There are lots of non-round fruits. Here’s a list of 26 of them. Some of them are common and some are quite exotic.
1. Avocado
Avacado has an oblong shape and is a favorite among those who like to stay fit and healthy. These fruits have four grams of protein which is the highest in a fruit. But it also has a lot of fat content which is mostly monounsaturated fats which some frown upon. Avocado is native to Central America and Mexico.
2. Banana
You don’t need anyone to tell you bananas are not round. They are very popular as a snack before a workout because bananas have a lot of potassium which is good for the functioning of muscles. They also have a lot of antioxidants, vitamin C and B6. These plants grow well in warmer regions in Southeast Asia.
3. Custard Apple or Cherimoya
This is a heart-shaped fruit that has white flesh and black seeds. Custard apples look a little bit like apples and have scales on the surface. They are green in color and it is important to note that the seeds and skin of this fruit can be toxic for humans.
4. Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruits are in the shape of a diamond, making them look a little bit like pineapples. They come in many colors, both inside and outside. There are spikes on the fruit that are green in color and it has an exotic look and tastes like a mix of a pear and a kiwi.
5. Eggplant
Although eggplant is typically eaten as a vegetable, it is essentially a fruit. These fruits, which are also known as aubergines, are widely recognized for having a lot of fiber and minerals. They have a low calorie value and are a significant component of Mediterranean cuisine. They often have a purple hue, however they can also be seen in green or white. Eggplants can be oblong or short and oval in form.
6. Fig
Figs usually look like short pears and have a sharp top. Most of them are deep purple in color but they also come in reddish shades and green color. You can eat them as they are or make jams with the pulp. Make sure you wash them with warm water if you want to eat them raw.
Related: How To Store Figs? Here’s What You Need To Know!
7. Guanabana
Also called soursop, this fruit is conical in shape. But it also has a curve and a sharp top. The outside area has black thorn-like spikes that are green in color. The flesh of this fruit has a sour and sweet taste and is white in color. It also has black seeds that can be tough to eat.
8. Horned Melon
Horned melons are cylindrical in shape, with the top and bottom being rounded. The fruit has yellow skin with dull thorns on the surface. To eat it, you must cut it and take out the pulp. People often add a little salt or sugar to the surface or mix the pulp into their smoothies.
9. Ice Cream Beans
This fruit is cylindrical in shape. It is native to Mexico but is also found in the southern parts of the Amazon. It grows well in tropical climates anywhere in the world. Typically, it is found as a dessert flavor but it can be eaten in its raw form too. Remove the pods and the seeds that are inedible. Take the pulp that is sweet and add it to any dessert for its flavor.
10. Jackfruit
Jackfruit is another popular non-round fruit that grows in many parts of the world. It is one of the biggest fruits coming from any tree. And this tree can create about 100 to 200 jackfruits in a year. The fruits are bulb-like with strings for the core and the seeds are also edible when cooked well.
11. Kiwi
Also called woody vine or Chinese gooseberry, kiwi is a popular fruit that has an ovoid shape. It is native to Taiwan and China but is also commercially grown in California and New Zealand. The fruit has an acidic taste but you can eat it as is or by cooking it. The fruit is rich in vitamin C and K. Kiwi juice can be used to make meats tender.
12. Lakoocha
This is a tropical tree with an irregular shape that is native to India. Lakoocha is generally consumed raw and fresh. It has about 20 to 30 seeds and it has a lot of value not just as a food item but also because the tree is a good source of timber. The roots and wood of this tree are used in the making of dyes.
13. Mango
Different types of mangoes come in different shapes, but most of them are oval, heart or kidney-shaped. The fruit has a pointy top and in its raw form, it is green in color. Ripe mangoes are yellow in color but some varieties are orange-yellow or reddish too.
14. Nipplefruit
This is an oblong-shaped fruit with quite a few pokes coming out at the bottom. It has smooth skin that is orange in color and turns gold when it matures. Nipplefruit has white flesh and many reddish-brown seeds. The fruits grow on thorny shrubs that have fuzzy leaves, spikes and purple-colored veins. It grows all through the year but peaks during fall.
15. Olosapo Fruit
Also known as monkey cap, baboon cap and zapote Amarillo, this fruit comes in small clusters. The individual fruit itself is quite small in size and oblong in shape. They have textured skin that is thin and wrinkled. The raw fruit is green in color, which turns into a golden or brown color when it matures. It has yellow flesh and is quite fibrous.
16. Pineapple
This is one very obvious non-round fruit. It is also a very popular fruit and is interesting too because this plant can regenerate from a single leaf. They have been around for centuries and are tropical fruits. They are native to South America are grown in several other parts of the world too.
17. Quince
This is a small fruit that is almost round but not exactly. The fruit looks like it is as juicy as a pear or an apple. But it is a bit sour and tannic when it is still raw, so it is often cooked and is a popular ingredient in dishes specially made in the fall season.
18. Rambutan
This is an interesting fruit because it looks like a sea urchin. It is the size of a golf ball and has a lot of red hair on its surface and the shell beneath is green in color. In fact, its name is the Malay word which means hair. The fruit is grown in tropical parts of Southeast Asia, specifically in Indonesia and Malaysia. It has white flesh and tastes creamy with a seed right in the center.
19. Star Fruit
Also called carambola, this fruit is shaped like a star and that’s why it is named as it is. When it is raw, the fruit is green in color and it turns yellow once it is ripe. The star fruit has a sour and sweet taste. The skin is edible and the sourness is why it is a popular addition to many dishes. The larger the fruit, the sweeter its taste.
20. Tamarillo
These are either egg-shaped or oval and have two pointy ends. The fruits are small in size and have smooth skin. It is thin and orange-gold in color when raw and when it matures, the fruit turns red-brown in color.
The tamarillo may also have hues of crimson or purple. The flesh of this fruit is orange and succulent and the pulp is soft with a circular and thin encasing for the edible seeds in the middle.
21. Ugli Fruit
This is a mix of grapes and mandarin oranges. It has a generic name, ‘tangelo’, which is used interchangeably with ugli fruit. The fruit is not a great looker and has a bad name too.
But ugli fruit is in a teardrop shape and is bigger in size than a grape. It has orange flesh and different sections that are separated with a type of net. The taste is sweet, with hints of tanginess and bitterness.
22. Velvet Apple
Seedless velvet apples are short and in the shape of a squat, while the ones with seeds are more round. These fruits are golden yellow to orange in color, but sometimes they turn purple-red too.
The end of the stem has a permanent calyx and small, brown hair. These fruits grow in small clusters and have a thin skin that is bitter and hence peeled before the fruit is eaten. Sometimes, it also smells bad.
23. Water Apple
Also called a rose apple or watery rose apple, this fruit is native to tropical parts of India and some other Southeast Asian nations. It is shaped like a pear and grows very well in humid and warm climates where the soil is rich in moisture. But it is also grown in Florida, California and Hawaii in the US and parts of Australia. The fruits are known to be good for overall health.
24. Xoconostle
This is another pear-shaped fruit that has a tapering on the surface. It is a type of cactus which grows in clusters. The fruit is small and has skin that is muddled with hues of green when it is raw and becomes pinkish once it is ripe. It is a cousin of the prickly pear which explains the visual resemblance. The flesh is bright green or pink in color and is juicy and smooth with seeds all over the flesh.
25. Youngberries
Youngberries look like smaller blackberries and are oblong or spherical in shape. The core of this fruit is solid and the surroundings are very fragile. When it is mature, the fruit is purplish-black in color. It is relatively more succulent than a blackberry and has its texture is delicate.
26. Zuriat Fruit
This is a large fruit that is oval in shape. It has a sweet smell and brown skin. The surface has divots and is bumpy and woody. The flesh is spongy and the seed inside is large and oval in shape.
Further Reading: Is Pickle a Vegetable or a Fruit?