There are two main varieties of custard apples, the Pinks Mammoth and African Pride. Both are sweet, juicy and full of flavour.
As the name suggests, the Pinks Mammoth is the larger of the two varieties. It can grow up to 3kg and has yellow-pink colouring between the ridges of the bumps when mature. You can pull a Pinks Mammoth apart with your hands and then scoop out the flesh to enjoy.
The African Pride is the smaller variety and is medium sized – usually between 500g-800g. To enjoy, simply cut the African Pride in half (or the size you’d like) and scoop the flesh out with a spoon.
Both varieties have a full appearance when mature, and the skin will start to smooth out the bumps. They both turn from dark green to light green.
Tips to choose a custard apple:
- Opt for ones that are pale green and firmer
- Ripe custard apples will give slightly under pressure when squeezed, similar to an avocado
- Custard apples have a fragile exterior, so a couple of spots or blemishes on the skin are normal, and the flesh inside will still be great quality
- Once the skin has turned purple or black, they are past their best eating quality
Tips to store a custard apple:
- If you buy a custard apple that is firm to the touch, store in your fruit bowl to allow them to ripen. This usually takes a few days
- To speed up the ripening process, place your custard apple in a paper bag with a banana
- Once ripe, it is best to store custard apples in the fridge and enjoy within three days
- To enjoy, remove from the fridge and let it sit for around five minutes to get the best taste