Cassava fruit vs. Breadfruit - What's the difference?

As the importation of exotic fruits and vegetables becomes more common, you may be exposed to unique foods that you have never seen before and have no idea what to do with them.

If you’ve ever seen an unusually large and prickly fruit at a farmer’s market, you may have come across a jackfruit or breadfruit. They look very similar, but they are completely different and unique fruits.

What is the difference between jackfruit and breadfruit?

The main difference between jackfruit and breadfruit is their flavor. Most jackfruits in North America are sold green and immature, with little flavor of their own but the perfect texture to create a sauced meat alternative. Breadfruit, by contrast, tastes remarkably like bread. 

There are other differences, as well as some similarities, so we invite you to join us in exploring these two strange and prickly fruits.

What is jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a very large tropical fruit that can be found growing in tropical or warm places like India, Brazil, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and Australia.

Although its closest relatives are figs and blackberries, the size of the jackfruit is nothing short of impressive, especially when you first come across one of these 50- to 100-pound behemoths.

The fruits are approximately oblong, although with curves and inconsistencies. They are also covered in rounded spikes.

Depending on their maturity, jackfruits are mostly green with a pinkish blush that turns brown as they mature. A jackfruit can take up to 3 years to fully mature and be ready for harvest.

What does jackfruit taste like?

Jackfruit can be eaten before it is fully ripe and its flavor changes a lot from green to ripe. The young, green, underdeveloped fruits have a very mild flavor, slightly sweet, but more textured than anything else.

Unripe jackfruit is usually cooked and, like tofu, it will absorb any seasoning, sauce or flavoring it is combined with. For this reason, it is usually prepared as a vegetable or as a substitute for meat.

When the jackfruit ripens, it is sweetened. It is more likely to be eaten raw when fully ripe, often compared to the pineapple-flavored banana.

how to eat jackfruit

In North America, jackfruit is often purchased canned or packaged with sauce and is available in the specialty food section of the grocery store, often along with other vegan food options.

Some farmers markets may have whole or split fruit, but most likely you’ll be eating jackfruit that has already been cut open, dried, and prepared for consumption.

If you have fresh, ripe jackfruit, the pulp can be eaten raw or cooked. The seeds, which are also edible, should always be cooked. They are often roasted and salted or boiled, pureed and turned into hummus.

The pulp of the fruit is usually crushed. It can be simmered in a sauce to make an alternative to pork, beef, or chicken, or it can be served with rice, mixed with other vegetables in a stir-fry, or made into any other recipe.

Since breadfruit are so large, if you get a whole one, you may want to consider freezing it for later.

What is breadfruit?

Breadfruit also belongs to the mulberry family, making it a relative of the breadfruit tree.

They look similar, but breadfruit does not grow as large as breadfruit.

The medium grapefruit is harvested when it weighs about 4 kilos and is the size of a very large grapefruit.

The breadfruit tree grows in tropical places. In North America, it grows in Hawaii and Florida or is imported from Jamaica and the West Indies.

There are many different varieties of breadfruit trees, but they are all prolific, producing up to 200 fruits per season with minimal care or attention.

What does breadfruit taste like?

Breadfruit, like jackfruit, can be eaten both ripe and immature, although immature fruits should always be cooked before eating. The ripe fruits can be enjoyed directly from the tree.

The fruit got its name from its taste, which is very similar to that of freshly baked bread. The more ripe the fruit, the sweeter it is.

The texture of the breadfruit is quite starchy, so when cooked it is also often compared to potatoes or, if quite ripe, to sweet potatoes.

How to eat breadfruit

If you’re lucky enough to have access to a fresh, fully ripe breadfruit, you can simply peel the skin off with your hands and eat it as is. The more ripe it is, the easier it will be to peel and the sweeter and more pleasant it will taste raw.

It’s much easier to find prepackaged green, unripe fruit for sale in grocery stores. You’ll want to cook this one instead of eating it raw.

The large fruits can be quartered and steamed or baked with the skin on, similar to cooking a pumpkin.

The skin is edible, although slightly bitter, which is why many people choose to discard it before eating it. With a little butter and herbs, your breadfruit will taste and feel pretty much like mashed potatoes.

You can also cut the breadfruit into pieces and fry or bake it to make chips.

Jackfruit vs. Breadfruit - Nutritional Content

Both jackfruit and breadfruit are staple foods in some cultures thanks to their impressive nutritional components. Notably, both serve as good sources of sustainable plant protein.

In each cup of raw fruit, you’ll get approximately 5% of your daily protein needs. The fruits are so large and so delicious that, especially when eaten fresh, it is easy to eat several cups of fruit in one sitting.

Since fruits are so closely related, there are quite a few similarities in terms of nutrition, although there are some differences as well. Let’s take a look at each of them.

Jackfruit Nutrition

We have already mentioned the protein content of jackfruit, but there are also many other nutritional components in this delicious food.

Jackfruit has fewer carbohydrates than breadfruit, but also less fiber. It is also an extremely low-fat food, although that of course varies by preparation.

Jackfruit is also a great source of vitamins A and C, which help protect the health of your eyes and the overall immune system, respectively. You will also get a good supply of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium.

Taken together, jackfruit nutrition has been shown to help reduce inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

This goes for adding almost any plant-based food to your diet, so don’t think of breadfruit as a miracle superfood, but rather as a component of a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle.

Breadfruit Nutrition

In North America, jackfruit has enjoyed much more popularity in recent years than breadfruit, though for no other reason than timing and publicity.

In many ways, the breadfruit is even more nutritious than its relative. Breadfruit is more starchy, which increases the number of carbohydrates, but also provides more than 40% of the recommended daily intake of fiber in a single cup of fruit.

Breadfruit also outperforms jackfruit when it comes to vitamin C, iron, and potassium, and provides a decent amount of other nutrients as well.

If you have the time and opportunity, try not to ask yourself if you should choose jackfruit or breadfruit, but rather how you can incorporate both into your diet.

Related questions

Does jackfruit stink?

The jackfruit is often confused with the durian, a notoriously odorous fruit popular in Southeast Asia.

Both fruits look quite similar, but the scent of jackfruit is not as strong. When ripe, jackfruit is high in sulfur, which can be unpleasant, but is usually not strong.

Many vegetables are high in sulfur, such as cabbage and Brussels sprouts, which give off a similar characteristic odor.

Does jackfruit taste like meat?

Jackfruit has become a very popular meat alternative, and is often made a substitute for pulled pork or other pulled meat in sauce dishes.

The fruit itself doesn’t taste like pork or chicken, but it’s very similar in texture, and when smothered in a similar-tasting sauce, it’s almost unrecognizable from the conventional preparation.

Breadfruit is also a good source of plant-based protein and is considered an extremely sustainable food, making it a popular and delicious alternative to meat, even if it doesn’t taste exactly the same without some sauce or seasoning.

Can you eat breadfruit raw?

As long as the breadfruit is fully ripe, it can be eaten raw. When the breadfruit is ripe, it gives a little when pressed and the skin is yellowish with some rough brown spots.

The immature fruit will be bright green and firm.

The skin should come off effortlessly, leaving a somewhat juicy layer underneath. The fruit should have a smooth, buttery texture and a sweet, juicy flavor very similar to raw jackfruit.