How to Cut a Grapefruit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tart and juicy, the grapefruit may be the unsung hero of the citrus family. Like oranges, lemons, and limes, grapefruit is high in antioxidants and vitamin C, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Vitamin C plays an essential role in immune health, as the National Institutes of Health notes, so grapefruit may help the body fight off disease. Grapefruit is also a good source of fiber, a key nutrient and prebiotic that can help regulate blood sugar, according to the Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health.

Grapefruit may also improve heart and gut health, lower cholesterol levels, and help you maintain a healthy weight, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Grapefruit comes in a few varieties — mainly red, pink, and white, but no matter the color, grapefruit is a healthy addition to almost any diet.

If you are on any medications, just be sure to check with your physician before adding grapefruit or grapefruit juice to your diet, because, as the American Heart Association describes, it is known to interfere with the way that a number of medications work.

While you can always use a serrated grapefruit spoon to the fruit directly out of its skin, if you’re planning to use grapefruit in salads or other recipes, it pays to know how to cut segments of citrus free from the thin membrane that holds it together, a process known as supreming. Here are two ways to cut a grapefruit.

How to Cut a Grapefruit: Classic

1. Hold the grapefruit so that it is resting with the stem end pointing to one side. Using a chef’s knife, cut through the middle to halve the grapefruit.
2. Use a paring knife to carefully cut around the flesh inside each membrane to loosen it from the fruit. Enjoy with a spoon.

How to Supreme a Grapefruit

1. Using a chef’s knife, slice off the top and bottom of the grapefruit so that some of the flesh is visible. Lay the fruit flat on one cut side.
2. Starting at the top and slicing down, remove the peel and pith (white part), following the curve of the grapefruit.
3. Place the fruit on its side and carefully cut each segment away from the membrane by making two horizontal slices toward the fruit’s center.