Did You Know?
Papain enzyme in papaya is so effective at tenderizing meat that it's the main ingredient in many commercial meat tenderizer products.
Overview
Mexico · year-round · fruits
Papaya is a tropical fruit with orange-yellow flesh, a distinctive sweet musky flavor, and papain enzyme that tenderizes meat; green papaya is used in salads.
Mexico
Origin
year-round
Season
Easy
Difficulty
fruits
Category
Flavor Profile
Sweetmuskysoft
Storage Tips
Ripen at room temperature; refrigerate ripe papaya for up to 1 week; once cut, cover and refrigerate for 3–4 days.
Photo Gallery
How to Cook with Papaya
Recipes, pairings, substitutes, and professional tips
Cooking Tips
Sprinkle meat with papaya juice or wrap in papaya leaves for 30 minutes before cooking as a natural tenderizer; use green papaya in Thai som tam.
Best Pairings
limechilimintfish saucecoconutginger
Substitutes
Mango (for ripe papaya), chayote (for green papaya in salads)
Nutrition & Health Benefits
The nutritional profile and health properties of Papaya
Nutrition Highlights
calories
43 kcal per 100g
key_nutrients
Vitamin C, vitamin A, papain, lycopene, folate, potassium
Quick Facts
Categoryfruits
OriginMexico
Seasonyear-round
DifficultyEasy
Health Benefits
Papain aids protein digestion; rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate; lycopene may reduce cancer risk; anti-inflammatory.
Papaya Photos
5 photos showcasing Papaya in its many forms
🌿
Papaya
fruits
OriginMexico
Seasonyear-round
DifficultyEasy
Flavor Notes
Sweetmuskysoft
Shop This Ingredient
Find premium Papaya in our store
Pairs Well With
limechilimintfish saucecoconutginger
Explore More Ingredients
Discover the stories, origins, and culinary secrets behind the world's most fascinating ingredients.