What Is Jackfruit and Should You Eat It?

This giant fruit is often used as a meat substitute. Here's what you should know.

If you've been to a grocery store lately, there's a good chance that you encountered a large, green and spiky fruit sitting next to other tropical produce. It's called a jackfruit and it's something you'll be seeing lots more of. The bulbous fruit can be used for both savory and sweet dishes depending on its ripeness. Because of its size, however, it can be an incredibly intimidating food. Not only can it weigh up to 50 pounds, but it has a thick, green rind surrounding the fleshy inside (luckily, it's also available prepped, in a can or in the refrigerated section). Here's the healthy scoop on the trendy fruit you may not have tried before.

What Is Jackfruit?

While the fruit is indigenous to India and Bangladesh, Zerega notes that it's also grown in Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. "It grows in the tropics and subtropics. So for example, it can survive in Florida, and people do grow it there

For those who are new to jackfruit, you'll discover that there are multiple ways it can be used. It's often cooked in vegetarian dishes; many have compared the texture to pulled pork when marinated in a barbecue-like sauce. This type of jackfruit—used for savory dishes—is green and freshly picked. Once it ripens, however, it's orange-yellow, sweet, sticky and perfect for desserts and smoothies.

In the United States, jackfruit is having a moment as people rave about its unique flavors and savory applications. In countries where the fruit is indigenous, however, it's more of a neglected crop. "In India, a lot of times it is considered a poor man's crop. So, it isn't as valued," Animals will eat them, but they can also just sit there and rot. It can go to waste.

Jackfruit Nutrition

Jackfruit is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin B6 and fiber, buying canned versions are easier, double-checking that the fruit is packaged in water or its own juice and doesn't contain sweeteners.

And while jackfruit may mimic the texture of pulled pork,  it's clear that it is actually very low in protein. So low, in fact, that you get only about 1-2 grams of protein per 1/2-cup serving. So if you're hankering for jackfruit carnitas for dinner, make sure the rest of your day has some healthy protein sources.