How to Cut Kiwi (3 Easy Methods)

Seeing green.

Kiwi may look plain and brown on the inside, but it is gorgeous and green on the inside — not to mention packed with flavor and nutrients. Learn how to cut kiwi fruit, choose a ripe one, peel a kiwi, and more.

All About Kiwi: What Is Kiwi? What Does Kiwi Taste Like? How Do You Know When Kiwi Is Ripe?

Kiwi fruit is many things: tart, sweet, packed with nutrients like vitamin C and fiber. And woefully underrated.

Kiwi does not look particularly enticing — at least from the outside. A small, oval fruit about the size of a small plum, kiwi has a plain brown skin covered in light-brown fuzz. Neither exotically beautiful like, say, a dragon fruit, nor conventionally attractive like mango or strawberries, kiwi can usually be found tucked away in a hidden corner of the supermarket produce department. When it comes to kiwi, baby definitely gets put in the corner.

It’s time to correct this and bring kiwi center stage. Slice kiwi, and you’ll find a gorgeous green starburst of tart, sweet flesh, dotted with a ring of black seeds. Here’s more.

What Is Kiwi?

Kiwi, also known as kiwifruit or Chinese gooseberry, originated in what is now China and Taiwan. Now, countries including New Zealand and California cultivate the fruit.

Smallish, with a brown exterior and bright green flesh interior with a white, firm center, kiwifruit can generally be found year round, but domestic American kiwi crops (grown in California) peak in December and January, along with citrus season.

How Do You Know When Kiwi Is Ripe?

Kiwi has a relatively short eating window. The kiwi should feel firm, but not hard. Underripe kiwi is rock hard; overripe kiwi feels mushy and very soft. You know when a kiwi is ripe by gently squeezing the fruit.

You can store a whole kiwi in the fridge to slow down ripening if needed. Once cut, I find that a kiwi loses its firmness and flavor quickly, even if stored in an airtight container. So keep it whole until just before cutting and eating it.

What Does Kiwi Taste Like?

Ripe kiwi has a balanced flavor of tart and sweet. Some compare the flavor to a combination of green apples and pineapple. Underripe kiwi tastes more sour. Overripe kiwi has an off, almost fermented flavor.

Is Kiwi Healthy?

Absolutely. Kiwi is very good for you, with lots of vitamin C (immune boosting and collagen producing), vitamin K (good for bones), vitamin E (good for skin), potassium, and fiber. Kiwi also provides serotonin and has accordingly been shown to aid in sleep.

Do Kiwis Need to Be Peeled?

Technically, no, kiwis do not need to be peeled. Kiwi rind is edible, and as such, the skin does not need to be sliced from the fruit. But definitely clean your fruit first regardless of whether you want to eat the kiwi skin or not.

Even though kiwi does not technically need to be peeled, I recommend it. The skin tastes a bit plain and rough, with a fuzzy texture, and can take away from the effect of the beautiful green within.

How to Peel and Cut a Kiwi Fruit: 3 Methods

There are several ways to properly peel and cut a kiwi. One method of cutting a kiwi is not better than the other; just go with whatever style you prefer. Slices will show a beautiful starburst pattern. Wedges of kiwi are a more European serving style.

How to Peel a Kiwi

To peel a kiwi, start with a sharp knife (I prefer a paring knife) and cutting board.

1. Lay the clean kiwi on its side. Cut off the top and bottom ends.
2. Stand the kiwi up so that it’s resting on the cut, flat side.
3. Use your knife to pare off the skin, going from top to bottom. Rotate the kiwi and repeat until all the skin is removed. You could also cut the top and bottom off the kiwi and then peel it with a vegetable peeler, but I prefer to minimize the number of dishes I have to wash.

How to Cut a Kiwi Into Slices

To cut a kiwifruit into slices, start by peeling the kiwi as described above. Then,

1. Turn the kiwi back on its side, and slice into rounds. I usually make my rounds about 1/4″ thick.
2. Transfer to a plate and press lightly to fan the slices out a bit.

How to Cut a Kiwi Into Wedges

A wedge-style cut is just as easy as kiwi slices, but has a very different look. To cut a kiwi into wedges:

1. Peel the kiwi as described above.
2. Keeping the kiwi upright, Slice down through the center so the kiwi is now in two long halves.
3. Rotate the kiwi 45 degrees and slice down the center again. You now have four long wedges.

Other Kiwi Cuts

In addition to the two most common methods of cutting a kiwi above, kiwi can be cut into a small dice small for kids or for sprinkling on top of yogurt or oatmeal, incorporated into fruit salsa, or simply chunked up into cubes and tossed — skin on or off — into a blender for a smoothie.

If you use the fruit in a smoothie,  I still recommend cutting off the hard stump ends of the kiwi. Peeling the fuzzy skin off is optional.

You can also simply cut the kiwi in half horizontally, and use the spoon method: just run a spoon around the edge and bottom and pop the kiwi fruit out of the rind “cup.”

Want extra credit? I love this video on how to cut a kiwi into a fancy flower zig-zag. So cool!

How to Serve and Eat Kiwi

Kiwi makes a wonderful snack on its own, but also serves as a gorgeous addition to fruit salads and fruit platters with it’s pretty green pop. I often use kiwi as a decorative fruit for this recipe for French fruit tart desserts for the same reason.

Kiwi can be served chilled or at room temperature, but be sure to serve it very fresh once cut, as the color and texture will change as it sits out.

Hungry for more essential food techniques and tips? Check out:

• How to Cut a Dragon Fruit (and More)
• How to Slice a Loaf of Artisan Bread
• How to Arrange a Fruit Platter
• A Lovely Fall Charcuterie Board
• Fried Green Tomatoes