You can choose to eat a Rambutan in a multitude of ways. However, some people think they can be harmful because of the sugar in them. To do so, slice the middle of the outer skin with a knife, then squeeze from the opposite sides from the cut. Then, cut into the flesh and remove the seed inside. Squeeze the outer skin gently until the milky white edible center pops out. (3, 4). Currently, roasting is the only known way to counter the raw seed’s natural narcotic properties. Getting too little vitamin C in your diet can weaken your immune system, leaving you more prone to infections (26). Cut the fruit in to half at the middle with a sharp knife. Though some people eat the peel and seed, they’re generally considered inedible. It will come out on its own, undigested, within a few days. We live in. In fact, they appear to contain certain compounds that may be toxic to humans (10, 11). References The hair-like "spines" are green when the rambutan is freshly picked, but after the spines turn black, the fruit remains good for at least a few days. If you've never seen one before, you may be confused on how to eat it. These 15 Chinese fruits pack a nutritious punch. It may be best to avoid eating the seed altogether until research says otherwise. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Select a ripe rambutan. You can tear the skin with your thumbnail instead, or even bite open a slit. ", "The information for the guavas and the other exotic fruits was very informative. Still trying to find my way around the seed, "Helped me understand a fruit new to me. It’s nutritious yet low in calories and may aid your digestion, immune system and weight loss. All three belong to the same Sapindaceae — or soapberry — family, grow on trees native to Southern Asia and have translucent white flesh with a seed in the middle. While human studies are currently lacking, animal studies report that the peel may be toxic when eaten regularly and in very large amounts (10). A single rambutan fruit is decently high in vitamin C content; 100 gms of rambutan contains approximately 4.9 mg of vitamin C. The daily vitamin C requirement for the average adult is about 75–90 mg, and eating about 10 to 12 rambutans every day will deliver the quantity of vitamin C … Rambutan is the biggest of the three and bears a reddish-green hairy peel. This can help keep you fuller for longer, which may reduce your likelihood of overeating and promote weight loss over time (19, 20). wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Rambutan is commonly eaten raw. Rambutan also contains a good amount of copper, which plays a role in the proper growth and maintenance of various cells, including those of your bones, brain and heart. The lychee is slightly smaller and has a tough, textured, red peel, while the longan has a brown, smooth outer skin covered with tiny hairs. I found rambutan in our local Walmart. Is it safe to eat the fruit if part of the seed coating is stuck on it? Some well-stocked supermarkets may occasionally carry them as well. Its unmistakable appearance is often compared to that of a sea urchin (1). Moreover, rambutan contains a good amount of water and can help keep you hydrated, which may further prevent overeating and aid weight loss (24). Rambutan is very nutritious and may offer health benefits ranging from weight loss and better digestion to increased resistance to infections. The instructions were perfect. ", husk of the seed if some stuck to the flesh. Had no idea what to do. Most rambutans have bitter seeds, although some may have a little sweetness. ", and seeing that they were smooth, changed it to "hairy lychee" and found this article. There is no autism-based reason why the fruit cannot be offered to an autistic individual. It battles cancer, helps reproduce white blood cells, and helps with diabetes. Its flesh provides around 1.3–2 grams of total fiber per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) — similar to what you would find in the same quantity of apples, oranges or pears (2). ", "I had no idea what this was when I purchased it at Costco, but now I do! Related to lychee and longan fruits, rambutan is a Southeast Asian fruit with a hairy shell and sweet, cream-flavored, edible flesh. Who knew rambutan would be sold here! I never ate them, but I did eat the outside, "This fruit is delicious. Once peeled, the rambutan fruit is very similar to the lychee and longan fruit. Though some people eat them, neither are currently considered edible (5, 6, 7, 8, 9). However, though some people eat the peel, it’s generally considered inedible. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website.