Do prickly pears need to be peeled before juicing?

Question

I've looked for lots of instructions on preparing prickly pears and nearly all say to peel the fruit. One or two said it was not necessary since the juice gets strained anyway. Opinions, please :)

Corvera Outdoor Living By Design · Answer

you don't have to peel them but remember most of the vitamin are on the peel.... and will have to thorns and more like the taste will not be as good as if you peel it. the fruit is very pupil if will have seed and a paste form if you juice it or blend it, u want to used it with other mixture of fruits with more liquid...... i used a mixture of grapes, oranges, carrots, pears in my juicer....

Margie · Answer

Thanks, my mistake to call it juicing as I'll use a blender not a juicer appliance. I had found a blog that emphasized the added nutrition from keeping peels on, particularly betalains. Not that I don't trust her experience, just wondering of other people's approaches. She says not to worry about taking off the stickers either since it is strained thoroughly.

Sia@South 47th · Answer

I throw them into my juicer, not my blender peel and all. Sans the fuzz and thorns.

Lisa · Answer

I lived in Florida for 10yrs and made prickly pear jelly every year and was very meticulous about getting the thorns off. I know that if you get one in your finger its near impossible to get it out and it hurts like the dickens so I can't imagine if one should get stuck somewhere while you're eating them. I would say I'm overly cautious compared to the folks above, but that's just my approach. I always par boiled them to soften the thorns then cut them open and scraped everything out. Everything except the very thin skin.

DeMarie I · Answer

I've made prickly pear wine years ago. Yes, I would definitely get rid of the thorns.

Irma MacLellan · Answer

I've got these things growing all over the place. Never knew you could do anything with them! Post some suggestions if they're edible, please. Would like to try doing something with them.

Janine Schwartz · Answer

I always peel them, and cut them into cubes and have them with other fruits for breakfast. They're delicious!!

Margie · Answer

Thanks to all for responses, only my 2nd year to try to use them. I was rushed when I picked them and got some not ripe enough. I didn't like result this year but will keep trying.

Neocrowe · Answer

It is best to burn the thorns off, I used metal tongs to pick them and hold them for burning off the thorns, its the only way I have found to NOT get any into your fingers. We just slice in half and scoop out the inside with a spoon. They make marvelous margaritas!!

Judy · Answer

Brings back memories...when I was a kid we lived in the San Jose, Ca area & one of my dad's co-workers had prickly pear plants. Every year he'd bring my dad a sack full & we'd eat prickly pears. they were so good!

Cathy Wallis · Answer

I use tongs turn on my gas stove and burn off those nasty stickers! I make prickly pear jelly every year.

Cathy Wallis · Answer

No they do not. I’ve been making this jelly for 20 yrs and I have never peeled one yet!

Cathy Wallis · Answer

Oh and I don’t burn them anymore what a pain it is and time-consuming. I don’t have any extra fruit either because they have plenty of juice in them. I quarter them put them in a pot cover them with water and boil them for about 10 minutes that’s all you need to do. Just make sure you put them through cheesecloth a couple times to get out all the pulp and stickers!

Do prickly pears need to be peeled before juicing?

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Do prickly pears need to be peeled before juicing?

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