Papayas come in various shapes and sizes. Hawaiian papayas are smaller and are pear-shaped, while Carribean and Asian papayas are long and quite large (like this one). Both are delicious.
When shopping for a ripe papaya: look for skin that is turning from green to yellow. Also, you should be able to press your thumb slightly into the flesh. If it's too soft or mushy, or if it has a sweet smell to it, the papaya is overripe. Finally, look for skin that is fairly smooth, not cracked or torn.
For information on buying green papaya (and making green papaya salad), see my: Thai Green Papaya Salad Recipe.
