Jackfruit vs. Durian - What is the difference?

Jackfruit and durian are somewhat similar in appearance, as both are large fruits with a spiky green and brown exterior. But that’s where the similarities end, because the fruits themselves couldn’t be more different.

What is the difference between jackfruit and durian?

Jackfruit and durian are similar in size and appearance, but in terms of taste, nutrition, regular use and, above all, smell, they are unique. Durian tends to have a more spiky appearance and is known for a stronger flavor and much more intense smell.

In this article we will see in detail what makes each fruit special.

What is jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that originally grew in southern India, although it is now grown in most of Southeast Asia as well. It is related to figs, blackberries and breadfruit.

A jackfruit and its garlic-like fruit pods.

The jackfruit is a giant-sized, green to gold-colored, bud-shaped fruit covered in small, spiky bumps. When we say giant size, we mean that an adult jackfruit can weigh up to 80 or even 100 pounds and measure up to 3 feet.

They are huge. Due to their size, they take about 3 years to reach maturity.

Jackfruit is often confused with breadfruit because they look a bit alike, although the breadfruit weighs about 4 kilos on average. Breadfruit is also starchier, more like a chestnut or even a sweet potato.

jackfruit flavor

The flavor of jackfruit varies depending on whether you eat it green or ripe. Inside each fruit there are 5 chambers where the seeds grow. The seeds are protected by a thick, creamy, gelatinous coating.

The green jackfruit, which has not yet developed its seeds, has a mild flavor and is often used in cooking, as it takes on the flavor of whatever sauce it is cooked with.

Ripe jackfruit turns more yellow, both inside and out, sweetening as it ages. Sweet, ripe jackfruit is almost a mix of tropical flavors, like banana and pineapple.

Jackfruit smells quite good, thanks to its high sulfur content, and is often called “stink fruit.”

However, it’s nowhere near as potent as the durian smell, which we’ll talk about in a minute.

Jackfruit Nutrition

Although jackfruit is often used as an alternative to meat, this is mainly due to its texture, not its protein content. For a fruit, 3 grams of protein per cup is pretty high.

As a protein supplement, many other plant-based alternatives have a much higher protein intake.

However, there are many other nutritional reasons to add this strange plant to your diet. It has a decent amount of vitamin C and includes a healthy set of powerful antioxidants.

If consumed as part of a healthy, balanced diet, it can help reduce inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

The same vitamins will boost your immune system and help keep your skin, hair and nails young.

How to open a grapefruit

The first thing you should take into account, if you have bought a whole jackfruit, is the sap, which is difficult to handle. It is very sticky and can make it difficult to eat the fruit inside if you don’t know what you are doing.

One way to deal with sticky sap is to oil your hands and knife before digging. The sap will not stick to the oil, making cleanup easier.

The downside is that the oil is quite slippery and the knives are sharp, so use this tip with great caution.

The other, less effective but more popular solution is to wear gloves. The sap will stick to your gloves instead of your fingers and arms, making it easier to clean, but it will still stick to anything it comes in contact with.

A bucket of hot, soapy water comes in handy to clean the knife from time to time while you cut through the large fruit.

Once you’re prepared, using a sharp serrated knife and some muscle, start at the top of the fruit, where the stem was, and cut all the way down.

Due to the size of the jackfruit, you may need to flip the fruit over once you get to the bottom and re-cut the other side to get to the bottom. Imagine that you cut a very large avocado or mango.

Once you have the fruit open, remove the core. Tilt the knife at an angle and work around it to create a bowl-shaped hole in the fruit.

Your jackfruit is now ready to be eaten.

How to eat the fruits of the forest

If you’ve just opened a whole jackfruit, you can remove each seed pod and pry it out with your fingers or with the help of a knife.

Scoop out the seeds and boil them for a potato-like meal. The pod they grow in can be eaten as is, raw, or shredded and cooked in a variety of recipes.

In tropical climates where the jackfruit is grown, it is not uncommon to see the creamy pulp of the fruit being scooped out, mixed with sticky rice and stuffed into the large seeds, and eaten just like that.

For those used to preparing jackfruit, this seems like the obvious way to eat it. For the rest of the world’s cultures, it is a dirty and slow way to enjoy the fruit.

Jackfruit has become more popular in recent years following the rise of veganism. It is a very popular meat alternative in many recipes, because it can be pulled like pork or shredded like chicken.

If the green fruit is used, it just soaks up whatever sauce you put on it and the experience is almost eerily meaty.

Since jackfruit comes in such a large quantity, you may not be able to eat it all at once. In that case, check out our guide on how to freeze jackfruit for later.

What is durian?

The durian was first discovered in Malaysia, where it remains the most popular, although it is now cultivated in tropical forests throughout Southeast Asia.

A durian fruit that has been cut open to reveal the large, bean-like fruit pods inside.

Like the jackfruit, the durian is a large fruit compared to the fruits we are used to seeing in “western” supermarkets, such as apples and pears. As far as tropical fruits go, it’s not very unusual.

It is compared, in size, with grapefruit, coconuts or soursop, with an average weight of only 1.5 kilos.

The thing to note about the durian is that its spines are more like thorns, unlike the knots you’ll find on the jackfruit or even the spines of the soursop.

The comparison between the durian and the soursop is common, because both are green tropical fruits with spikes.

The soursop does not have a very strong aroma and the pulp inside is white, almost pearly, with a unique sweetness and texture that seems perfectly designed to attract unicorns, despite its unattractive name.

the taste of durian

Before talking about the taste of the durian, it is important to talk about the smell. The durian is known as the stinkiest fruit in the world, and is even banned in public places because its smell is not only strong, but transporting and overwhelming.

Like jackfruit, durian is high in sulfur, but the type of sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, has a much more powerful aroma.

It’s been likened to rotten onions, eggs, and sewage, and it invades your senses before you have a chance to sink your teeth into the fruit.

If you can get over the smell or hold your breath long enough to somehow avoid it, the taste will be worth it.

The flavor is creamy, with hints of caramel and walnuts and a touch of cheese and garlic. We know. It seems like an odd combination, but it’s strangely nice.

The durian fruit, once opened, looks a bit like a yellow brain. The soft compartments in which the seeds grow are custard-like and encased in a thick membrane similar to the pith of a grapefruit or grapefruit.

durian nutrition

If you can get past the smell, your body will thank you. There are plenty of health benefits hiding under their stinky, spiky skin.

The fruit does a pretty good job of protecting itself, but the payoff is plentiful and it’s widely recognized as one of the most nutritious fruits on the planet.

Although jackfruit is more common in Western cultures, the durian’s nutritional value should definitely put it on your radar as a food you must try and hopefully learn to love.

how to eat durian

Like the jackfruit, each durian has 5 chambers inside where its seeds grow. However, if you know what you’re doing, the durian is quite easy and much less cumbersome to open and get to the fruit.

Each chamber has a seam that can be slightly detected on the outside, but is mostly hidden by the spikes. Using a towel to protect your hands, take a large knife and insert it into the center of the fruit where you have cut the stem.

Once it’s well into the durian, move the knife back and forth and the fruit will split naturally along the segments and you can just open it. Some muscular strength will be needed. As soon as it’s open, you can eat it.

If you don’t think you can eat all the fruit at once, or want to try it in new and exciting ways, there are also some options to cook or bake with it, such as curries, fruit salad, cheesecake, cakes, etc. or pies and shakes.