Also called carambola, starfruit is one of those natural edible marvels that just seem impossible, and for that reason, they can be a daunting item to pick up at the supermarket. Don’t be intimidated by the funky shape of this tropical fruit, though: preparing carambola is actually pretty easy and a great way to add pizzazz to any fruit-based dish! The easiest way to enjoy starfruit is in a fruit salad or as part of a grazing board.

What Is Starfruit?

This eccentric-looking fruit is native to Southeast Asia. It thrives in humidity, which is why it is cultivated in many countries that encircle the equator, particularly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Starfruit is also grown in some select sunny areas of the U.S. Florida starfruit farms are the oldest and most prolific American purveyors of starfruit, having begun cultivating the fruit in the 1970s. Around 90% of the starfruit Americans consume comes from these Floridian farms, while about 10% is grown in Hawaii.

What Does Starfruit Look Like?

Starfruit grows in an oblong shape with five distinct ridges on its sides, in the shape of a star. Like a banana, an unripe starfruit is still green; when it has passed its peak ripeness, it will be fully yellow and may develop brown spots. A ripe star fruit is yellow with some green in spots and possibly some brown along the edges. The skin of the fruit is waxy.

When you slice into a starfruit, you’ll discover that the cross-section of these strange fruits is literally shaped like a perfect, five-pointed star. It’s worth buying starfruit just for the experience of slicing into it!

What Does Starfruit Taste Like?

There are actually two distinct varieties of starfruit. There are larger, sweeter starfruit that are more readily available in America, and then there are smaller, tarter starfruit that are less commonly available. For both types, you can eat the whole fruit, including the skin and the flesh.

Both varieties of starfruit or carambola are sour; the taste is most comparable to a sour pear, while the consistency is more similar to a firm grape. Generally, people like to eat the sweet, large starfruit on its own, while the smaller, more sour starfruit is most often in collaboration with other flavors in cooked dishes.

When Is Starfruit in Season?

There are typically two periods of harvest for starfruit each year. One comes at the end of the summer, from about August through September, and the other occurs mid-winter, around December through February. However, there are enough American starfruit purveyors that the fruit is available year-round.

How to Know if Starfruit Is Ripe

You can tell that your starfruit is ripe if it is mostly bright yellow with some light green and some browning along the edges. It should be firm but juicy. If it’s mostly green, it’s not yet ripe. If it’s all yellow or soft, it is probably overripe.

How to Cut Starfruit

1. Wash your starfruit, and then slice off the two ends with a sharp knife.

2. Take your knife and carve away the brown edges on each point of the star. Although these ridges make the star shape more pointy and exact, they have a different texture and taste and are not so pleasant to eat.

3. Cut your starfruit into slices of your desired thickness. Each slice will come away looking like a star!

How To Eat and Cook With Starfruit 

Sweet carambola’s flavor is subtle enough that it pairs very well with other fruits, and its shape makes it the perfect addition to any dish that you want to be a show-stopper. Consider slicing up some starfruit to add to a fruit salad or sangria or fruit punch. They’re also great in smoothies — and if you’re putting starfruit in any drink, you might as well perch an extra slice on the rim of the glass to show off its cool shape! 

Tart carambola, on the other hand, is much more well suited to pair with cooked chicken or fish dishes. Slice it thinly and layer it on top of your main course. This will add a sour layer to the flavor profile of your dish — in addition to stepping up your presentation.

How to Store Starfruit

If you’ve purchased your starfruit when it is still unripe, leave it out of the fridge for a few days to allow it to ripen, making sure it’s tucked away somewhere without direct sunlight. Once your starfruit is ripe, transfer it to the fridge to preserve its freshness longer. Try to eat ripe starfruit within 4 days before it becomes overripe.

Try Using Starfruit in These Recipes

• Summer Fruit and Berry Sangria
• Fruit Salad
• Sparkling Rose Berry Sangria
• Red Sangria