Jackfruit vs Durian: Differences, Nutrition & Taste

Short answer: Jackfruit and durian look similar but are unrelated. Durian is smaller, with hard, sharp spikes, a strong smell and rich, custardy flesh; jackfruit is much larger, with soft, bumpy skin, a fruity smell and chewy yellow pods. Per 100 grams, durian has more calories (147 vs 95), fat, fiber, thiamin and vitamin C, while jackfruit is lighter and has about the same potassium and vitamin B6. Both are nutritious; jackfruit is easier to find and to use in cooking.

In an Asian grocery store, a pile of large green spiky fruit could be either jackfruit or durian, and plenty of shoppers mix them up. Once you know what to look for, they’re easy to tell apart, and they couldn’t be more different to eat. This guide explains how to identify each one, compares their nutrition using USDA data, and covers taste, preparation and safety.

For each fruit in detail, see our guides to jackfruit nutrition and durian fruit, or explore more in our tropical fruits list.

Jackfruit vs durian at a glance

Size: Jackfruit is far bigger: often 10–40 lb vs 2–7 lb for durian
Skin: Jackfruit has soft bumps; durian has hard, sharp thorns
Smell: Jackfruit is sweet and fruity; durian is pungent and sulfurous
Fewer calories: Jackfruit (95 vs 147 per 100 g)
More fiber, fat and thiamin: Durian
Savory cooking: Young jackfruit is a popular meat substitute

How to tell jackfruit and durian apart

Jackfruit vs durian: identification
Feature	Jackfruit	Durian
Scientific name	Artocarpus heterophyllus (fig and mulberry family)	Durio zibethinus (mallow family)
Size	Very large, oblong, often 10–40 lb	Football-sized, round to oval, 2–7 lb
Skin	Green to yellow, covered in small, blunt bumps	Green to brown, covered in hard, sharp pyramid spikes
Smell	Sweet, like banana and pineapple when ripe	Strong, pungent, often compared to onions or rotting fruit
Inside	Many yellow bulbs around a central core, with sticky white latex	Five chambers holding large pods of creamy pale-yellow flesh
Where it grows	South and Southeast Asia, Brazil, Florida	Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia

The quickest test is to touch it carefully. If the spikes are soft and you can press them with your thumb, it’s jackfruit. If they’re hard and sharp enough to hurt, it’s durian. And if you can smell it from across the aisle, it’s almost certainly durian.

Jackfruit vs durian nutrition

The table compares 100 grams of raw fruit, about two-thirds of a cup of jackfruit or less than half a cup of durian.

Jackfruit vs durian nutrition per 100 g
Nutrient	Jackfruit, 100 g	Durian, 100 g
Calories	95	147
Protein	1.7 g	1.5 g
Total fat	0.6 g	5.3 g
Carbohydrates	23.3 g	27.1 g
Fiber	1.5 g	3.8 g
Potassium	448 mg	436 mg
Magnesium	29 mg	30 mg
Vitamin C	13.7 mg	19.7 mg
Thiamin (B1)	0.11 mg	0.37 mg
Vitamin B6	0.33 mg	0.32 mg
Folate (DFE)	24 mcg	36 mcg
Copper	0.08 mg	0.21 mg
Manganese	0.04 mg	0.33 mg

Per 100 g raw. Values from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy): Jackfruit, raw (FDC 174687) and Durian, raw or frozen (FDC 168192). USDA doesn’t list total sugars for durian. The highlighted value is the higher one for each nutrient.

Want the full label? Look up any fruit and portion size in our USDA-based nutrition tool.

Food nutrition lookup

Calories, fat and fiber

Durian is one of the most energy-dense fruits you can buy. At 147 calories per 100 grams, it has about 50 percent more calories than jackfruit, and a full cup of durian (243 g) has about 357 calories, similar to a small meal. Much of the difference comes from fat: durian has 5.3 grams per 100 grams, unusual for a fruit, which gives it its rich, buttery texture. Jackfruit is almost fat-free.

Durian also has more than twice the fiber, 3.8 grams per 100 grams compared with 1.5 grams. Both fruits are high in natural sugars, with ripe jackfruit at around 19 grams per 100 grams. If you’re managing blood sugar, keep portions small; our list of low-sugar fruits has lighter alternatives.

Young, unripe jackfruit is a different food altogether. It’s much lower in sugar and calories, which is why it works as a savory, low-calorie stand-in for meat in dishes like our jackfruit tacos.

Winner: jackfruit for fewer calories; durian for fiber.

Vitamins and minerals

Gram for gram, durian is the more nutrient-dense of the two. It has more than three times as much thiamin (vitamin B1), which helps turn food into energy, plus more vitamin C, folate, copper and manganese. A cup of durian provides about 0.91 mg of thiamin, more than 75 percent of the daily value.

Jackfruit holds its own on potassium and vitamin B6, with almost identical amounts to durian. A cup of jackfruit pieces (151 g) provides about 677 mg of potassium and 0.5 mg of vitamin B6, around 30 percent of the daily value for B6. Neither fruit is a good source of protein, despite jackfruit’s reputation as a meat substitute. See our guide to foods high in potassium for how they compare with other produce.

Winner: durian for most vitamins and minerals; a tie for potassium and B6.

Taste, smell and how to eat them

Ripe jackfruit tastes like a cross between banana, pineapple and mango, with a firm, slightly chewy texture, a bit like a gummy candy. To eat it, oil your knife and hands to deal with the sticky latex, cut the fruit into sections, and pull out the yellow bulbs, removing the seeds. Eat the bulbs fresh, add them to fruit salads, or blend into smoothies.
Jackfruit seeds are edible once cooked. Boil them for 20 to 30 minutes or roast them, then peel; they taste like chestnuts. Don’t eat them raw.
Young jackfruit is cooked as a vegetable in curries, stir-fries and barbecue-style dishes, and is usually sold canned in brine.
Durian has a smell that people either love or can’t stand, caused by sulfur compounds. Its flesh is soft, creamy and custard-like, with flavors of caramel, almond and vanilla alongside savory, garlicky notes. To open one, look for the seams between the spikes, cut along them with a sturdy knife, and pry the shell apart to scoop out the pods. Many US shoppers buy frozen durian, which is easier and less smelly.

Durian’s smell is so strong that it’s banned on public transport and in many hotels in Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia. Store opened durian in an airtight container, or you’ll smell it all over the fridge.

Safety notes

Who should be careful

Durian and alcohol: a traditional warning in Southeast Asia says not to drink alcohol with durian. A lab study suggested sulfur compounds in durian may slow an enzyme that helps clear alcohol from the body, which could worsen flushing, nausea and palpitations. Evidence in people is limited, but it’s sensible to avoid alcohol for a few hours after eating durian.
Kidney disease: both fruits are high in potassium. If you’ve been told to limit potassium, ask your doctor or dietitian about portion sizes.
Diabetes: both are high in sugar, and durian is calorie-dense. Stick to small portions, such as 2 or 3 pods of durian or a few bulbs of jackfruit.
Allergies: jackfruit can cause reactions in people with a latex allergy or a birch pollen allergy. Durian allergy is rare but has been reported.
Handling: wear thick gloves or use a folded towel when opening durian; its spikes can cut your hands.

Which should you choose?

Choose jackfruit if you:

Want a sweet, tropical fruit with fewer calories.
Want a versatile ingredient for both sweet and savory cooking.
Are new to tropical fruits and want something with a familiar flavor.

Choose durian if you:

Love rich, creamy desserts and aren’t put off by strong smells.
Want more fiber, thiamin and minerals per bite.
Are happy to treat it as an occasional, calorie-dense treat.

If you’ve never tried durian, start with a small piece of frozen durian or a durian dessert. For other adventurous options, see our guide to exotic fruits to try.

Jackfruit vs durian FAQ

Are jackfruit and durian the same?

No. They’re unrelated fruits from different plant families that happen to look similar from the outside. They differ in size, smell, texture and taste.

Which is healthier, jackfruit or durian?

Durian has more fiber, vitamins and minerals per gram, but also more calories and fat. Jackfruit is lighter. Both are nutritious in sensible portions.

Does jackfruit smell like durian?

No. Ripe jackfruit has a sweet, fruity smell. Durian has a strong, pungent smell that many people find unpleasant.

Can you eat durian seeds?

Durian seeds are eaten boiled, roasted or fried in parts of Southeast Asia, but they shouldn’t be eaten raw. Most people discard them.

Is jackfruit a good meat substitute?

Young jackfruit has a meat-like texture, but it’s low in protein. Pair it with beans, lentils or tofu to make a filling meal.

Jackfruit vs Durian: How to Tell Them Apart, Nutrition and Taste