What is jackfruit?

Here’s everything you need to know about jackfruit:

• What is a jackfruit?
• Where does jackfruit come from?
• What does a jackfruit taste like?
• Do you eat jackfruit raw?
• Is jackfruit gluten-free?
• What do you use jackfruit for?
• Is jackfruit good for you?
• Does jackfruit taste like meat?

Now let’s find out the answers to these questions - and learn some top tips for cooking with jackfruit too...

What is a jackfruit?

Jackfruit is the fruit of a tree in the fig family (also includes mulberry and breadfruit), and is the largest tree fruit out there - weighing up to 55 kilograms. Jackfruits look similar to large mangos, and in colour range from yellow-tinged green (when not yet ripe) to yellow and then brownish yellow. They are notable in appearance for their hard hexagon-shaped tubercles on the fruit’s shell. Both the sweet, fruit flesh and seeds (once cooked) can be eaten, and whilst ripe jackfruit has long been used in Southeast and South Asian cuisines, in recent years unripe jackfruit has boomed in popularity in vegan cuisine as a meat substitute.

Where does jackfruit come from?

Though now consumed globally, jackfruit is primarily associated with the Indian subcontinent, having been domesticated in Southeast Asia. Areas in which the jackfruit tree is cultivated now include Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Australia, the Philippines and Malaysia as well as India and Bangladesh. As a plant it is well suited to growing in tropical lowlands.

Top tip!

Jackfruit is perfectly suited for imitating pulled pork - simply shred unripe jackfruit and fry it in oil on a high heat for that signature stringy texture. Its bland flavour is also perfect for absorbing ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and ketchup for that barbecue sauce flavour.

What does jackfruit taste like?

Ripe jackfruit is known for having a light and delicate flavour - often described as “tropical”, and a subtle blend of other fruits like pineapple, banana and apple.

Unripe jackfruit is blander, with a more neutral taste that takes on the flavours of what it is being cooked with. This quality, alongside its texture, have led it to become a popular meat substitute for those following a plant-based diet. Jackfruit seeds, which need to be cooked before being consumed, are said to taste similar to Brazil nuts, with a sweet and creamy flavour.

Jackfruit may have some cross-activity for those with an allergy to latex and/or birch pollen. Find our guide to cross-reactivity and what it means here.

Do you eat jackfruit raw?

You can eat jackfruit raw - particularly when it is ripe, and chopped up and eaten like other fruits. It is less common to eat unripe jackfruit raw - whilst it is safe to consume this way, it has a bland flavour and is generally preferred after cooking alongside other ingredients.

Jackfruit seeds should not be eaten raw, but boiled or roasted first.

Is jackfruit gluten-free?

Yes, jackfruit is gluten-free. However, there is a possibility prepackaged jackfruit and even tinned jackfruit might contain gluten via cross-contamination so it is best to check the ingredients label.

Top tip!

Toast jackfruit seeds in a hot pan with spices - this will intensify the flavour of the spices and infuse the seeds, which can then be eaten as a snack or tossed into salads or over soup.

What do you use jackfruit for?

(Raw) Jackfruit is most famous in Western cuisine as a meat substitute in plant-based meals - particularly for dishes such as pulled pork, as it has a bland taste that takes on the flavours of marinades and sauces as a meat would, and a stringy texture that can be very similar to shredded meat. Unripe jackfruit is generally eaten pan-fried, roasted or slow cooker.

Ripe jackfruit can be chopped up and used in fruit salads, or even added to smoothies and salads. In Southeast Asian cuisine ripe jackfruit features in several dishes - especially puddings, such as Kujje Payasa (Jackfruit Dessert).

Avoid consuming jackfruit alongside a dairy product such as milk, as the oxalate in jackfruit reacts negatively to calcium-rich foods and can cause an upset stomach, and other symptoms such as irritation on the skin, that might be confused with allergy symptoms.

Is jackfruit good for you?

Like other fruits, jackfruit is rich in natural sugars. Though better than refined sugars, natural sugars should be consumed in moderation, and people with diabetes should be extra careful. It also contains good amounts of vitamin C and fibre, contributing to the health of the immune system and that of organs like that heart.

Like bananas, jackfruit is also a great source of potassium, combating the negative effects of salt on the body - which is handy when it is being cooked like meat.

With a medium glycemic index and a good balance of protein and carbohydrates, jackfruit is well placed to be the centre of healthy meals.

Top tip!

For recipes in which jackfruit is intended to stand in as a meat alternative, canned varieties work best. However, you should make sure the jackfruit is canned in brine or water, and not syrup - as this will make it taste sweet.

Does jackfruit taste like meat?

Unripe jackfruit doesn’t necessarily taste like meat, but it has a similar texture and a propensity to take on flavours in the same way meat does when it is marinated in or slow-cooked with other ingredients.

Unripe jackfruit does not yet have fully developed sugars, and so does not have the sweet and fruity flavour of ripe jackfruit, and this is why it has a blander taste some would liken to white meat like chicken or turkey.

Top tip!

Whilst mostly associated with pulled pork, unripe jackfruit can also imitate Korean style fried chicken, by dipping in cornstarch before frying using, the same method.