Actually, It Is Not Necessary to Peel the Kiwi.
There are fruits that need to be peeled before taking a bite, such as pineapples, almost all citrus fruits and bananas (especially if you are allergic to latex). There are fruits that hardly peel, such as grapes and cherries; and fruits whose skins are sort of a dealer’s choice, such as apples, pears and peaches. About a year ago, I always assumed that kiwi would fall into the first category, but like the peach, this fluffy fruit is actually part of the third.
I forgot where I first read that “it is not necessary” to peel kiwi, but I remember my reaction: “Only a pervert would eat an unpeeled kiwi,” I thought, shaking my big round head in disgust. But a few days later I bought a kiwi and got a little drunk that evening and ate it like an (unpeeled) apple. This did not upset me. It was like eating an unpeeled peach, but more so. The taste of the tart and sweet pulp overpowered the sensation of a thin fluffy skin – I wouldn’t say it was “invisible”, but it definitely didn’t bother me. (I’ve since eaten the unpeeled kiwi sober and got the same reaction. I don’t mind at all.)
I hate peeling kiwi or any other fruit with a thin, flimsy skin, so this was great news for me. If you don’t want to bite into the fluffy fruit, you can still slice it up, creating a slice consisting mostly of pulp and very little fluff. If, however, you are the type of person who chokes at the thought of taking a bite of an unpeeled peach, I cannot recommend unpeeled kiwi with a clear conscience. As someone with a different kind of texture problem (I couldn’t eat oysters until I was 2), I understand that there are certain feelings that some people hate in their mouths, and I respect them. But if the fluff on the peach doesn’t piss you off, then the fluff on the kiwi probably won’t scare you. Just make sure you wash it first, albeit with water only; the filthy fruit is the softest of all.
Updated at 10:53 am on Apr 8, 21 EST to include thoughts of slicing (which crossed my mind this morning in the shower).