Don't Handle Strange Fruit

[iamjoy]

So I'm in the produce section of the local grocery, looking for an unusual fruit to serve for Rosh Hashanah (Friday night). I pick up one that's not labeled - it's shaped like a pear or large egg but has a green and red skin.

So I'm holding it in my hand, trying to get a feel for it, smell it, etc. And I ask the produce clerk what it is and he says it's a cactus pear. I tried that in a jelly earlier this year and didn't like it, so I set it down.

A few moments later, I notice my hands are stinging, but I don't see any wounds or anything on my flesh. I go to the bathroom to wash my hands and it hurts to rub them together, so I settle for just rinsing them very well. I get home - hands still hurting, more when I try to grip something and I notice some very tiny (maybe a centimeter long) CLEAR splinters.

I think I got them all, but they're very hard to see and my hands still hurt when I press in the wrong place - so I don't know if there are still some prickers or if my skin is just irritated.
If it still hurts tomorrow I am going to call my doctor, I may call anyway since it has been 12 years since my last tetanus shot.

In any case, lesson learned, don't handle strange fruit.

[Deja Q]

1. The one is oh-so-begging for a copycat...

O8)

[iamjoy]

2. DO NOT

unless you like having your hand feel like a bunch of ants stung it.

[Jamastiene]

3. Lesson and point well taken.

I'm leary of most of those unusual fruits in the produce section. What's it called? Malanga or something, supposed to use it like potatoes but it costs way way more than potatoes. My question still is why have two fruits or vegetables that you use the same exact way and taste the same? Of course, I can see where red bell peppers and yellow peppers can add a nice color to whatever they both get used in, but I'm leary of anything that costs way too much yet says just like potatoes.

I can't imagine eating something that stings a person's hands like that. Imagine what it would do to your stomach. :ouch:

[iamjoy]

5. Well, You Are Supposed To Peel It

wearing gloves, of course.

Too much trouble for me.

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. I guess they don't call it a cactus pear for nothing

Ouch!