During the rainy season, you get a variety of juicy, delicious fruits to add to the excitement of the season. But unfortunately, it also brings with it a number of health hazards, most of which arise from food. Due to the extreme humidity in the season, food attracts excess moisture and turns into a breeding ground for germs, insects, and pests. Therefore, it is always advisable to take extra care of what you eat. Today, we will talk about one of the most popular monsoon fruits – litchi (or lychee). This juicy, aromatic, bite-sized fruit has a semi-transparent fleshy body and a hard red outer cover. You have to open the peel and eat the fruit in one go.
Amidst all this, we often forget to see the insects thriving in the inner corners of litchi. Sounds scary? But you don’t have to worry because we have got some amazing tips to choose good litchi and throw away the bad one.
Read this alsoIs it safe for diabetics to eat litchi? experts told
Photo Credit: iStock
How to Tell if Litchi Has Spoiled: 5 Tips to Choose the Right Type of Litchi for Consumption:
1. Check the shell:
Always try to choose litchi whose outer skin is red and shiny. If it turns brown or gray, it is likely that it has deteriorated or rotted from the inside.
2. The meat must be tough:
After removing the peel, observe whether the litchi pulp is hard, firm and opaque. Any discoloration means the fruit has fermented from within.
3. Check Seed Size:
According to experts, the smaller the seed, the fresher the litchi. All you have to do is press the center of the fruit to find out how fresh it is.
4. Check the stem area:
This is extremely important. Insects and pests generally congregate at this nodal point. Therefore, always peel the litchi and check the nodes to ensure that there are no pests present there. If the litchi has gone bad, you will see small white insects crawling around. We understand that this scene is not pleasant at all! But whether you like it or not, this investigation is necessary.
5. Check the smell:
Lastly, notice the smell of the litchi. Ideally, its aroma should be strong and sweet. If you smell any kind of foul smell, understand that the litchi has rotten and throw it away immediately.
Now that you’ve followed the steps and chosen the right one, we say, eat them as is and enjoy! And if you want some lychee-based dishes, here are some options to try!
