Monstera fruit has a hard little center that resembles a weird alien corn on the cob

Monstera fruit buttons should lift off easily without force; if force is required to remove buttons, the fruit underneath is not ripe and will still contain raphides (needle-like crystals) that cause irritation

When monstera deliciosa is grown outside in the right conditions it can grow a real weird looking fruit that's edible and it's actually prized as a delicacy

It takes one year for monstera deliciosa fruit to become ready for harvesting

When eating monstera fruit, care must be taken to not eat any of the scales because they'll be full of raphides and calcium oxalates

Unripe picked monstera fruit should be stored in a container covered with cloth or tissue to prevent fruit flies while waiting for ripening

Monstera fruit jam could be used to add into recipes as a flavor component to create a 'taste explosion'

Monstera deliciosa fruit can be processed into jam by freezing ripe fruit and adding additional fruit as it matures, then combining frozen portions to make jam

Monstera deliciosa is known also as the Swiss cheese plantain and is prized as a house plant all over the world

The monstera deliciosa fruit is super rich in vitamin C and B, contains minerals like phosphorus and calcium, fibers and protein, and there are claims that it's very good for people recovering from radiotherapy and increases bowel movements

Raphide crystals (calcium oxalate) in unripe monstera fruit look like little tiny sharp javelins or needles and are present in huge amounts in the unripe fruit and the rest of the plant

Eating unripe monstera deliciosa fruit would cause severe throat irritation, a burning sensation, and terrible pains in the stomach

The key to safely eating monstera deliciosa fruit is patience and modesty, and the fruit should be about 12 inches long at harvest and really plump

The hexagonal scales on monstera fruit (called buttons) should be just lifting a little bit when the fruit is ready to pick, and if buttons are tight together the fruit is younger

When picking monstera fruit, it should come away very easily from the plant; if you have to put force in there, it's better to leave it longer

After picking monstera deliciosa fruit, additional patience is needed because the fruit will ripen from the stalk up, and the hexagonal buttons should lift easily and fall off before the fruit is safe to eat

Fully ripe monstera fruit shows no raphides in microscopic examination, whereas unripe fruit shows plenty of raphides that will cause throat and mouth irritation

Monstera deliciosa fruit tastes like a combination of banana and pineapple

If buttons are not coming off easily while eating monstera fruit, this indicates the fruit is not yet ripe and contains raphides; consumption should stop and fruit should be stored a day or two longer until buttons lift easily

Even fully ripe monstera fruit will have some calcium oxalate present, so modesty in consumption is key and should only be eaten a little bit now and again rather than in large quantities