reading this article assured me that I have been segmenting grapefruit correctly. I would like to purchase a..." more

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Eat a Grapefruit in Sections

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Cut each half in half again and repeat until standard wedges are produced.^{[5]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Eat a Grapefruit in Recipes

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Grapefruit goes great on salad. Cut up pieces using the method above and mix with arugula (or the salad of your choice), feta cheese, walnuts and a small amount of vinaigrette for a healthy and delicious meal.^{[6]
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You can easily grill grapefruit to caramelize the natural sugars and bring out the flavor. Either cut it in half and grill it face-side down for 5 minutes or cut it into circular slices and grill 2 minutes (or until it appears done). Top with honey for a healthy grill treat.^{[7]
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If you like orange or mango salsa, give grapefruit salsa a try. Dice the fruit and mix with lime, caramelized onions, diced jalapeno, and diced avocado. You can put this on crackers, use it to top salmon, a salad, or anywhere else you'd normally use salsa.^{[8]
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You can juice the grapefruit and use it in a variety of ways. Replace the lime to produce grapefruit margaritas.^{[9]
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Comments

Korbyn Schumpert

Apr 18, 2019

"So glad I read this! I always thought I was dumb for trying to remove the bitter "dividers" from the..." more
Banloig Punkarl

Dec 20, 2018

"I love grapefruit, but I make a mess every time I try to eat one. This helped me."
Anonymous

Jul 16, 2016

"The photos helped, since I wasn't sure which way to cut the fruit."

Community Q&A

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If I eat grapefruit and plant the seed that was inside it, will it grow?

Community Answer

Something may grow, but it will not necessarily be the same as the fruit you planted. First of all it will take a long time to grow enough of a tree to produce fruit, and secondly the properties (taste, nutrition) of that fruit will be unpredictable. Commercial fruit farmers make new trees from cuttings, not seeds, in order to ensure consistency of the final product.

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How can I tell when a grapefruit is ripe?

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A ripe grapefruit often has a richer color. The deeper the color of the rind, the riper the grapefruit tends to be. A ripe grapefruit will also give a little if you squeeze it gently. The firmer the grapefruit feels, the less ripe it will be.

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I eat grapefruits by peeling them and eating them in segments, like an orange. Is this normal?

Community Answer

I do the same, so it can't be that abnormal.

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Tips

After you've eaten all of the pulp, you can squeeze the rest of the juice into a cup or bowl and drink it, or use it in a smoothie.

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If you get bored eating regular grapefruit, try eating them frozen. It makes a yummy ice-like treat, without all the added sugar and syrup.

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If it's a little too sour for you, try sprinkling some sugar on top.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

"Try a regular grapefruit without sugar first. You might find that you like the slightly tart flavor!" - Leonidas U.
"Sprinkle taijn on grapefruit for a unique summer treat!" - Alejandro J.

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Warnings

Don't try to eat the tougher parts of the grapefruit that separate the segments. They aren't dangerous, but don't taste very good and are hard to chew.

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Grapefruit can have harmful interactions with some prescription medications. If you are taking prescription medications, consult your doctor or pharmacist before enjoying grapefruit.^{[10]
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