# What to do with grapefruit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785 "2013-12-08T00:36:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/1 "2013-12-08T00:36:15Z")
Thinking of getting Frau Cleaner the Fruit of the Month Club. Kicker is, she _hates_ grapefruit with monomaniacal fervor. Is there anything to be done with them, save covering in sweetener and scooping out the bitter flesh? ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/2 "2013-12-08T00:58:10Z")
I wonder how you are eating it. The membrane can be bitter. Cut it in half and and slice out each little section to avoid the membrane. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/3 "2013-12-08T01:04:02Z")
Cut in half. Sprinkle the cut half with sugar. Pop under the broiler, briefly, until sugar Carmelites and bubbles. Eat with a grapefruit spoon. Or send them to me. I love fresh grapefruit! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/4 "2013-12-08T01:05:43Z")
I peel 'em and eat 'em like most people eat oranges… but then, I like them. And technically they aren’t bitter, they’re sour. Unless you’re eating the white membrane part, which I don’t recommend. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/5 "2013-12-08T01:10:28Z")
I’m with **Broomstick**. Peel and section. Sprinkle with sugar if you must. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/6 "2013-12-08T01:42:37Z")
How recently has she eaten a grapefruit? The plain white ones of my childhood have been replaced with the Ruby Red and Rio Red that are NOT in any way bitter. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/7 "2013-12-08T01:43:48Z")
Wow… Peeling them is possible? I was always under the impression you couldn’t peel 'em like oranges, that the rind was too tightly stuck to the sections. Duh! I’m gonna try this soonest! Thank you! (Love grapefruit, but hate eating halves with a spoon. The classic “squirt in the eye” problem!) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/8 "2013-12-08T02:09:30Z")
[Grapefruit and ginger marmalade](http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/8315/grapefruit+and+ginger+marmalade) Marmalades are the easiest spreads to make as no setter is required. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/9 "2013-12-08T17:11:52Z")
Thanks for all the input! Better than my plan of hiding them and presenting her with kielbasa in a home-made Harry and David package. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/10 "2013-12-08T17:14:41Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I peel 'em and eat 'em like most people eat oranges… but then, I like them. Ditto. Unfortunately, I’m supposed to avoid grapefruit because of one of my meds… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/11 "2013-12-08T17:29:41Z")
Just tell her you will take them off her hands. I would juice them. Their fresh juice will be delicious, maybe mix with fresh OJ to cut the tanginess. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/12 "2013-12-08T19:28:29Z")
Grapefruit and avocado go very nicely together. Make a shrimp or lobster, avocado and grapefruit salad tossed in a light vinaigrette. Eat some grapefruit yourself and give the rest to the neighbors. Make up for this missed month by taking her to a nice restaurant. Order the six-month or nine-month fruit of the month package. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/13 "2013-12-08T19:49:50Z")
Maybe I was raised by freaks. We always halved our grapefruit, carefully sectioned with a serrated grapefruit knife, gave it a light sprinkle of salt (NOT sugar) and dug right in! Failing that, I agree on grapefruit and avocado salad. Good stuff! ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/14 "2013-12-08T21:36:44Z")
Pardon my vicarious paranoia (or whatever) but if someone has been in the habit of never eating grapefruit and then starts, they should be aware of [some potentially serious grapefruit-drug interactions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapefruit%E2%80%93drug_interactions#Mechanism_of_the_interaction) (the linked table is just one of many resources available on the Web). In other words, eating grapefruit or drinking its juice can lead to dire consequences if a person is taking [certain medications](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14760). So, it’s worth checking, once, before turning on a grapefruit neophyte. Now back to your regularly scheduled grapefruit recipes . . . ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/15 "2013-12-08T21:39:52Z")
You can make a decent [coffee cake](http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/side-dish-recipes/grapefruit-poppy-seed-loaf) out of the juice and zest, if you don’t want to eat them fresh. Tons of recipes out there. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/16 "2013-12-08T21:46:15Z")
[Grapefruit Cake](http://allears.net/din/rec_grck.htm) is apparently food of the gods, according to my daughter! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/17 "2013-12-08T22:50:52Z")
My mother used to bake a delicious grapefruit pie, not at all bitter. There are lots of recipes online. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/18 "2013-12-09T00:28:56Z")
Section carefully removing the white membrane which is bitter and sprinkle with MAPLE SUGAR! ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/19 "2013-12-09T01:46:19Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > In other words, eating grapefruit or drinking its juice can lead to dire consequences if a person is taking [certain medications](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14760). Actually, I’d been taking that med for several years before I ever noticed the grapefruit warning. YMMV, however… ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785/20 "2013-12-09T01:51:19Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/k4R5wZs8cxI/hqdefault.jpg "James Cagney smashes a grapefruit into Mae Clarke's face") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4R5wZs8cxI) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-grapefruit/675785.md?page=2)