What Does Durian Taste And Smell Like, How To Eat?

Durian is also known as the stinking fruit of Southeast Asia. This tropical fruit has different tastes, smells and textures, depending on the grade. When it comes to the price, they are sought after for their premium varieties. For instance, Musang King and D24, are known for the best quality. These varieties are expensive compared to other less-prized varieties.

Inside the spiky shell of durian, there are many chambers, each filled with one or more pods of flesh. Each pod of flesh is about the size of a small egg (can be bigger than that as well). You can expect to find 5 to 10 pods in a medium-sized durian. Each pod has a large, round seed inside.

The taste of the durian is what makes it unique, and not to exaggerate, people dream of tasting it on their visit to Southeast Asian countries. Also called the "stinky fruit", Durian has a captivating taste.

To the people unaffected by the pungent aroma of durian, they find its taste to be creamy, slightly custardy and sweet with a hint of vanilla and caramel. But for most, smell is what keeps them away from getting to enjoy the true flavors of the fruit.

The smell of durian is pungent and very overpowering. The strong odor resembles that of sulfur or to say in general, like rotten onions.

The smell is so off-putting and unbearable that Durian is banned in majority of public places in many Asian countries. The smell of durian is its most defining characteristics.

Choosing a bad durian, especially the varieties that are expensive may turn out to be a bad experience. So, to avoid wasting money you need to carefully inspect durian before purchasing it. Some tips to select a fresh, ripe durian that lives up to its reputation are as follows:

1. Firm Spikes and Slightly Pliable Shell

The spikes of durian should feel firm but not too hard, and the shell should be slightly pliable, meaning it has some give when you press it with your fingers. If it feels rock-hard, it's not ripe enough and the ones that are mushy should be completely avoided.

2. Inspect The Stem

After checking the spikes and shell, move on to the stem for further confirmation. If the stem is dry, firm and starting to crack, that’s a sign that the fruit is ripe and ready to eat. However, it should not seem as if the stem has started to detach from the fruit as it denotes durian might be overripe.

3. Tap or Shake Durian

If you hear a dull, hollow sound or feel something moving inside while shaking durian that’s a good sign. It usually means the fruit is well-ripened, and the flesh inside is loose and ready to eat. Durian that feels solid or heavy with no sound may not be ripe enough or also could be overripe.

4. Aroma

The aroma a durian has is probably the easiest way to tell if the durian is good. A ripe durian would have developed a strong, sweet smell (though some people find it overpowering!). If the smell is faint and doesn't have that stinking smell, then it means the durian isn’t fully ripe. So, trusting your senses while choosing durian works quite well!

5. Taste Test

Now, this is the real deal-the taste test. The flesh inside should be creamy and soft. 

Try asking the vendor for a small piece of the durian and taste it. A good durian will have a rich taste that will have a melt-in-mouth custard-like texture.

If the durian tastes too bitter or too bland, it may not be the best quality.

When brought home, durian can seem quite tricky to handle. So, for the right approach, follow the steps below:

Wear Gloves: Durian has sharp thorns, also, the pulp of the fruit is sticky. So, to protect your hand from potential damage and stay away from the mess, it's recommended to wear gloves while opening durian. With the gloves on, you also get your hands safe from stinking later.

Cut The Stem: While purchasing, durian often comes with the stem. The first step to open durian is to cut off the stem.

Locate The Natural Seams: The exterior of Durian has seams on it. These lines are the exact locations above the pods situated inside. To locate exactly, look for lines that run from top to bottom, they are multiple in number.

Make A Cut At The Top: As you have located all the seams, it's your turn to make an initial cut. Place the stem side down on the cutting surface and then from the center cut 3 to 4 inches down. If this much depth does not open the durian, make a deeper cut.

Tear Apart: Now, tear apart the outer shell with the help of hands. The durian will split open fairly easily.

Remove The Flesh: Take out the soft pods, the ones that are golden yellow. They are the edible part of the durian.

Remove Seeds: The seeds are not meant to be consumed. So, it's best to get rid of it before serving. The seeds however are prepared in different ways in different cultures and eaten separately.

Shell Disposal: Gather all the shells and dispose of them safely.

If you master recognizing spoiled durian, you will certainly avoid unpleasant surprises. There are a few key signs to look out for, such as the smell and texture of flesh that indicate the fruit is no longer good to eat. A hint of sour, rancid, or overly fermented smell means the fruit has spoiled.

Next, if the durian flesh feels too soft, watery, or slimy, it’s likely gone bad. The flesh should not be discolored either. The flesh should always be golden and creamy, and conversely, if the flesh turns brown or black, it’s no longer safe to eat it.

Finally, if the durian is leaking or has visible mold on the flesh, it's a clear sign of spoilage. Mold generally appears when the fruit is stored improperly or for too long. Also, the availability of cracked shells makes the contamination process easier.

A ripe durian can not be stored for a long time. The leftover ripe durian can be saved for five to seven days in average if proper storage technique is applied. For this, make sure that the durian is well-packed in an airtight container. Without the use of such containers, the durian starts to degrade earlier, as well as, the smell will linger throughout the fridge.

For unripe durians, it would be good for you to know that storing them properly can help the durian ripen. The technique is quite tricky here, you need to take the support of some ripe fruits. For instance, storing unripe durian with ripe bananas in a plastic bag or airtight container can support the ripening process of durian by exposing it to the ethylene gas from bananas. The process completes within 4 to 6 days of storage at room temperature, and after completion, you will get to enjoy the ripe durian.

It's not like durian won't ripen on their own, they will, but it will take a little longer time.

Several desserts and bakery items can be created using durian. Some popular ones that can be used to highlight the sweet taste of durian include:

Durian Mochi

Mochi is a traditional Japanese dessert made from glutinous rice. This recipe is a variation of the classical one, where the rice cavity is filled with sweet durian paste.

Start by gathering:

• glutinous rice flour, water and granulated sugar for mochi skin
• durian, granulated sugar, heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract for the durian filling
• Cooked glutinous rice flour, cooked cornstarch flour, roasted soybean flour and coconut flakes for dusting

Steps To Follow:

1. The recipe begins by preparing the durian filling first, for this, whisk together durian, sugar, whipping cream and granulated sugar. The final mixture should be creamy and should have stiff peaks.
2. Set aside the filling and then start preparing the mochi skin. For this, mix glutinous rice flour, water and granulated sugar in a microwave-safe bowl and then cook it in the microwave for a few minutes.
3. Now, it's time to assemble the durian mochi. On your working surface, sprinkle the dusting powder, remember that the glutinous rice can get too sticky to handle! Then, transfer the cooked dough to the top.
4. Divide the dough into 4 to 5 similar sizes and then flatten it into a round shape. You can use your fingers to do this. After completing stretching, place the durian filling on the dough and then seal the ends. Give the final touch of dusting powder.
5. Do the same with the remaining dough and let all of them sit in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. As they get properly set, serve them with drinks like tea or coffee.

Durian Cake

Durian cake is unbelievably amazing. To make a fluffy durian cake with the taste of durian in it, follow the recipe given below:

Start by gathering:

• flour, butter, sugar, mashed durian and eggs

Steps To Follow:

1. To prepare the batter, start by creaming butter and sugar. Add egg yolks and continue beating.
2. Now, it's time to add the mashed durian and beat the whole mix.
3. Add egg whites next and continue beating.
4. Complete the batter-making process by adding flour.
5. Bake and enjoy.

Durian Ice Cream

The flesh of durian has a thick texture and sweet flavor which is suitable to prepare ice cream. You can make the ice cream using fresh durians by following the steps given below: 

Start by gathering: durian, egg yolks, vanilla extract, sugar, whole milk, cream

Steps To Follow:

1. Start by blending durian flesh to paste form. You need to strain the paste for a smooth ice cream.
2. Now, for the base, whisk the sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract.
3. Into the milk and cream mix, add the egg mix and in medium heat, let a thick consistency form.
4. Now, stir in the durian paste once the mixture cools.
5. Keep the ice cream mix in the freezer to set. Enjoy!

Durian Sticky Rice

This Thai version of mango sticky rice is quite celebrated. The recipe is simple and can be prepared using the following steps:

Start by gathering:

• Thai white glutinous rice, coconut milk, salt, sugar for sticky rice
• coconut milk, palm sugar, salt and durian for durian broth

Steps To Follow:

1. To cook the rice, make sure to soak it overnight.
2. The rice should be steamed and after it gets cooked, add the well-heated mix of coconut milk, sugar, and salt.
3. To prepare the durian broth, cook coconut milk, sugar and salt together until boiled and add durian flesh to it. Let the mix sit for at least 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Durian is a high-calorie fruit and the essential nutrients it has got are unlimited. It is rich in natural sugars, healthy fats, fibers, vitamins and minerals which are significantly beneficial to our health in the following ways:

Heart-healthy Fats

Durian has healthy fats that are generally present in plant food sources. Namely, the fat type is also known as unsaturated fats which is known to have heart benefits.

Conversely, no health-hazardous cholesterol is present in durian, making it even healthier for the heart. The antioxidants present in durian are also beneficial as they ensure the vitality of the heart cells.

Potassium, folate and fiber are other nutrients that help maintain blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiac cell inflammation.

Helps Maintain Blood Pressure

As already mentioned earlier, the potassium mineral present in durian is known to prevent the rise in blood pressure. It helps blood vessels to relax, in turn, maintaining the smooth flow of blood. Fibers on the other hand prevent the deposition of bad cholesterol in these blood vessels, ensuring there is no any disturbance in the blood flow.

Cure For Insomnia

This interesting benefit of durian is due to the presence of the amino acid tryptophan. This essential amino acid is known to induce the production of the sleep cycle-maintaining hormone, melatonin. As the consumption of durian indirectly raises this hormone, the chances you sleep well increase.

The sleep-inducing characteristic is not limited to the hormone melatonin only though. The presence of vitamins in durian also induces the release of the happy hormone serotonin which profoundly keeps us calm and relaxed. This means you don't have to deal with bad-quality sleep either.

So, overall, durian can act like a sleeping pill, maintaining your sleep cycle as well as ensuring you have quality sleep.

An Aphrodisiac

Durian is a natural aphrodisiac that has the quality to improve sexual health. This benefit is thought to be because of the presence of vasodilator components; vitamin B complex and potassium.

Immunity

There are many antioxidant compounds and other nutrients that are necessary for the immune system to initiate the fight against any invaders in our body. These compounds also make sure that the process of elimination runs well, therefore, we will be safe from infections and diseases.

Gut Health

The benefits durian offers for the digestive system are of immense importance. The natural sugars and fibers present in durian help keep our gut flora healthy and also maintain their good number. This increases the chance of healthy digestion.

Moreover, the fibers present in the durian decrease the bowel transit time of foods. Meaning, they will pass smoothly through the intestine, getting well digested, which decreases the chances of constipation.