Happy happy MONDAY!
It’s time to let the opinions fly…it’s another edition of TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE!
This topic was a suggestion from a blog reader…today, I’m sharing my TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE FRUIT.
As a reminder, this blog series is often about “overrated and underrated” things and not necessarily “likes and dislikes”.
I honestly really think I “like” most fruit. That being said, I do find some fruit OVERRATED and others UNDERRATED.
Thus, today’s post 🙂 .
Alrighty, here we go…
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: FRUIT
#5: MANGO
I really like a mango. Now, they’re kind of hard to get into. They’re not nearly as easy to eat as say a grape or even an orange…but what they lack in accessibility, they make up for in flavor. They’re delicious by themselves, I really enjoy them in both savory dishes (like salads!) and sweet too. I think they pair well with spice (chili powder and chipotles), and they’re delicious dried. Love.
#4: PINEAPPLE
The pineapple is certainly underrated in my opinion. Yes, it screams “take me to Hawaii”, but it’s equally delish in McKinney, TX too. You know what I love about a pineapple? I’m not sure I’ve ever met one that’s let me down. So many fruits and veggies look pretty but can be flavorless when you bite into them. Not the pineapple though. The good old fashioned pineapple is always delicious. It also pairs well with both sweet and savory, makes excellent punches and cocktails, heck, it’s even good out of a can. Plus…I mean, I feel like this fruit gets major points for being the prettiest too. Name another fruit that is more gorgeous on the kitchen counter than a pineapple.
#3: PLUM
We should eat plums more. I feel like its friend the peach gets a ton of praise when the plum is actually the tastier fruit. It’s not too sweet, it’s not too tarte, it’s great in pies and cobblers and on it’s own. There is nothing to peel. It’s not messy or mushy. And I love me a dried plum. Totally underrated.
#2: CRANBERRY
Here’s the problem with the cranberry, it needs a better PR firm representing it. Cranberries (both fresh and dried) are delicious all year long, but I think it’s pigeonholed in the “fall and holiday only” category. Listen, I’m just as guilty about this as the next person, but really, these tart little berries should be remembered more than just the fall. They’re delicious! They work in salads, pastas, baked goods, desserts…they’re not sweet, they’re super flavorful. Why am I not eating them year around? Very underrated.
#1: KIWI
Yeah. Random. The kiwi is random, and I don’t eat enough of them, but when I do, I am always pleased. I don’t think I’ve ever bitten into a bad kiwi. They’re delicious, you don’t have to fuss with removing the seeds, they complement so many dishes and are excellent on their own. I don’t think we lean into kiwi as a staple fruit as much as we should. Totally underrated.
Now, below are fruits that while I really do think taste good and enjoy, I find them all HIGHLY overrated…
#5: PEACHES
Wait? What? Didn’t I just do an entire post on peaches Friday? Yes, yes, I did. Hear me out, my problem with peaches is that their “window” is super small. If you get a peach outside of its “season” it’s like eating a tennis ball. There is absolutely zero flavor. My store sells peaches year around, and it always amazes me that they even have any to sell because have you ever bitten into a peach in January? I always know when it’s time to buy peaches…one, it’s June and two, you can smell them way before you approach them. They’re oh so fragrant and delicious about 45 minutes out of the year.
#4: BLUEBERRIES
Sigh. Here’s my beef with blueberries. I think their PR firm is actually doing too good of a job (they should go help out the cranberries). This “super food” has a lot of health benefits but is it *that* amazing? I end up having to throw out about a third of every pint I buy because they’re mushy. I don’t know? I enjoy a blueberry but if I were to be ranking my berries, I would rank the black-, rasp- and straw-berries higher. I do think we tend to overrate this little blue fruit.
#3: HONEYDEW
Seriously, who eats honeydew? I really do enjoy all fruit buuuuuut honeydew might be my least favorite because it’s just so boring. Give me a watermelon or cantaloupe any day over a honeydew. Even the color is boring. I’m out.
#2: PEARS
Has anyone ever craved apple’s less delicious cousin? I mean, yes, it’s good in a pie with a boatload of butter, cinnamon and crust…but I don’t want to just bite into a pear. No thank you.
#1: GRAPEFRUIT
Yup. I can’t with this one. If you’re going to add it into something (like a salad) or a little juice into my cocktail, fine. But those of you who sit down and eat half a grapefruit with a fork each morning for breakfast (I’m talking to you, Grandmother), I AM SO CONFUSED. I do not like waking up and eating something that makes my eyes water and my tongue recoil. It’s just so so abrasive on its own. Maybe it’s because I’m a child of the ’80s and ’90s when allllllllll the adults were on a grapefruit diet but gag me.
Now…
It wouldn’t be a TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE without Andrew weighing in too.
Oddly enough, Andrew had VERY STRONG opinions about completely disliking fruit. I couldn’t even get him to play the game because “all fruit is just a waste of eating a bunch of sugar”. He kept insisting that if he wanted something sweet, he’d eat like a cookie or something. He wasn’t going to eat fruit.
Sigh.
When I finally insisted, he sent me this list…
#5: CRANBERRY VODKA SODA
#4: STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
#3: BANANA PUDDING (BUT PLEASE LEAVE OUT THE BANANAS)
#2: BLACKBERRY COBBLER
#1: APPLE PIE
Anyone else out there feel like Andrew too? I want to know.
Okay, I cannot wait for you guys to weigh in too 🙂 .
Are you guys fruit people? Comment and share!
Now, don’t forget to check out these other TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE blog posts:
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CONDIMENTS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: HOLIDAY HOLIDAY THINGS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: STORE-BOUGHT COOKIES
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: THINGS ABOUT A FAIR/CARNIVAL
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: ICE CREAM FLAVORS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: SPRING CLEANING
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: TRAVELING BY PLANE
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: SKIING WITH YOUR FAMILY
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CHRISTMAS MOVIES
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: HALLOWEEN CANDY
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CEREALS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: HOUSEHOLD CHORES
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CHRISTMAS SONGS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: THANKSGIVING FOODS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE ROAD TRIP SNACKS
I feel like you guys are going to have A LOT of thoughts and opinions. I cannot wait to read the blog comments below!
Please comment and share!
In honor of today…
…this week’s MEAL PLANNING MONDAY has fruit in every single recipe!
Have the best Monday, friends! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
I love any sort of berry, even if they are more expensive. Not a fan of melons or grapefruit and not a fan of things with seeds! These posts are always so fun to follow!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Allie says
Yes I agree with you 100% about blueberries Shay! That’s why I buy them frozen and use them in yogurt & smoothies! I always enjoy reading your blogs! Have a blessed day 🩷
Kara says
I love fruit.. love plums! oranges are one of my top faves but good lord, peeling them is awful! I love watermelon, but it has a small window like peaches and if you get a “bad” one.. it’s not worth cutting it up! Bottom line-fruit is a lot of work.. 😂 (ice cream is easy! 😆)
Jessie says
I love these posts because it definitely gets me thinking! 🙂
Strawberries would be in my top five if only for the Wimbledon moment of strawberries and cream.
Kiwi is wonderful, though I prefer a golden kiwi as they’re a tiny bit sweeter.
Oranges would get an honorable mention in our house, cuties specifically, as peeling them has been a great calming/sensory activity for one of my kids and he gets a relatively healthy snack at the same time. Win/win! 💛
Completely concur with all your bottom five though!!!
Have a wonderful day!
Mary Woods says
I love fruit and Andrews list is hilarious!
Katie Stewart says
Completely agree on the grapefruit and pears. On the pears…. it’s the texture. It’s like it doesn’t even know what it’s supposed to be.
Top 5:
5. Bananas
4. Pineapple
3. Kiwi (the crunch of those seeds…satisfying)
2. Watermelon (the best smelling fruit, in my opinion)
1. Red seedless grapes (Have you ever tried frozen grapes? It’s like little droplets of sugar on your grapes and this just makes me so happy!)
Bottom 5:
5. Lemon (although I love lemon pie…)
4. Cranberries
3. Cherries
2. Strawberries (lately all the strawberries at local grocery stores look like they’re on steroids which adds to my disgust)
1. Lime (I do not like anything lime-ish!)
Mix and Match Mama says
Red seedless grapes almost made my Top 5 too! They’re just CONSISTENTLY GOOD! I love your list! Thank YOU for sharing!!
Stacey says
Fun post! Fruit is a happy way to get fiber and so many other good things! Yes, sugar..but better 😉 I agree totally about superfood blueberries! I try to pop them in the freezer for smoothies before the mush phase but often miss.
Nectarines! short season like peaches but sooo yummy.
Strawberries-yes! Organic for best flavor
And honeydew! must have a purpose beyond filling out the ‘side of fruit’ option! Just no thanks.
Happy summer!
Pamela G says
I love all fruit except honeydew and pears. Now you and Andrew have to do vegetables 🤣 These blogposts are so fun…thank you
Sarah Nienhuis says
Ok Andrew, that was hilarious 😂
Mix and Match Mama says
I always send him an email for his answers because I don’t want him to tell me in person before I have a chance to write my own down (I don’t want him influencing my thoughts on the matter). This topic required TWO emails because I wouldn’t take his first response…and yet I’m not sure his second one was much better. Hahaha!
Dana P says
Every now and then you’ll do a post where I discover that we are not, in fact, the same person. This is one. hahahaha Kiwi?! Pineapple?! I can find delicious dishes with them in it, but I would never just sit down and eat one, anticipating them to be really tasty. Now, watermelon? That’s a different story. It’s the best!
Random, but my very favorite way to eat fresh cranberries is with melted white chocolate over them and made into a bark. If you haven’t tried that, you have to! It’s DELICIOUS.
Mix and Match Mama says
Reallllllly? Dana, I’ve never felt so far away from you, friend, haha!
Carrie Martens says
I agree that the timing of fruit is tricky. I hate wasting it when it goes bad and sometimes you just can’t get that freshness/tastyness window right……but crisp cherries in the backyard, watermelon by the pool, raspberries freshly picked? Mmmmm….nothing better 😊
Kelly M Sites says
I’m a kiwi and raspberry gal. Love it. Mango- yucky. Pear-yucky. Nectarines YES, Peach-no. Banana-HECK YES.
Natalie A says
I’ve been loving raspberries lately! I make a little bowl of raspberries with sliced bananas as my dessert at night. And I make sure it’s in a cute bowl! Yummy!
Laina Ramsey says
Raspberries and blackberries are my favorites! I buy them every week and put them in my yogurt or make a smoothie with them.
Liz Proulx says
Great subject! You didn’t mention bananas! I love your top five and not eating bueberries feels like a crime, lol!
Amy Heinl says
Love a Top 5/Bottom 5 day….here’s mine:
Top 5
1. Watermelon
2. Pineapple
3. Strawberry
4.Cantelope
5.. Peach
Bottom 5
1. Pear
2. Plum
3. Nectarine
4. Honeydew
5. Kiwi
Mix and Match Mama says
Your bottom five has me so conflicted, hahaha!
Kimberly Gray says
Ok ok. First- tried the strawb/ peach skillet cobbler recipe from last week w reservations BECAUSE of not using a pastry blender to make the crust nice and tidy before adding to fruit. My tried and true peach cobbler recipe does that. So anyway Here’s where I apologize. This recipe was not only delish but way easier. Thank youuuuuu Shay. This will be a repeater.
Next: fruit in general. I am a smart woman. I know the benefits. However… my brain doesn’t WANT it. Unless… there’s some caramel involved. A dallop of something creamy .. chocolate..
Finally why why why is buying the right fruit so hard. I’ve done the tricks- felt it, smelled the stem end, checked the color, thumped it with my fingers like they said and in the end.. it’s a crap shoot. Meanwhile I’m in the produce section looking silly.
Paige E says
I love fruit! But I do think buying in season makes a huge difference. I like raspberries a lot and if you can get the giant blueberries, they are best. We always have apples year round in my house. Grapes sometimes. I got cherries accidentally in my grocery order this week and I normally don’t buy them but they have been delicious to snack on! Just not in public since you do spit out the pit. 🙂
Shannon says
Have you ever grilled pineapple and then sprinkled it with cinnamon? DELISH
Mix and Match Mama says
I’ve grilled it, but I haven’t added cinnamon. I’m doing this!
Karleigh Johnson says
Cranberries? Shay. They’re like chewing on little sour beads of rubber. They’re pretty and decorative but I simply cannot imagine eating them by themselves and liking it 😂
My top 5:
5. Pineapple
4. Strawberries
3. Bananas
2. Pink lady apples
1. Blueberries (have to get Maine blueberries, they’re the the perfect mix of sweet and tart)
*and I do love watermelon with tajin 🙂
Bottom 5:
5. Plums
4. Mango
3. Cantaloupe (tastes like soap)
2. Cranberries (will our online friendship recover?)
1. Pears
But I’m kind of with Andrew on this one — I like fruit dishes but I don’t eat or snack on fruit. I’d much rather have chips and dip lol
Megan says
I like seasonal fruit and have different ones I eat depending on the time of year. I am a huge fan of sumo citrus in the winter, peaches in the summer and mangos in the late summer though I had 2 great mangos last week. I love strawberries but they are too inconsistent so I don’t like to buy them because half the time I don’t eat the rest once I have one of them.
Julie says
I love Andrew’s list! Except. Banana pudding is amazing even with banana. I also really
Love pineapple and hate the inconsistency of all fruit. The only fruit I almost always consistently like are Homey Crisp Apples. 😋
Brooke says
Watermelon would have be my most overrated. If you have a good one, I enjoy a few bites but they are just not what people seem to make them out to be. Do we really need watermelon drinks or candy? Not for me. That said watermelon is probably my top of all the melon family. Cantaloupe and honeydew, no way.
Tracey says
I have been ripped off in strawberries all season, fruit is starting to get nasty. I agree with Andrew, great thinking!!
Alicia says
Honeydew in any restaurant/hotel fruit mix IS gross. However, a honeydew that was fresh from my grandparent’s garden was like the nectar from the gods. SO insanely sweet and delicious. It was my favorite fruit growing up because I had only had garden fresh honeydew melon. So if you ever run into someone who knows how to grow it fresh in their garden, you need to try it again!
Deb says
Watermelon is my #1 fruit and a good Apple definitely not red delicious. Blueberries taste like dirt so I stick frozen or pie🤦♀️. I dislike small seeds like raspberry and blackberry.
Lori R says
Honeydew should be illegal.
Ashley R. says
Book Review days are my absolute favorite, but the Top 5 / Bottom 5 have become a very close second. I just lost it on “They’re oh so fragrant and delicious about 45 minutes out of the year.” HA!!
Elizabeth Whisler says
I agree mostly agree with Andrew. I love any veggie…but fruit and I don’t mix. I think most feel slimy and icky and gross. If I need to have fruit, I can deal with watermelon, grapes, sometimes a banana but for the most part, just no. But I do love dried cranberries!
Debbra says
Andrew’s comments still have me chuckling! Happy Monday!
Gracie says
Oh my word! Andrew’s list made me actually laugh out loud! Hahaha
Mary says
Top 5
1. Blueberries
2. Strawberries
3. Apples-Honey Crisp especially
4. Watermelon
5. Grapefruit
Bottom 5
1. Pineapple
2. Mango
3. Grapes
4. Raspberries-always end up moldy
5. Oranges
Susy says
I love all fruits, but cautionary tale: read your med labels carefully and check with your docs. Both pineapple and cranberry have contraindications or interactions with some medical conditions and prescriptions. One of God’s greatest blessings is good health.
Erin H says
We are big fruit eaters in our house. Or I should say, my daughter is the big fruit eater. The amount of money I spend on fruit!
Top: 5. cantaloupe 4. grapes 3. raspberry 2. mango 1. nectarine
Bottom 5: strawberries (they’re really just fine. Used to love them, but not as much anymore) 4. blackberries 3. pear 2. banana (it’s a texture thing. and a past stomach flu thing. ha) 1. honeydew
Amy Rae D. says
My favorite fruits are watermelon and mangos. My least favorite fruit is cantaloupe.
Cherie says
Fun post! I admit that I really like all fruit except honeydew. I’ve never had a good one. Yet consistently when it is served at a function or restaurant (usually along with other melons) I try it and always disappointed. Why do I do this?
Dana J says
Love a good Top 5/Bottom 5 post!! I love fruit but eating any out of their season is usually a terrible idea haha!!
Top 5
1. Cantaloupe only in season and Pecos is the BEST!!
2. Cara Cara Orange
3. Watermelon
4. Red seedless grapes
5. Honeycrisp apple
Bottom 5
1. Honeydew
2. Cherries
3. Apricot
4. Plum
5. Kiwi
Allys says
Andrew’s list was hilarious! My husband would have about the same answer. I completely agree with you on plums! I love them, always have and berries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, always good and when they are fresh picked, delicious!
Julie says
I LOVE fruit and cannot imagine not eating it. I eat blueberries every single day and have for years. I love strawberries, bananas, grapes, just about every fruit. The only ones I’m not crazy about are cantaloupe, raspberries and grapefruit. Pineapple is the base for all of our fruit salads. Love!
Yvonne says
I love fruit! But I am with you on grapefruit, ugh no thank you! I like the taste of pomegranate but too messy and hard to eat!
Shirley says
What bottom 5? Gimme ALLLLLLLL the fruit!!!!!!!!!
Sil says
LOVE this post!! I agree with you, but Andrew’s list was GENIUS!!! Hahahahahaha! Thanks for always being such a great start to my day!
Ruby Huling says
The only way I will eat a pear is in homemade pear preserves that my mom use to make! Give me all the pineapple, strawberries, and grapes and I won’t refuse them! Citrus fruits are also at the top of my list, even grapefruit sprinkled with a little bit of salt.
Jennifer Weber says
Bananas are the worst! Other than that they are all mostly tolerable :).
Elizabeth says
Agree with Andrew. Why would you waste your sugar on fruit. Eat more veggies and have a cookie.
Jaime Surrett says
I always sort of feel bad for not liking / eating more fruit. In smoothies – sure. Cocktails – 100%. On their own, meh. But if I had to pick –
🍓 Top 5 Fruits:
Peaches – Soft, sweet, and summer in a bite. Peaches are the main character.
Strawberries – The rom-com lead of the fruit world. Reliable and always photogenic.
Grapes – Snackable, poppable, and dangerously addictive.
Watermelon – The only reason to attend a July BBQ.
Pineapple – Spiky on the outside, tropical party on the inside. 🍍
🍏 Bottom 5 Fruits:
Apples – Basically the MLM of fruits. Always trying to convince me they’re better than they are.
Pears – The awkward cousin of apples. Confused about their own texture.
Honeydew – Who keeps inviting this filler fruit to every fruit salad??
Raspberries – Disintegrates on eye contact. Cute but emotionally unstable.
Grapefruit – Tastes like betrayal with a hint of citrus.
Bethany says
I also believe the peach window is very small but when it’s right for eating it’s my #1!!
Leslie Hull says
Give me all the cantaloupe! Bananas are not my fav and should only be in pudding or bread.
Lauren M. says
My #1 is a SOUR cherry. You can never find them in the store though – have to go to an orchard, and they also are only available for about 2 seconds. My neighbors growing up had 2 cherry trees and picking them was my favorite thing. I love Andrew’s Banana Pudding but leave out the bananas, because my dad tells me that EVERY time I make banana pudding!
SS says
Shay, these are so fun to read. Andrew has a great sense of humor!!! I am more of a fruit person than a veggie person. I would put it out there fruit is so yummy when it is fresh. I mean I freeze a lot of our fresh fruits when they are season, but I love seasonal fruit. Luckily, a lot of fruit it grown locally and we go pick!!! We also have a huge patch of raspberries that grow, my gram had a pear tree we would grab and eat them all the time, and 2 of our kiddos have worked in the fruit farm industry, so we would go pick to see them!!!
My Top 5+ in no particular order …
Strawberries – esp with dark chocolate… we make jam… strawberry blueberry, strawberry rhubarb, going to try strawberry raspberry this year.
Blueberries – can’t wait to go picking.
Melons – watermelon, musk melon, honeydew
Apples – esp. Honeycrisp right from the tree!!!
Bananas, peaches, pears, raspberries
Bottom – I do not like fruit that requires a lot of peeling (work) and the scent stays on you for hours.
Grapefruit, Kiwi, Oranges (I like if someone else peels them…lol)
Lorraine says
I giggled at Andrew’s response. I LOVE fruit!! When I have a really good piece of fruit, I feel like it’s a glimpse into the new heavens and new earth. Side note, my very favorite bite of fruit ever was cantaloupe in the French country side. It was so so good and I am not a cantaloupe fan!!
Top 5:
5. Raspberries
4. Blueberries
3. Bananas
2. Strawberries
1. Peach – but I hear you on the 45 mins of the year. But that 45 mins they are so good!!
Bottom 5:
1. Watermelon. I know I’m weird!! I don’t like that you cannot eat it without making a mess and don’t like the seeds. I pretty much always pass unless it’s in a salad.
2. Kiwi. Gross
3. Mangos. Too much work
4. Cranberries. I just don’t understand
5. Figs. Weird texture. My husband loves them. I don’t get it.
Mix and Match Mama says
You don’t like watermelon?! I don’t understand! 😉
MIRANDA BODENHAMER says
ANDREW! LOLOLOL I was dying laughing. I tend to agree with him, garnish a cocktail/maybe some OJ with breakfast but I’d rather have a brownie!
Beth Valenta says
OH how I love these! I am usually on par with you, but not today.
Top 5: watermelon, bananas, blueberries on something, apple with peanut butter, tomato
Bottom 5: MANGO, kiwi (a furry tennis ball), pineapple (0ver the edge that this is my husband’s order on pizza), pear, honeydew melon
Blake says
I’m not a huge fruit girl, but bananas take every spot of my bottom 5… so naturally my kids love them. 😂
Mandie Howard says
Oh my goodness our lists would be reversed! I feel like what even is the point of eating a kiwi? They take forever to get out of the skin. Then it take you two seconds to eat because they are so tiny!
Top 5:
5) grapes
4)cherries
3)watermelon
2) blueberries
1) grapefruit
Bottom 5:
5: mango. I legit can’t recall that I have ever had a good one. They take so much work and then about 85% of the time they don’t taste great.
4) kiwi
3)strawberries
2) cantaloupe
1) honey dew melon
Terry says
What about tomatoes and avocados? Both are fruit! Where would they fall on your Top 5/Bottom 5?
Mix and Match Mama says
I know they’re fruit…but they’re also weirdly veggie related. I didn’t know where to put them? But I love them BOTH!
Jill Snethen says
LOVE all fruit. My husband on the other hand is like Andrew and prefers it cooked in a dessert.
Patty says
We love pears in our house. I am always the person in the fall asking our farm stand when the pears are coming in. We eat them plain and if you dip them in a little caramel sauce…that’s fall heaven.
I have a ton of pear recipes on my site.
Patty
Goodbetterbestlife.net
Erika Slaughter says
I enjoy ANY fruit that someone else has peeled or cut up for me! Why are some of them so tricky?!
Robyn says
Your post today made me LOL! “Cranberries need a new PR firm.” Also, you hit the nail on the head about peaches – though, they are one of my favorite fruits.
Top 5!
5. Bananas
4. Apples (the good ones, the ones that are firm and crisp – NO mush here!)
3. Pineapple
2. Oranges (the small, juicy ones)
1. Grapes
Bottom 5!
5. Raspberries
4. Cherries
3. Honey Dew
2. Kiwi
1. Prunes
With that being said…I do eat and like most fruits, some I just like a whole lot more than others. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I adore a dried prune. Adore them. 🙂
Katie says
I agree with grapefruit- buuuuut day 3 or 4 on an all inclusive & give me a half of a grapefruit at breakfast & it’s delish.
Marisa Patel says
Plums, plums, plums…YES! Grapefruit…GAG!
Julia says
I loooooooooove Honeydew but absolutely despise cantaloupe! My whole family knows this, and my great aunt decided to serve honeydew salad as the main course at my bridal shower but thought that the color of honeydew was too blah so she went out of her way to find an orange honeydew so the dish would look nicer. Did I eat it? Nope. It looked like cantaloupe. And so I didn’t have anything to eat at my own bridal shower – hah!
Charise says
I agree with your bottom 5 completely!! Here’s mine:
Top 5:
1. Pineapple–always just so good…and if you grill it OMG MAKES IT SO MUCH BETTER!
2. Blood Oranges
3. Black Seedless Grapes– I will eat green and red ones, but I prefer the black ones…they taste sweeter to me.
4. Cherries!
5. Kiwi
Bottom 5:
1. GRAPEFRUIT(EWWWW)
2. Melons–but only Honeydew and Canteloupe…watermelon gets an A+ from me.
3.Plums
4. Pears
5. Strawberries–I just don’t get the hype UNLESS they are straight off the vine.
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t know that I eat enough black grapes. I’m buying them next time!
Meggie Knapp says
Andrew cracks me up!! I’m not a big fruit person but do love honey crisp apples occasionally, bananas, and red seedless grapes. I also enjoy blueberries in Greek yogurt. I’m the weird girl who doesn’t even like watermelon OR strawberries 🫣😂
Sheaffer says
When fruit is good, it’s soooooooooooooo good. But when it’s bad, gosh it makes me angry! I almost always buy the super expensive pre-cut fruit now at the grocery store, if only because I can typically tell if it’s going to be good by looking at it.
Paula Nichols says
LOL to Andrew’s response!! 😉 Here in Florida in the summer, we have Sugar Kiss Melons…they are like Cantaloupe on crack! They are SO GOOD!!!! If you ever see them…get them!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I have never heard of a sugar kiss melon and now I desperately need to try one!
Alison says
If all variables are consistent across the board and each fruit is in its peak season, the absolute worst fruits are apples and bananas. So boring. So bland.
Give me some ripe cantaloupe with a touch of salt. Heaven. And a perfectly ripe peach with vanilla ice cream cannot be matched.
Also, on the subject of pineapple, we made your BBQ Whiskey chicken last week and used pineapple Jim Beam whiskey . It paired so well with the bbq!
Susan Jeffries says
Oranges are my favorite but they are best in winter. In the summer I love strawberries and peaches – but they do have a small window of perfection. I am going to try your banana pudding cups for our next lake party!! Thanks!
Caroline says
I was so sad to see my blueberries make the bottom 5!
Top 5:
1. Watermelon
2. Envy Apples (please do not feed me red delicious)
3. Blueberries
4. Cherries
5. Strawberries (in season)
Bottom 5:
1. Cantaloupe (color is so off putting)
2. Grapefruit
3. Pomegranates
4. Blood oranges (the insides make me cringe!)
5. Dragon fruit
Mix and Match Mama says
I am not a super huge fan of dragon fruit either. It’s fine in things, but I don’t really want to eat it on its own.
Peg says
After living in Oregon for several years I can say that the summer months when I could go pick something was my favorite! Cherries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, & blueberries were the best right from the fields. I do like a good watermelon and cantaloupe too. When I was in Hawaii the first time years ago I ate so much pineapple I don’t think my stomach has been the same since.
Michael Boyett says
I agree with you almost 100% except for blueberries! Freeze them and add them in your smoothies or throw them in yogurt. We have had several bushes for years and when they get ripe they all go in freezer bags or I make a batch or two of jam. Sooo good!!💙
Jami Romano says
I’m with Andrew lol! Fruit just does not do it for me… But I am 100% agree with your bottom five. Give me all the veggies.
Susan McKain says
Top 5 – thinking of them at their peak – raspberries, cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, peaches. Happy Summer!
Honorable mention – bananas and citrus
Bottom – Kiwi – Although I have no other known food allergies, think I might be allergic.
That reminds me, one of my friends is apparently allergic to pineapple. Once, when we were younger, she started a story, “ You know when you eat pineapple and your throat feels scratchy and itches?”
Elizabeth S says
I love my fruit. In summer I could eat my weight in watermelon. I have been eating lots of raspberries lately because they have been the best. I know it’s sugar but I could live on fruit in the summer.
Bren says
This post so speaks to me, especially this time of year! Watermelon is my all time, never fails me, favorite. Sweet cherries would be right behind that, but crazy that I am, don’t give me a maraschino cherry, no thank you! I missed out on the sweet cherries for years, because I assumed they all tasted the same, but oh how I enjoy the sweet cherries this time of year!
BUT! If you haven’t tried them yet, next February-March-April, get yourself a sumo orange! I could not quit them this spring! Their sweetness is amazing and making them even better and so far ahead of your basic orange, they peel soooo easily! Now I’m really craving one and they’re out of season until next year. 😊
Francesca says
Yes – why do *ahem* “older” people eat half a grapefruit for breakfast? My Dad has a special cutting knife just for this specific purpose. Was there a bygone era of grapefruit for breakfast back in the day?
K.K. says
Andrew is hilarious!!! ah ha ha…
All the red and purple fruits (watermelon, raspberries, red grapes, strawberries, etc.) are my favorite… Now, Andrew, please don’t tell me it’s because they have the most sugar or something?!?!
And 100% agree about a honeydew… PASS!
Frances Ryals says
Give me ALL the fruit!!! Don’t care how much prep is involved!
Have you ever made the grapes dipped in dry jello and frozen?
Especially good with starburst jello but any flavor works!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh my goodness, I forgot all about that! I don’t remember which summer it was, but it was a few years ago and we did it all summer long. My kids loved it!
Jan says
What is wrong with Andrew????? I love most fruit and could probably live on fruit with protein chasers. I agree with you about Honeydew and Pineapple and sadly, the peach window is just too small but I sure do enjoy when the window is open. I love all berries and right now am bingeing on cherries.
Emily says
Completely agree with your bottom three. Kiwi (especially the sun gold ones) and raspberries are my favorites
Rachel says
I’m allergic/sensitive to almost every fruit. I can eat blueberries, grapes, cranberries, about half a banana or an apple. Any other fruit makes me itch, my tongue and lips swell, and/or I break out in a rash. But in a dream world, my top five would be cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwi, nectarines, tangelos.
Mary says
Just had a mango slaw in a Jamaican Jerk chicken salad at work today! Thank you healthy, intentional work cafeteria.
Re: the pineapple, isn’t it also the most fashionable fruit? I’m thinking pineapple motif on summer t-shirts and in jewelry. It’s one of the only fruits that’s fun to wear!
Mix and Match Mama says
AGREE!
Alysha says
Reading this as I cut open my daily morning grapefruit 😂 💕
Mix and Match Mama says
Stop! You don’t?! How do you do that?! hahahah!
Faith says
Fruit is so inconsistent and I wish certain fruit seasons blasted longer. I love blueberries and could eat the whole container in one sitting. But they def have to be just right and one doesn’t know until they get home. I did see a customer try a grape in the grocery store (uh no thank you!! – ewww).
Deb says
I love almost every fruit but favorites are:
Watermelon
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Apples – Cosmic Crisp
Peaches
Plums
Cherries – red and ranier
Pineapple
Ruby red grapefruit – they aren’t bitter Cantalope
Kiwi
Least favorite
Bananas – I only like them in banana bread or frozen with chocolate on them
Honey Dew – tasteless
I do agree with many others here that buying fruit in season is key or else not worth it. Best is from your own garden or local farmers market or u-pick farm.
Nova says
This list is hilarious and made me laugh. We have 2 big pear trees and they produce the most delicious pears! We harvested over 400 pears last season, let me tell you there is nothing like biting into a chilled ripe, juicy pear (from my tree!).I made pear jam and sauce, my whole family prefers it to apple sauce. I also freeze dried the pear sauce into snack sticks and those are incredible! I’d love to send you a pear gift box this fall!
Mix and Match Mama says
Clearly, I need one of your pears!
Nova says
🙂 the whole world does, I love to share God’s abundance
Dee says
Top 5:
1. Watermelon
2. peaches/nectarines
3. strawberries
4. Grapefruits
5. cherries (short season though)
Bottom 5:
1. Honeydew melon
2. Kiwi
3. Cantaloupes (just okay)
4. Oranges (like them but they’re not a treat)
5. Pineapple – my husband loves them.
I love fruit and enjoy most of them if they’re ripe but not too ripe. The only 2 I really don’t like are my number 1 and 2 of the bottom 5.
Beth says
Have you ever had a pear from Harry & David? Trader Joe’s had them last fall around the holidays and they were absolutely out of this world. I’m not huge on fruit and have to work to be consistent about buying it, but these pears are a no-brainer. One other one – Sugar Kiss cantaloupe. They are so sweet and delicious. I’ll buy one every time I find them in the grocery.
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t believe I have, but now, I’m going to be on the lookout!