What final step is required to access the pulp after cleaning the exterior of an Opuntia fruit?
Answer
The entire skin must be peeled away
Once the exterior defenses of the Opuntia fruit—the large spines and the pervasive glochids—have been meticulously removed using methods like burning or scraping/washing, the next critical step involves accessing the desirable interior. Experienced preparers treat the fruit analogously to a tough-skinned vegetable; the entire skin must be completely removed or peeled away. This ensures that no residual dermal material, no matter how small, is accidentally ingested along with the sweet, seed-filled pulp contained within.

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