What Is Pomelo Fruit and How to Peel It

Learn everything you need to know about pomelo fruit in just a few minutes: the taste, how to cut and eat it, and some of its health benefits.

Hand holding a pomelo fruit on wooden background.

About this citrus fruit

Pomelo is a large citrus fruit with thick skin and juicy flesh. It tastes sweet, mildly tart, and less bitter than grapefruit. It’s often eaten fresh, added to salads, or used in Southeast Asian desserts.

There are different varieties of pomelo fruit, with flesh that can range from pale yellow to light pink.

Yellow pomelos taste sweeter and milder, while pink ones have a slightly tangier flavor. Both types are juicy and firm, and you cut them the same way by slicing off the thick peel first.

How to cut it

To eat the fruit, you have to peel away the thick skin. While not difficult, it can be a bit tricky if you’ve never done it before.

Step 1: Cut a small slice off the top of the pomelo to reveal the thick white pith.

Slicing the top off a pomelo to start removing the peel.

Step 2: Make vertical cuts from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit. Space the cuts about 4 cm (1.5 inches) apart all the way around.

Top of a pomelo fruit cut off to show the thick white pith underneath.

Step 3: Use your fingers to peel the thick skin downward, taking off the outer green layer but leaving the white pith.

Pulling down the thick outer skin of a pomelo after making vertical cuts.

Step 4: Gently remove the thick white skin from around the fruit until the juicy flesh is exposed.

Removing the thick white skin from a pomelo after peeling off the green outer layer.

Step 5: Separate the pomelo into sections using your hands.

Hand separating pomelo fruit into sections after peeling.

Step 6: Use a knife to peel away the thin white membrane from each section, then open it up to reveal the fruit inside.

Using a knife to carefully remove the white membrane from a pomelo fruit section.

How to tell if a pomelo is ripe

I made this mistake so you don’t have to!

I couldn’t find pomelos at the local food market, so I picked one up at the supermarket instead… and it was so bitter and dry I could barely use it in my pomelo salad!

After that, I did some research because I didn’t want to make the same mistake twice. Here’s what I found about picking a good, sweet pomelo:

Choose one that feels heavy for its size. Heavy means juicy.
The skin should be smooth and free of soft spots.
Look for bright, even color.
A pomelo that’s turning yellow or fully yellow means it ripened properly.
A pomelo that’s still green usually means it was picked too early and might be bitter or dry inside.

Skip pomelos that are too green. Yellow means ripe and sweet! (The one I bought was way too green and definitely not ready.)

Health benefits

Pomelo is a great source of vitamin C. It’s also rich in fiber, potassium, and copper, making it a healthy snack that’s good for your immune system and digestion.