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Is Star Fruit Similar to Pineapple?

what does a star fruit taste like?
Although they are both tropical fruits, star fruits and pineapples look and taste distinctly different from each other.

Star fruits and pineapples look and taste distinctly different.

  • Star fruits are fleshy, crunchy, juicy, slightly tart, sweet, and acidic in taste.
  • Pineapple has spiky and tough skin outside with yellow flesh inside that is both sweet and tart.

Both star fruits and pineapples are tropical fruits loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that offer numerous health benefits. While they share similar characteristics, view the differences between the two fruits below.

Differences between star fruits and pineapples

Features Star fruit Pineapple
Appearance Star-shaped, deeply ridged yellow-brown, edible fruit Tropical fruit with spiky and tough skin outside with an appearance of a pinecone and has yellow flesh inside
Taste Sweet, acidic, and slightly tart Sweet and tart
Family Oxalidaceae Bromeliaceae
Native to Malaysia and tropical America Tropical and subtropical America
Commonly used

In different food items, such as

  • Pickles
  • Jams
  • Salads
  • Juice
  • Jelly
  • Pies
  • Puddings
  • Seafood or shellfish dishes
  • Asian- or Indian-style curries or stews
  • As a garnishing agent
 As an ingredient in the meat, salads, smoothies, juices, vegetable, fish, and rice dishes
Health benefits
  • Reduces skin inflammatory condition
  • Relieves stomach discomfort and ulcer-like disorders
  • Reduces cholesterol level
  • Removes toxins from the body
  • Lowers inflammation
  • Boosts immune system
  • Relieves constipation

What is a star fruit?

Star fruit, also called Averrhoa carambola, is a tropical fruit mainly found in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Table 2. Star fruit appearance and firmness differ in different stages
Stage Firmness Color
Young Firm texture 100 percent green
Half-ripe Firm texture Yellowish green
Ripe Soft texture 100 percent yellow

The nutritional content of star fruit

Star fruits are loaded with nutrients and are good sources of fibers, several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Table 3. Different minerals found in star fruits
Mineral Amount (mg/100 grams of fruit)*
Sodium (Na) 3.8 to 3.85
Potassium (K) 167.13 to 168.0
Calcium (Ca) 6.37 to 6.40
Phosphorous (P) 17.87 to 17.88
Magnesium (Mg) 11.85 to 12.05
Iron (Fe) 0.34 to 0.45
Copper (Cu) 0.19 to 0.45
Zinc (Zn) 0.29 to 0.51
Manganese (Mn) 0.04 to 0.52
Selenium (Se) Not detectable
*Based on a dry weight
Table 4. Different acids, vitamins, and carotenes found in star fruits
Name Amount (mg/100 grams of fruit)*
Carotene 0.003 to 0.55
Tartaric acid 4.37
Oxalic acid 9.6
Ketoglutaric acid 2.2
Citric acid 1.32
Vitamin B1 and B2 0.12
Vitamin C 25.8
*Based on a dry weight

What is pineapple?

Pineapple is a tropical fruit native to South America but is grown worldwide, including in Thailand, the Philippines, and Brazil. It belongs to the bromeliad family and is the only member of that family that produces edible fruit.

The nutritional content of pineapple

Pineapple is loaded with minerals and vitamins. The active ingredient of pineapple, bromelain, is responsible for exhibiting various health benefits. Hence, bromelain supplements are used in the management of various medical conditions.

Table. The nutritional content of one cup of fresh pineapple chunks
Nutrient Amount
Calories 82 grams
Protein 0.89 grams
Fat 0.20 grams
Carbohydrates 22 grams
Fiber 2.3 grams
Calcium 21.4 mg
Magnesium 19.8 mg
Phosphorous 13.2 mg
Potassium 180 mg
Vitamin C 78.9 mg

The active ingredients of pineapple responsible for various health benefits include:

  • Proteolytic enzymes (bromelain or bromelain)
  • Citric and malic acids
  • Vitamins A, B, and C
  • Sugars (glucose and sucrose)
  • Fats
  • Mineral salts, such as iodine, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur
  • High fiber (cellulose) in the core of the fruit