Grilled Fruit Recipes

1. Fruit is perfect for grilling because it's high sugar content caramelizes beautifully on the grill. Just be sure to choose fruits with a firm flesh that are not overly ripe.

2. Most fruit has enough sugar content that it can be grilled without flavor enhancers or oil. Of course, a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter brushed on toward the end of grilling tastes great on practically any fruit.

3. Grilled fruit makes for a sweet side-dish with any of our grilled meat recipes, or serve it with a dollop of whip cream or vanilla ice cream (or both) for dessert.

For easy grilled fruit recipes with spices and glazes check out our recipe section in the right column.

How to Grill Fruit

1. Preheat the grill as follows:

Gas:
Direct heat, medium-high
(400 - 450 degrees F)

Charcoal:
Direct heat, light ash, grate should be on lowest setting

Wood:
Direct heat, light ash, 3 - 4 inches deep, grate should be 2 inches above the fire

2. Grill fruit directly over medium-high heat (400 degrees F), flesh side down, turning once or twice during the prescribed grilling times below.

Grilling Tip:
The high sugar content is a blessing and a curse when it comes to grilling fruit. It can go from golden brown to burnt in less than a minute so keep a close eye on it while it grills.

For most grilled fruit recipes, you just want it heated through with some grill marks and caramelization.

Grilling Times for Fruit

Apples:
Sliced - cut 1/2 to 1/4 inch thick, grill 5 minutes total

Halved - cut lengthwise and core, grill 10 minutes total

Whole - we call these apple bombs. Leave apple whole but core out the center and stuff with whatever you want. Grill over indirect medium-high heat for 50 minutes.

Bananas:
Peeled - skewer 3 inch length pieces, grill 5 minutes total

Unpeeled - cut lengthwise, grill 4 minutes total

Mangos:
Peel, pit, slice into 1/2 inch thick pieces, grill 8 minutes total

Peaches:
Cut in half, pit, grill 6 - 8 total

Pineapple:
Cut into rounds or wedges, grill 6 - 8 minutes total

Plantains:
Choose very ripe (skin black), unpeel, cut into 2 - 3 inch length pieces, grill 10 minutes total