eat New Zealander is already nutritive - packed , but leaving the skin on increases its wellness benefit .

Rachel Marek

Sweet , refreshing and loaded with health benefits , kiwis pack a raft into a lowly computer software . But can you eat New Zealander skin ? While you might be used topeeling off the fuzzy brown skin of Actinidia chinensis fruitwith a paring tongue , veg peeler or spoonful , you do n’t actually want to . Kiwi skin is , in fact , eatable — and it ’s good for you , too .

peeling a kiwi

Credit:Rachel Marek

There ’s more to this minuscule , eggs - form yield other than being a expectant addition tosmoothies , salads , anddesserts . We tapped Sarah Brekke , M.S.,Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen culinary specialist , to tell us everything you need to have it away about deplete kiwi skin .

Sarah Brekke , M.S.,Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen culinary specialist

Can You Eat Kiwi Skin?

First things first : Yes , you’re able to corrode kiwi skin . The yield ’s blurry brown tegument is completely comestible , but many prefer to remove it first because of itsunique grain .

“ Many people notice the ‘ haired ’ texture of Chinese gooseberry pelt unpleasant to deplete , ” Brekke says . “ Besides a very unique mouthfeel , kiwi vine skins contain calcium oxalate crystals , also come to to as raphides , that can have tiny cabbage on the tender skin inside of the mouth . When the acid from the fruit comes in link with these micro - scratches , a very unpleasant edged ace may occur . ”

If you do n’t mind the texture , go ahead and eat the kiwi skin . Not only is kiwi skin edible , but it ’s compact with nutrients such as fiber , folate , and Vitamin E as well as antioxidant like Vitamin C.

Some even claim thateating a kiwi before layer can serve you sleep better .

Boost your fiber intake by 50 % by corrode a Chinese gooseberry with the peel on .

When to Avoid Eating Kiwi Skin

While Chinese gooseberry pelt is edible , there are some hoi polloi who should manoeuver percipient of consuming it . Kiwi skins are high-pitched in oxalate , which are course occur compound found in many plants including leafy greens , vegetables , fruits , ballock , and come . Brekke say citizenry who are prone to developing kidney stones should deflect consume kiwi cutis as the oxalate can bind with atomic number 20 and form more Stone in the kidney .

How to Prep and Serve Kiwi With the Skin On

Just before serve kiwi vine , ensure towash the fruitwell . “ Always wash off your garden truck before consuming to remove any pesticide balance , dirt , and/or germs — specially when eating the tegument , ” Brekke tell . “ For the best shelf - life of garden truck , we advocate washing just before eating because the added moisture on the exterior of produce item will accelerate the spoilage process . ”

Soak fruit like kiwi in coolheaded water with a fleck of baking tonic for 10–15 minutes to help reduce pesticide balance , enjoin Brekke .

Once washed , kiwi can be eaten whole or slice up , diced , or cut into wedges to serve . Put it to puzzle out in one of our favored kiwi recipes by pair it with Greek yogurt as a dessert , layer it on top ofa breakfast parfait , or chopping it up into aquick yield salsa .

“ Surprise ! Kiwi Skin Is Edible — and Really respectable for You . ”Cleveland Clinic . 2023 .