Once ripened, the fruit can be kept in the refrigerator in good condition for a week or a little more. Rinsing off the floral remnants improves the appearance of the flesh, but it does cause some loss of juice. When grown indoors, the plants are subject to infestation by scale insects, mites and mealybugs. Outdoors, they are usually pest-free. In India, wire cages are placed around developing fruits to protect them from rats, squirrels, monkeys and other creatures.
Black specks are floral remnants.
Fully ripe pulp is like a blend of pineapple and banana. It may be served as dessert with a little light cream, or may be added to fruit cups, salads or ice cream. To make a preserve, rinsed segments can be stewed for 10 minutes in a little water, a cup of sugar and a tablespoon of lime juice is then added for each 2 cups of fruit, the mixture is simmered again for 20 minutes and preserved in sterilized jars. Some cooks substitute honey for sugar. The oxalic acid, and possibly other unidentified principles, in the unripe fruit, the floral remnants of the ripe fruit, and all parts of the plant, cause oral and skin irritation.