Have you ever opened a durian yourself?
“The uncle at the fruit store cut and pack for me, why should I buy a whole durian home?”
While that’s true, there’s nothing quite like experiencing the joy of slicing open a durian with your own two hands. If you choose to bring whole durians home, you get to choose precisely when to cut it open and dig in, with no worries of whether it was freshly packed by the seller.
But to do so, you’ll first need to know how to cut it open! With the sharp spikes and thick peel, it can seem like an intimidating task. Check online for instructions, and you even might chance upon this hilarious viral video from a Korean influencer who sliced a durian clean in half.
Well, when there’s a will, there’s a way. But believe us, there is a much easier way to gain access to the King of Fruits.
The only tool you’ll need is a large, sharp knife. As the spines can be prickly, it’s also a good idea to put on a pair of gloves to protect your hands. Let’s begin!
Step 1: Look for the 5-pointed “star” at the base
Place your durian on a flat surface, preferably a chopping board. Check the bottom of the fruit (opposite the stem), and you’re going to 5 lines that extend out from the middle, forming a faint star shape. These lines actually indicate the locations of the pods inside the fruit! Think of them as nature’s guidelines, telling you exactly where to slice for perfect durian sections.
Step 2: Poke right into the centre of the star shape
Don’t go sawing away at the side of the fruit, no! Hold the fruit steady with your gloved hand, or a towel if you don’t have any gloves. Start by piercing the tip of your knife into the centre of the star at the base and get your knife maybe about 5cm into the fruit. The skin will be tough, so be sure to hold on tightly to the durian. You can twist and wiggle your knife around in the direction of the five lines to loosen up the tough exterior, which might cause the seams to rupture, making it easier for you to cut.
Step 3: Cut down the seam
It’s time for some slicing action! All you need to do is to cut along the seam aaaaall the way down, stopping just short of the stem.
It’s at this point where some might choose to flex their muscles and, with just this one opening, use their hands to pry open the rest of the fruit. If that’s something you want to try, we say go for it! But be warned — it takes a fair bit of effort, and watch out for the spikes!
Step 4: Pull apart the sections with your hands
If you’d prefer a less forceful method of opening the durian, simply continue using your knife to slice along all five lines until you’ve got five separate wedges connected at the stem. Now for the moment of truth — pull apart the sections with your hands to reveal the beautiful durian flesh! The sections should come apart easily, like flower petals blooming. A beautiful, stinky flower.
Stuff Yourself with Fresh, Mouthwatering Durian!
You know what to do from here! Grab a piece of durian and tuck into that delectable meat. Forget about the calories; after all your effort to open it up, you deserve it more than ever.
If you’re not really in the mood to hack a durian open, that’s okay too. Save yourself the trouble and get freshly dehusked durians, frozen durians, durian puree and more delivered right to your doorstep in Singapore! Browse Kungfu Durian’s online store now.