Selection and Storage Skin color can range from orange to red depending on the variety. The heartshaped Hachiya variety isn't ready to eat until it's very soft. If not fully ripe, it can be quite astringent, so keep at room temperature until very soft to bring this fruit to its finest flavor. The Fuyu variety, shaped somewhat like a tomato is ready to eat when only slightly soft.
Persimmons can have a few seeds or be seedless.
This sweet and delicate autumn fruit can be enjoyed simply cut into halves and served with a wedge of lemon or lime, or eaten with a spoon like a melon. Persimmons are best peeled.