Fruit vegetables such as cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, and corn combine the sweetness of fruits with the savory flavors of vegetables.
Fruits vs. Vegetables: What's the Difference?
Fruits come from the flowering part of a plant and contain seeds. Vegetables, on the other hand, are the edible parts of a plant, such as the leaves, stems, roots, and bulbs.
Fruit vegetables: the line between fruit and vegetable is blurring.
Fruit vegetables are actually fruits that are often used as vegetables in cooking. They blur the line between fruit and vegetable because of their culinary uses and flavor profile. They are often used as vegetables because, in culinary terms, vegetables tend to have a savory flavor and contain less sugar, while fruit is valued for its sweetness.
Even the logic of sweet versus savory doesn't always hold true. Tomatoes, for example, are ideal for salsa, combined with onions and garlic.
Examples of fruit vegetables:
Tomatoes and peppers
Cucumbers and gherkins
Melons and watermelons
Eggplant
Courgette (courgetti)
Sweet corn (maize)
Understanding fruit and vegetables reveals that the classification of fruits and vegetables is not always strict, especially in the culinary world.
Fruit vegetables are botanically considered fruits, but are often used as vegetables in culinary terms, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers. They combine the sweetness of fruit with savory uses.
Fruit vegetables are versatile in various dishes, have a longer shelf life when stored properly, and offer customers tasty and healthy options.
Store fruiting vegetables in a cool, dry place, preferably separate from real fruit that releases ethylene, so they stay fresh and tasty longer for sale or processing.
