How To Cook Jackfruit and Turn It Into a Tasty Meat Alternative

Jackfruit is one of the world’s largest tree fruits and can weigh up to 114 pounds. Learning to cook jackfruit will add new options to your plant-based meals. If you’re in North America, it’s not likely you’ll find jackfruit fresh since it’s a tropical fruit. However, it is available packaged or canned in many supermarkets and specialty stores.

Young jackfruit has a stringy texture that makes it a great alternative to meat. It is similar to pulled pork. This fruit can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. It contains fiber, vitamins A and C, magnesium, and potassium.

Getting Started With Jackfruit

Southeast Asian jackfruit comes in several forms that suit different cooking needs. The right type choice can make a big difference in your cooking adventures.

You can find jackfruit in two main varieties: young (green) and ripe. Young jackfruit has a neutral flavor that works great as a meat alternative. Ripened jackfruit is sweet and tastes like a mix between pineapple and mango. This makes it perfect for desserts.

Stores stock jackfruit in these forms:

1. Fresh whole fruit (uncommon except in specialty Asian stores)
2. Raw, canned in water or brine
3. Raw, canned in syrup
4. Vacuum-sealed packages
5. Dried snacks
6. Pre-seasoned meal starters

Fresh jackfruit is different from its canned version in taste and texture. Fresh, ripe jackfruit has a firmer, more stringy consistency and a bold orange-yellow color. The canned (or otherwise packaged) jackfruit usually contains young, unripe fruit in brine or water that easily soaks up seasonings. The canned version is younger, lighter, and feels softer, which is why it works great for meat-like dishes. Ripe jackfruit is also sold in cans and is usually packed in syrup. This type is excellent for desserts or snacking on.

The best canned jackfruit for meat alternatives comes young and green in water or brine. Syrup-packed varieties don’t work in savory dishes because they taste too sweet and turn mushy during cooking. When buying jackfruit, check to see if it is packaged in water, brine, or syrup!

You can find jackfruit in many grocery stores today. We usually buy jackfruit from Trader Joe’s or a local Asian grocery store because the price is much better. At Trader Joe’s, canned jackfruit costs $1.99. At the local grocery store, it costs $3 to $4. You can find prepared jackfruit in stores, like the kind made by Upton’s Naturals and Kitchen Love. This jackfruit is already cooked and doesn’t need to go through the preparation method outlined below. If you choose this option, you won’t need to do any extra work to prepare it.

Creating That Meat-Like Texture

Jackfruit makes a convincing meat substitute because of its texture. Raw jackfruit’s fibrous nature makes it perfect for creating meat-like dishes. However, to get canned jackfruit to that perfect texture takes a few steps. It’s all easy, and you don’t want to skip this; otherwise, you might have a less-than-satisfactory jackfruit dish.

A tender, pull-apart texture needs two rounds of simmering. The first boil creates a stringy texture, and a second 30-minute cook makes it even more tender.

1. Drain the jackfruit from the cans and put it in a large pan. (You can easily do multiple cans at a time, which is actually a great time saver because the prepared jackfruit will be ready for any recipe. It freezes well.)
2. Cover the jackfruit with water.
3. Bring the water and jackfruit to a boil. Then, cook for 45 minutes.
4. Rinse well and wait for the jackfruit to be cool enough to handle.
5. Pull the jackfruit pieces apart with your hands or two forks to create stringy, meat-like strands. The best results come from uniform shreds that look like pulled pork or shredded chicken.
6. Put the jackfruit back in the pan and cover with water again. Bring it to a boil and cook it for another 30 minutes. (You can skip this step, but we highly recommend it for the absolute best texture)
7. Rinse and dry the jackfruit. The perfect texture depends on moisture control. Squeeze out excess liquid from the jackfruit (like draining frozen spinach). This step will result in better absorption of marinades and sauces.
8. Marinate the shredded jackfruit for at least 15-20 minutes, though you’ll get deeper flavors after 2 hours to 5 days of marination. Young jackfruit’s neutral taste helps it absorb seasonings well. Add more sauce than you might expect – about 3/4 cup sauce for two cans of jackfruit. This amount keeps the jackfruit flavorful and maintains its meat-like consistency throughout cooking.

How To Cook Jackfruit

Follow these cooking methods after you’ve gone through the boiling preparation. If you have pre-packaged unflavored jackfruit, like the type that comes in pouches, you can start here. The pouch-prepared jackfruit doesn’t need boiling; that is just for the canned type. Because young jackfruit doesn’t have a lot of flavor, whichever way you choose to prepare it should involve lots of seasoning or sauces. The jackfruit will taste pretty bland if you are light on the flavor. We always plan a super flavorful sauce or marinade for jackfruit recipes.

Boiling and braising

You can also simmer jackfruit in coconut milk instead of water for several hours to get incredibly tender results.

Roasting and grilling

The best roasting results come from spreading shredded jackfruit on a lined baking tray and cooking at 450°F for 20-25 minutes. You’ll want to turn the pieces every 5-10 minutes for even cooking and a firmer texture.

Pan-frying and sautéing

Pan-frying creates a delicious caramelization that adds depth and umami notes. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat and arrange jackfruit in a single layer. Cook for 5 minutes until slightly brown. Give it a toss every 30 seconds, then spread again to get those crispy edges.

Creative Jackfruit Recipes

Jackfruit is having a bit of a heyday in the plant-based world, and there are tons of recipes all over the web. Here are just a few that we really like:

1. Crispy jackfruit carnitas
2. Buffalo jackfruit dip
3. BBQ-pulled jackfruit sliders
4. Jackfruit “crab” cakes
5. Caribbean jackfruit fritters
6. Slow cooker bbq peach jackfruit
7. Jackfruit curry
8. Jackfruit gyros

Troubleshooting Cooking With Jackfruit

Fixing texture problems

We noticed texture problems come from improper original preparation. You can achieve a tender, meat-like consistency by boiling jackfruit twice – first to create a stringy texture, then a second 30-minute cook to tenderize it further. The jackfruit should return to a gentle simmer if it stays tough after cooking until it shreds easily with a fork.

You can get crispy edges and chewier texture by spreading cooked jackfruit on a baking sheet and roasting at 400°F for 7 minutes. Another option is to slightly dehydrate it by cooking for 20-30 minutes in a pan. This creates a meatier texture while retaining moisture.

Adjusting flavors and seasonings

Jackfruit absorbs flavors well, but not using enough seasoning produces bland results. You can boost taste by rinsing canned jackfruit to remove the brine flavor. The canning liquid should stay out of recipes because it adds metallic notes.

To get the best flavor absorption:

1. Marinate jackfruit for at least 30 minutes
2. Use 3/4 cup sauce per two cans of jackfruit
3. Season throughout the cooking process

Balance excessive sweetness with extra spices or a splash of vinegar. Maple syrup or organic cane sugar helps counter too much spiciness.

Preventing mushiness

Moisture control is vital to prevent mushy texture. Press jackfruit well to remove extra moisture before cooking. Drain canned varieties and squeeze out liquid like you would with frozen spinach.

Add tomato-based sauces after the jackfruit cooks fully during pressure cooking or simmering. This prevents burning and maintains proper texture. Blend 1/4 to 1/3 of the mixture and stir it back into the pot to thicken curry-style dishes.

Practice helps you perfect your jackfruit cooking skills. BBQ-pulled jackfruit sandwiches make a great starting point. You can then try more complex dishes like curry variations or Asian-inspired stir-fries. The troubleshooting tips will help you get delicious results if you run into any issues.