How To Open a Durian
If the infamously stinky odor of the durian weren't already enough to keep people from eating it, there's also the task of splitting open the spiny shell to reach the creamy pods within. Durian newbies, be not afraid; Kathryn Hill at The Kitchn has documented the process of opening a durian. All you need is a big knife and adequate arm strength.
If you want to try durian without opening it yourself, a fruit vendor may do it for you. In Manhattan's Chinatown my friends and I bought a durian from a vendor on Mott Street and Grand Street who scooped out the flesh and neatly packed the "pods" in a container, probably in much less time than if one of us went at the durian with a knife. Still, it's good to know how to open one yourself!
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
7 Comments:
Why in the name off all that's holy would you EVER want to open a durian? The stench alone is enough to make you puke.
RichardCrystal at 3:09PM on 02/29/08
I have fond childhood memories of eating durian with my grandfather, still enjoy a bite of it from time to time.
gothamknight at 3:15PM on 02/29/08
@RichardCrystal: I have a friend who would sooo agree with you. A week ago, at least. He was with us during the durian cutting in Chinatown and hid behind a plastic sheet to protect himself from the smell. But later he realized the smell wasn't as bad as he thought it would be..or he got used to it. ;)
roboppy at 3:23PM on 02/29/08
Honestly, I don't get the hype surrounding durian. I don't think the smell is that bad. I don't particularly enjoy the taste but I continue to be surprised at the reaction it evokes. Even Andrew Zimmern, who eats massive worms raw, spit up when he ate a durian. Even after years of living in SE Asia and smelling it often at the market, I always thought, well, perhaps I'm smelling the wrong thing, or maybe that I kept mistaking a jackfruit for a durian. So, I went down to Chinatown in NYC, and bought a durian just to double check that I knew for sure what a durian was, and it's not that bad.
NSW at 3:42PM on 02/29/08
I'm getting one this weekend. Thanks Robyn!
MF Grocery at 4:46PM on 02/29/08
Singapore, 1984. Purchased 1# of ripe durian pods. Triple ziplock bagged creamy looking flesh. Stored in hotel room.....did not know that was illegal. Returned to discover an deeply violating, unholy odor permeating the hall from behind my closed room door. Quickly removed offending package to the rear building parking lot, lit only by floods and fireflies. Attempted to spoon flesh into my mouth. Attempted to swallow said flesh. Expectorated flesh and half my supper supper on the ground....did not know that was illegal in Singapore. Sealed the zip locks with a shaken hand, hurled the package out into the dark over the rear chain link fense, thereby breaking a third (no littering!) Singapore law. Total fines evaded....$3000. But the room.....would....not....air....out.
coastalvicar
coastalvicar at 8:56PM on 02/29/08
David Letterman ought to drop a few off a skyscraper along with watermelons. I'd love to see how they "pop".
PerkyMac at 11:15AM on 03/01/08