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Home Vegetarian Cooking 101 Ingredient Guides Types Of

35 Flavorful Yellow Fruits (With Photos!)

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By: Sarah BondUpdated: Sep 11, 2023 Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links.

Collage that says "yellow fruits"

Looking to add some healthy and delicious variety to your fruit bowl? Get ready to discover 35 yellow fruits that are sure to tantalize your taste buds and boost your nutrition game!

Collage that says "yellow fruits"

Join us today as we explore a colorful and tasty world of yellow fruits! From the well-known favorites of America and beyond to the hidden gems of the fruity kingdom, we’ve got you covered.

With the nutritional trend of eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, it’s important to know the benefits of each color group. And when it comes to yellowish fruits, the options are endless.

So whether you’re on the hunt for a specific yellow fruit or simply want to add some vibrant color to your plate, our guide to 35 yellow fruits, complete with helpful information and mouth-watering photos, has got you covered.

👉 See also: Yellow Vegetables

Fruity Trivia

Cavendish Bananas make up 95% of all bananas sold in the USA, but this wasn’t always the case. Which banana was the predominant variety before Cavendish? (Scroll to the bottom of this post for the answer!)

  • Trick Question, it was always the Cavendish
  • Big Mike
  • Lady Fingers
  • Plantains

Yellow Fruit Varieties

  1. African Mango 
  2. Asian Pear
  3. Banana 
  4. Banana Peppers
  5. Canistel
  6. Crookneck Squash 
  7. Date Plum
  8. Canary Melon
  9. Citron 
  10. Early Gold Mango
  11. Golden Delicious Apple
  12. Grapefruit
  13. Horned Melon 
  14. Lemon
  15. Mirabelle Plum
  16. Nam Dok Mai Mango
  17. Pattypan Squash 
  18. Peach
  19. Pineapple
  20. Pomelo
  21. Spaghetti Squash 
  22. Yellow Bell Peppers
  23. Yellow Chili Pepper
  24. Yellow Dragon Fruit
  25. Yellow Grapes
  26. Yellow Guava
  27. Yellow Kiwi
  28. Yellow Lime
  29. Yellow Passion Fruit
  30. Yellow Plum
  31. Yellow Strawberry
  32. Yellow Watermelon
  33. Yellow Pear Tomato
  34. Yellow Papaya
  35. Yellow Squash 

African Mango

African Mango 

Also known as the wild or bush mango, this mango variety is eaten by people and African wildlife alike. It appears to be a favorite of monkeys, gorillas, and elephants. The locals who harvest these eat them raw, in jams, jellies, juice, and wine. The seeds are known for their high fat and protein content providing almost 200 calories per ounce.

Asian Pear

Asian Pear on white background.

Asian Pears are a sweet pear variant shaped more like an apple than other pears. Their yellow-green skin can appear more green than yellow, but they still make our list of yellow fruits. The Asian pear was brought to America by Chinese immigrants in the mid-19th Century, and they have been a popular variety since. Asian pears are a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, making them like other pears quite healthy. They are great eaten raw, in fruit or veggie salads, or in many regional specialties like this Dutch Poached Pear Recipe.

Banana

Peeled bananas on a counter.

An astonishing 96% of American households purchased a banana in the last month! By weight bananas are hands down the most eaten fruit in America. There are many banana varieties available in the USA ranging from starchy plantains to sweet dessert varieties. The most common types are:

There is so much to this great fruit that we had to do a pair of whole separate post on them at Bananas 101: Everything You Need To Know (ripening, storing, nutrition) and our sister post 15 Healthy Banana Recipes (Great For Overripe Bananas).

Banana Peppers

Banana peppers on white isolated background.

Banana peppers are the sweet yellow type of peppers that are always an option at any sandwich shop. As peppers go, they are very mild and are a good alternative to yellow bell peppers if you want just a hint of spiciness in your cuisine.

Canistel

Canistel on white background.

The canistel fruit is also known as cupcake fruit. They are cultivated in Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, and several other nations in SE Asia. The pear-shaped fruit are sweet with a yellow to orange skin and a very large pit. You can find these in the US at international markets, but expect them to be a bit expensive.

Crookneck Squash

Crookneck squash look just like yellow types of squash in color, size, and shape, but they have a distinctive bumpy and much harder skin with a bent end. While the skin is edible, it is much harder to eat than that of its cousin the yellow squash. They could easily be substituted into this Zucchini Crisp Recipe (Tastes Like Apple Crisp!).

Date Plum

Date plum on white background.

Date Plums are most commonly found in Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe. These yellow plums have all the same culinary uses of other plums, and are regionally often used in traditional health aides to assist with digestive issues, asthma, and even lung infections. While we can’t support any of these claims, plums have a commendable nutrition profile.

Canary Melon

Canary melon on white background.

The canary melon looks like a bright-yellow honeydew melon, and shares the same sweet tangy taste of the honeydew melon. The flesh, however, is softer and generally light green to white. They are grown primarily in Japan and South Korea.

Citron

Citron growing on a tree.

Citrons look like lumpy lemons. These grow predominantly around the Mediterranean and are most noted for use in Jewish religious observances. The peel is also commonly candied in the region.

Early Gold Mango

Early gold on white background.

The Early Gold Mango is a variant of this always popular tropical fruit grown in Florida. Mangoes are native to South Asia, and India remains the world’s largest producer. Mangoes made their way into America around 1880. Today, mangoes are one of the most commonly eaten fruits in the world. It’s a stone fruit, meaning it has one hard seed surrounded by delicious fruit. Peaches, cherries, and plums are all stone fruits as well. If you need information on how to select, cut, or use mangos, check out mangoes 101 for health information and much more. You might also try a cool Mango Margarita Slush or Mango Smoothie Recipe.

Golden Delicious Apple

Golden apples on white background.

Golden delicious apples are in the top 15 most consumed apples in the United States. This is no participation trophy when you consider that there are about 2,500 apple varieties in the USA. Surprisingly, they are not related to the Red Delicious. They are a naturally occurring hybrid apple that was found growing on a farm in West Virginia in the early 1900s. They have been popular since their discovery, becoming West Virginia’s official state fruit in 1995 and being the star of the Golden Delicious Festival every year for the last 50 years in Clay County WV where they were discovered. Give them a try this fall in our favorite Apple Crisp recipe!

Grapefruit

Many grapefruit halves.

Grapefruit is not an ancient fruit. They originated in 18th century Barbados, and are believed to be a nature made hybrid between an orange and a pomelo. The name comes from how they grow in clusters like grapes. The pale yellow skinned grapefruit are generally sweeter than their pink or red cousins. For more on how to select, store, cut, and more on grapefruit check out Grapefruit 101: What you need to know about your favorite winter citrus. And for a decadent, but guilt free healthy treat, try this Grapefruit Smoothie Bowl with Strawberries and Ginger Recipe.

Horned Melon

Horned melon cut in half

Also known as the Kiwano melon, this odd-looking fruit grows in Central to Southern Africa. Horned melons are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, and can be used in both savory and sweet dishes as well as drinks and deserts. Kiwano is difficult to find in the United States, but is often available in international markets.

Lemon

Close up of lemon slices

Lemons are one of the world’s most common fruits as they are grown and eaten around the world. This said, we aren’t sure of their origin. They are nutritional powerhouses low in calories but high in vitamins. For more on these little gems check out Lemon 101: Nutrition & Everything You Need To Know About Lemons.

Mirabelle Plum

Mirabelle plum on white background.

Mirabelle plums can vary from yellow to red. Like most plums they are sweet and flavorful. While they are good eaten raw, 70% are used in jams and 20% are used in wine or brandy.

Nam Dok Mai Mango

Nam Dok Mai mango on white background.

The Nam Dok Mai mango is a tropical fruit native to Thailand. Like most mangoes, they are known for their sweet and juicy pulp, but are smaller than most other mango varieties. Nam Dok Mai mangoes are a popular ingredient in Thai cuisine, and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes like Mango Chutney!

Pattypan Squash

Pattypan are the small yellow squash with scalloped edges many people use in decorative table displays. They have a soft skin, so they can be eaten raw, but are more commonly roasted, grilled or used in stir fry. They are a good substitute for zucchini like in this Corn Succotash!

Peach

Peach on white background.

Peaches have been an American favorite since well before American independence from Britain. They were brought to St. Augustine Florida by Spanish explorers in the 16th Century and spread from there.

At only 11 calories an ounce peaches are a decidedly low calorie fruit, and like most other orange pulped fruits are high in vitamin A and C. The uses for peaches are pretty much endless, but if you want to try something different and decadent check out this Grilled Peach Caprese Recipe.

Pineapple

Pineapple on a white background.

Unripened pineapples are more green than yellow, but their skin color changes from green to yellow as they ripen. The flesh is, of course, decidedly yellow warranting their inclusion here. Pineapple is native to South America though many believe it is indigenous to Hawaii. Pineapple is great in fruit salads and a host of other great uses. More about pineapples here!

Pomelo

Pomelo on white background.

Pomelo are typically yellow to green in color, and are scientifically known as Citrus Maxima. Okay, so that is pretty much useless information, but anything called Maxima deserves to be called out. These large (maxima) citrus fruits taste similar to grapefruits, but are typically sweeter. Pomelo is a natural fruit which is to say, unlike many of the fruits we eat today it is not a natural or human made hybrid. In fact, pomelo has been used in making many hybrid fruits. You can eat a pomelo in the same ways you would a grapefruit.

Spaghetti Squash

Cooked spaghetti squash on a white background

Spaghetti squash have a wonderful super power. The flesh forms into stands which are easily scraped out with a fork to make a wonderful bright yellow “spaghetti”. There are many great ways to use spaghetti squash. Boil it, bake it, microwave it, cook it in the crockpot, etc. Here are 6 Spaghetti Squash Recipes You’ll LOVE.

Yellow Bell Peppers

Seeding a bell pepper.

Bell Peppers are also known as paprika or sweet peppers, and are most commonly found in the grocery in green, yellow, and red. Peppers are native to Mexico as well as Central & South America. Peppers were brought to Europe from the “New World” in 1493, but the bell pepper we know today wasn’t developed until the 1920s. Looking for some new motivation for using the mildest of peppers in your cooking? Here are 14 of Our Favorite Bell Pepper Recipes.

Yellow Chili Pepper

Yellow chili pepper on white background.

Yellow chili peppers are also known as Güero Chilos or Caribe chili. They vary in hotness more than probably any other pepper from very mild to “OMG give me that water glass” hot. Culinary uses include stuffed, roasted, grilled, pickled, steamed, sautéed, stir-fried, on pizza, and a lot more. They are native to Central and South America where there is evidence they have been eaten for thousands of years. While not generally found in most groceries, you can find these in specialty markets, farmer’s markets, or international markets. 

Yellow Dragon Fruit

Yellow dragon fruit on white background.

Dragon Fruit are native to southern Mexico and Central America, but are now grown worldwide. The most commonly available variety is, of course, the red dragon fruit, but the yellow dragon fruit can be found at specialty and international markets. The dragon fruit tastes like a cross between pears and kiwi. They are generally cut in half and eaten out of the skin or peeled and cut into chunks. Try them with yogurt or cut into a salad. Yellow dragon fruits have a higher sugar content than their red cousins, and are correspondingly quite sweet.

Yellow Grapes

Yellow grapes.

There are a number of grape varieties in yellow to golden hues that are used as both table grapes and in wine production. Grapes came from the Middle-East where cultivation probably began around 8,000 years ago. The first evidence of winemaking was in Georgia (the country, not the home of the Atlanta Falcons Georgia). Grapes are near the top of the list of fruits with the highest concentration of sugar. Combining their sugar content with the fact that yeast occurs naturally on their skin, and wine making was a natural use of grapes. For a whole lot more on the superpowers of grapes (besides wine making) check out Grapes 101: Everything You Need To Know About Grapes.

Yellow Guava

Yellow guava.

Yellow Guava are native to Peru where evidence suggests they were cultivated almost 3,000 years ago. Today they grow in tropical and subtropical climates around the globe. The yellow guava is smaller than most other guava variants, and is often eaten raw or in jam, pies, smoothies, and juices. Here at Live Eat Learn, our hand down favorite recipe for guava is in POG juice. Easy Hawaiian POG Juice Recipe (5 minutes).

Yellow Kiwi

Yellow kiwi on white background.

Yellow kiwi are not substantially different from the more common green variety. They have a golden-brown hairless skin and the pulp is bright yellow. They contain a bit more sugar than their green cousins making them somewhat sweeter.

Kiwi are native to China, but were first commercially grown in New Zealand, where they got the name “Kiwi fruit”. Today they are grown in many regions across the globe. Kiwis are loaded with vitamin C (even more than Oranges) They’re also rather acidic, making them a unique cooking ingredient due to their ability to tenderize and digest proteins. For Everything You Need To Know About Kiwis give this a look. If you want to try a great summer treat, give these homemade popsicles a go (you don’t even have to have a mold) Green Smoothie Popsicles (sugar-free). Also check out our quick video tutorial on cutting kiwi.

Yellow Lime

Yellow lime on white background.

Limes are almost always green in the grocery, but they turn yellow if allowed to fully ripen. Growers ship them green because they are harder, store longer, and are easier to ship green. Limes are grown in tropical regions around the world. Limes are used extensively in drinks and desserts as well as Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Indian, and a host of other cuisines. For more on the nutritional value and uses see Limes 101: Everything You Need To Know About Limes, and if you just want something easy and decadent try this Healthy Key Lime Pie Smoothie Recipe.

Yellow Passion Fruit

Passion fruit cut in half with the seeds coming out on a white background

Yellow Passion Fruit has a wonderful sweet-tart pulp, but honestly that is the case with all varieties of passion fruit. The pulp can be used in fruit salads, cocktails, Juice, or served with yogurt or ice cream. Passion fruit is indigenous to Brazil, Paraguay, and Northern Argentina, but today you can find them growing much more broadly to include Hawaii and Florida! And, if you have not tried A Hawaiian POG Juice Recipe it can be almost life changing. Well that is a bit too much to claim, but seriously try it! Should you want to know still more, check out  Passion Fruit 101: Buying, Eating, Health Benefits and More!

Yellow Plum

Yellow Plums are typically a little smaller than other plums, but share most varieties dense sweet pulp though the tart skin can leave a bit of an after-taste. Plums were one of the first fruits cultivated by humans, so we’ve had thousands of years to breed and perfect these little gems.

If you want to know more about other plum varieties and their nutritional benefits check out our Everything Plums Guide. A little read ahead, plums are a very healthy snack or ingredient with only 13 calories per ounce and a commendable vitamin and micronutrient content. If you are trying to get more fruit into your kids diet, try these Plum Fruit Rollups Recipe. And if you want to try other fruit rollup flavors go to Homemade Fruit Rollup Flavor Guide.

Yellow Strawberry

Also known as the Alpine Strawberry, it is a small and generally sweeter, version of regular red strawberry varieties. They are a unique strawberry as they do not spread through runners, but by their seeds. For information on how to choose, store, and hull strawberries as well as nutritional information check out our Strawberry 101 Guide.

Yellow watermelon on a white background

Yellow Watermelon

Yellow Watermelons were cultivated in Africa well before the common red watermelon we know today. Watermelons evolved to develop the red color which comes from Lycopene in the fruit. Yellow watermelons look outwardly much like the red variety, and taste similar with perhaps a slight honey taste to them. 

Yellow Pear Tomato

The yellow pear tomato is an aesthetically pleasing and unique tomato. It is generally bright orange with a distinct pear shape. They are quite sweet, and can pretty much be used in any culinary application that calls for tomatoes. The origin of tomatoes is as a wild plant in the Andes Mountains, but clearly they have grown well beyond this humble origin, and are now one of the world’s favorite foods grown around the world in hundreds of varieties. Check out our Types of Tomatoes: Which Is Best?  Tomatoes are extremely healthy and are more like vegetables than fruits with only 5 calories per ounce and loads of vitamins and minerals. 

Papaya on a white background.

Yellow Papaya

Papaya originated in Central America thousands of years ago, but today India is the world’s leading producer of this healthy and delicious fruit. It is most commonly cut in half like a melon and the yellow pulp eaten fresh with a spoon. Many sources attribute a variety of health benefits to the papaya to include aiding in digestion, diabetes control, heart disease, and possibly cancer prevention. We can’t substantiate any of these claims, but we can definitively state that they taste good.

Yellow Squash

Yellow squash are about the size of zucchini and almost always found next to zucchini at the grocery. They have a dull to bright yellow skin that is perfectly edible. While the taste is slightly different from zucchini, you can easily substitute one for the other in most recipes. They are great in sauteed vegetables and stir-fry. Try them as a healthy pasta alternative by spiralizing them into noodles in this Zucchini/Squash Pasta with Creamy Avocado Pesto.

Another great use for yellow squash is as a lasagna noodle substitute. The BEST Zucchini or Squash Lasagna Recipe. Like zucchini, they only have about 5 calories per ounce and have a health supporting nutrition profile.

Trivia Answer!

Answer: Big Mike. Panama Disease wiped out vast tracts of these bananas starting in the 1920s. By the 1960s the major banana producers knew they had to switch varieties. Interestingly, a later variant of the Panama disease is now causing problems in Cavendish plantations today.

We hope you found some information you can use, and as always happy cooking!

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