Product Review: Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit

What it is:

“Native to Southeast Asia, Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world and is capable of reaching up to 100 pounds! With a spiky exterior and fibrous interior, the fruit’s varying stages of maturity yield both different textures and flavors.”1

Where to Find it:

Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, Fresh Market, select Walmart stores, online (Amazon, Thrive Market)  

Pros:

• Ready in under 10 minutes – Fixing Upton’s Naturals Bar-B-Que Jackfruit was so quick and easy. Much easier than fixing BBQ made from pork, chicken, or beef. All I had to do was heat up a skillet and warm it through. While my pan was heating up I could prep what I was going to fix with it: warm tortillas, fresh greens, and leftover sauteed peppers. In the time it would take to go through the drive-through for a quick meal after work, I could have a healthy, plant-based meal at home.

• Great price – For less than $5 I got 3 servings out of the package of jackfruit. The nutrition label claimed 4 servings but that would have been a stretch for my husband and I. I kept the meal fairly simple the night I tried it: jackfruit in a wrap with lettuce and extra vegetables. I’m sure if I would have added extra fruit, vegetables, or healthy fats such as avocado, I could have stretched it to 4 servings. Either way, it made for a pretty cheap meal.

• Very similar texture to meat – If you really weren’t paying attention, you could definitely disguise jackfruit as pulled pork. The overall texture is very similar and because of the neutral flavor, it paired wonderfully with the BBQ sauce.

The entire package of jackfruit cooking in my 10-inch cast iron skillet.

Cons:

• Only 1 gram of protein per serving – Since jackfruit is well, a fruit, there’s not a lot of protein here. This is a perfect example of the extra planning that should take place if you are following a mostly vegetarian or vegan diet. Despite the great taste and texture that’s similar to meat, you won’t have the same macronutrient profile. For omnivores like myself and my husband, we were a little hungry an hour or two after we ate this. I would recommend adding a side of beans, peas, nuts, or quinoa to help boost the protein in your jackfruit meal.

• Hard to find – Depending on where you live, Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit may be hard to find. As mentioned above, you can find this product at most natural grocery stores or online at Amazon or Thrive Market. If you’re already in the habit of using these stores for your groceries this won’t be a big deal.

• Lacks a savory meat flavor – The savory, umami flavor of meat is a tough one to replicate. While Upton’s Naturals does a pretty good job with mimicking the meat texture, it’s really hard to replicate the flavor. This product has an excellent BBQ flavor, it does seem like it’s missing something….aka meat.

Final Verdict:

I would purchase Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit again. They have a variety of flavors such as Chili Lime Carnitas, Thai Curry, and Sweet and Smoky that sound delicious! Now that I know what to expect, I will plan to add more sources of protein and healthy fats with the meal to improve satiety. I believe this to be a great product to put in your meal planning rotation for a quick, easy, and plant-based meal.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever tried jackfruit or Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit, what you made with it, and if you’re planning on buying it again in the future!

Sources:

1 http://www.uptonsnaturals.com/products/bar-b-que-jackfruit

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