Homemade Grapefruit Slices - Recipe Diaries (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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If you’re a fan of grapefruit stop throwing out the peels! They can be used to make candied grapefruit slices. It’s quite a simple and easy process to do and just requires some boiling. Actually a lot of boiling… You can eat them as is or use them for co*cktail garnishes. People will think you slaved hours to make them.

This post was recently updated on 10/9/2020 with new pictures and info to help you get the perfect grapefruit slices.

Homemade Grapefruit Slices - Recipe Diaries (1)
Jump to:
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to make Candied Grapefruit
  • How do I store leftovers?
  • Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe
  • Recipe Tips and Tricks
  • Other Recipes to Try
  • Homemade Grapefruit Slices

Ingredients Needed

Large grapefruits - are a type of citrus fruit known for their tangy and slightly bitter taste. They are a great source of vitamins C and A, as well as fiber and antioxidants.
Sugar - Or regular granulated sugar, I do not use sugar substitutes in any of my recipes but if you know the conversions feel free to do so
Water - this comes straight from the faucet!
Sugar for covering the slices

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to make Candied Grapefruit

Step 1: To make candied grapefruit peels, you'll need two large grapefruits to start. Cut the grapefruits into 4 wedges. Then remove the peel from each wedge. You'll have 8 grapefruit peels. Cut them into chunks or long strands.

Homemade Grapefruit Slices - Recipe Diaries (2)

Step 2: Place them over a stove top in a boiling pot with about 1 inch of water covering them. When the water starts to boil, remove the pot from the heat, strain the grapefruit peels and then place them back into the pot with fresh water and boil again. Repeat this step 4 times. This is because grapefruit peels are very bitter and you want to get rid of the bitter water as soon as possible.

Homemade Grapefruit Slices - Recipe Diaries (3)

Step 3: After you've boiled them in fresh water for the 4th time. Strain and set aside. In the pot, add in 4 cups water and 4 cups sugar. Stir until sugar and water are combined, then add the grapefruit peels back in. Boil the mixture over high heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until there are large opaque bubbles and the grapefruit zest is completely translucent.

Step 4: Strain the mixture over a heat proof bowl so you can keep the simple syrup for a co*cktail if you want!

Step 5: Place 1 cup sugar in a bowl and add in the hot grapefruit peels. Mix them in the sugar so they're completely covered. Then set on a plate to cool.

How do I store leftovers?

Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Stainless steel pots - for boiling the grapefruit slices in water

Sharp Knife - for slicing the grapefruit slices.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

At first, the grapefruit slices were kind of bitter. The next day, however, they transformed into the grapefruit slices that the candy store has. I let my friends try them and they loved them.

The sugar will absorb into the grapefruit overnight.

Take the grapefruit slices one step farther and dip them in chocolate!

Store the candy in airtight containers.

Other Recipes to Try

Fresh Blueberry Pie

No Stir Easy Parmesan Risotto

Roasted Shrimp Salad

Perfect Pie Crust

Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Homemade Grapefruit Slices - Recipe Diaries (4)

If you’ve tried this Candied Grapefruit Slices or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. Snap a picture and upload it to share on Pinterest or Instagram! Make sure to tag me in the photo.

Recipe fromTablespoon!

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Homemade Grapefruit Slices - Recipe Diaries (5)

Homemade Grapefruit Slices

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4 from 1 review

  • Author: Jenna
  • Total Time: 1hr
  • Yield: 24 1x
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Description

If you’re a fan of grapefruit stop throwing out the peels! They can be used to make candied grapefruit slices.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 large grapefruits
    4 cups of sugar
    4 cups of water
    1 cup of sugar for covering the slices

Instructions

  1. To make candied grapefruit peels, you'll need two large grapefruits to start. Cut the grapefruits into 4 wedges. Then remove the peel from each wedge. You'll have 8 grapefruit peels. Cut them into chunks or long strands.
  2. Place them over a stove top in a boiling pot with about 1 inch of water covering them. When the water starts to boil, remove the pot from the heat, strain the grapefruit peels and then place them back into the pot with fresh water and boil again. Repeat this step 4 times. This is because grapefruit peels are very bitter and you want to get rid of the bitter water as soon as possible.
  3. After you've boiled them in fresh water for the 4th time. Strain and set aside. In the pot, add in 4 cups water and 4 cups sugar. Stir until sugar and water are combined, then add the grapefruit peels back in.Boil the mixture over high heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until there are large opaque bubbles and the grapefruit zest is completely translucent.
  4. Strain the mixture over a heat proof bowl so you can keep the simple syrup for a co*cktail if you want!
  5. Place 1 cup sugar in a bowl and add in the hot grapefruit peels. Mix them in the sugar so they're completely covered. Then set on a plate to cool.
  • Prep Time: 30min
  • Cook Time: 30min
  • Category: Medium
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lezlie says

    I made these and they’re great! That makes a lot. What is the best way to store them and how long will they keep?

  2. Jenna says

    The recipe is correct. You're just peeling off the edges of each fruit. Boiling it that many times helps the sugar to stick.

  3. Melinda Onwiler says

    Why are the instructions for grapefruit “peel”, not slices? If you boil fruit sections 4 times, there will be nothing left! Please reply if recipe is correct as shown

  4. Rachel says

    Just received a dozen grapefruits from our neighbor’s tree and was looking for an easy and quick recipe to try out new ideas and came across yours. This recipe is great. I’ve already passed along the recipe link with family and friends. Thanks for sharing it.

Leave a Reply

Homemade Grapefruit Slices - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

How to make grapefruit sweet? ›

Sprinkle the fruit with salt.

Adding a light sprinkle of salt to grapefruit may sound odd, but it actually works. Paul Breslin, PhD, professor of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University, explains that sprinkling salt on the fruit reduces the tongue's ability to detect bitter compounds like naringin.

What to do with grapefruit when you don't like it? ›

It may seem counter-intuitive, but a pinch of salt may be your ticket to grapefruit enjoyment. Sweetening your grapefruit with salt is a trick that people have been using for over a hundred years. In 1946, Morton Salt even featured the unlikely pairing in advertisem*nts.

What to eat with grapefruit? ›

SALAD: Peel and cut the fruit in segments. Add the segments to any green salad. Good grapefruit pairings are red onion, lettuce, blue cheese, olive oil, ricotta cheese and avocado. COMPOTE: Zest the grapefruits and set aside.

What not to mix with grapefruit? ›

Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin). Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine). Some organ-transplant rejection drugs, such as Neoral and Sandimmune capsule or oral solution (both cyclosporine).

Why should you not eat grapefruit everyday? ›

Grapefruit might affect electrical currents in the heart. This can increase the risk of having an irregular heartbeat. Some medications can have this same effect. Taking grapefruit with these medications might increase the risk for a serious heart issue.

What happens to your body when you eat grapefruit everyday? ›

Overall, researchers claim that including fiber and antioxidant-rich fruits like grapefruit as part of a healthy diet helps protect against conditions like heart disease and stroke ( 18 ). Grapefruit contains nutrients and antioxidants shown to help protect the heart by regulating blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Why do they say not to eat grapefruit? ›

Grapefruit interferes with proteins in the small intestine and liver that normally break down many medications. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking these medications can lead to higher levels of them in your blood — and more side effects.

When should grapefruit be avoided? ›

Often-prescribed medicines that can interact with grapefruit include medicines that:
  1. Fight infection.
  2. Lower cholesterol.
  3. Treat high blood pressure.
  4. Treat heart problems.
  5. Prevent the body from rejecting a donated organ.
  6. Treat anxiety.
  7. Treat seasonal allergies.
  8. Control seizures.

What does eating half a grapefruit do? ›

An average-size grapefruit has about 4 grams of fiber. Eating even half of one can slow down digestion and help you feel full. A high-fiber diet might help you manage your weight, which could help prevent more serious medical problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Can you eat eggs with grapefruit? ›

Generally, people following the grapefruit diet can prepare their foods however they like, including with spices, salad dressings, or butter. Examples of meals include: Breakfast: two boiled eggs, two slices of bacon, and 1/2 grapefruit or 8 ounces of grapefruit juice.

What is the best way to eat fresh grapefruit? ›

Insert a spoon (ideally one which is serrated at the tip) in the grapefruit and take out a chunk. Take a bite, avoiding the bitter, hard-to-chew "walls" separating the grapefruit's segments. Repeat until you're all done. Dispose of the peel in an environmentally friendly way such as composting.

What mixes well with grapefruit juice? ›

A 50/50 blend of grapefruit juice and blood orange juice is delicious and strikingly beautiful. And the combination of grapefruit juice with apple juice and carrots in a high-speed blender served over ice is also a favorite.

Is putting grapefruit in water good for you? ›

This grapefruit-infused water is ideal to have first thing in the morning as it's sharp and zesty – giving you the boost you need to kickstart your day! Grapefruit has the following benefits: It's high in antioxidants. It may boost your immune system (it's rich in vitamin C)

How do you make red grapefruit sweeter? ›

To cut the bitterness in grapefruit, you can add something sweet or salty to it.
  1. add cane sugar or brown sugar to it.
  2. drizzle honey on it.
  3. sprinkle salt on it.
  4. mix it with other sweet fruits like bananas, strawberries, kiwi, or mango.

Why is my grapefruit not sweet? ›

Grapefruit can be tangy, sweet, or tart, but despite this, many people think that all grapefruit are just bitter, which is simply not true! If you bit into a juicy segment looking for a sweet treat and got a mouth full of tart, don't give up on grapefruit! It could be that you've simply picked the wrong type.

Can you put sugar on a grapefruit? ›

Brush each grapefruit half with butter, then sprinkle with about 2 teaspoons of the sugar mixture. Broil the grapefruit, watching carefully and rotating the pan front to back once halfway through, until the tops are bubbling and golden brown, 7 to 12 minutes.

Should I put sugar on my grapefruit? ›

Salt is the answer. It might feel like sugar is a more normal antidote to that bitter grapefruit tang, but actually, salt can be much better at blocking bitterness (this is also the logic behind the coffee and salt trend).

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