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RECIPES & COOKING HOW TO COOK FRUITS & VEGETABLES

How to Tell the Di!erence Between

Fruits and Vegetables
Everything you thought you knew about produce is about to be turned on its head. Here's how to diNerentiate
fruits from vegetables (the list may surprise you).

By Jenny Krane | Updated on March 5, 2024

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The diNerence between fruits and vegetables seems obvious—for

example, we all know that apples are fruits and cucumbers are
vegetables. But are they really? Apples are indeed fruits, but you might Advertisement

be surprised to learn that cucumbers are, botanically speaking, also

fruits. There are edible plants that we designate fruits and vegetables
based on their Tavor and how we use them in cooking, but by using that
way of identiUcation, some plants are often misclassiUed.

The most controversial example of misclassiUed produce is the tomato

—is it a fruit or a vegetable? It has seeds and a structure like an apple,
but it doesn't have the same sweet taste as most fruits. Most of us
would call tomatoes a vegetable because you grow them in a
vegetable garden with potatoes, lettuce, and carrots (which are
vegetables). Since a court ruling in 1893, tomatoes are considered
vegetables in the United States. But, scientiUcally, tomatoes are
actually fruits. Here are a few more facts about fruits and vegetables
that might make you rethink a few things.

RELATED: 10 Plants You Should Never Grow Together

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PHOTO: BHG / CARA CORMACK

The Di!erence Between Fruits

and Vegetables Advertisement

From a culinary standpoint, the diNerence between fruits and

vegetables is based on Tavor: fruits are sweet or sour, and vegetables
are mild and savory. Fruits make great garnishes, desserts, or juices,
while vegetables are a hearty side dish or base for a main course.

Nutritionally, the only large diNerence between fruits and vegetables is

that sweet fruits tend to be higher in natural sugars. Other than that,
vitamins, sugar content, Uber, and carbohydrates vary a lot by the
individual plant. The USDA recommends eating a mix of fruits and
vegetables throughout the day to get a larger variety of vitamins and
nutrients.

Although we use these fruits and vegetables in a certain way in the

kitchen, the diNerence between fruits and vegetables is based on their
botanical makeup. Fruits come from the Tower of the plant that they Advertisement

grow on. If the produce develops in parts of the plants other than the
Tower, it's considered a vegetable. Fruits contain seeds. Vegetables
consist of roots, stems, and leaves.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Growing Fruit Indoors

Fruits That Are Commonly Misclassi"ed as

Vegetables
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Just because we think some produce used in savory meals are veggies
doesn't mean they're technically vegetables. Although these fruits are
mild and savory in Tavor, they come from the Tower of the plant they
grow on. They also have seeds (or a pit).

Avocado

Tomato

Cucumber

Peppers

Eggplant

Olives

Pumpkin

Peas

Zucchini

Squash

Okra

Beans

In the kitchen, it doesn't matter if the plant product you're using is a fruit
or a vegetable—vegetables can be used in dessert (hello, carrot cake).
Fruit can be used in savory dishes, like a summery dinner salad.
Although it won't change your cooking, it's always good to know what
you're dealing with concerning fruits and vegetables, especially if
you're growing the produce yourself. Plus, now that you know the
diNerence between fruits and vegetables, your new knowledge may
help you at your next trivia night.

Fruits and Vegetables That May

Be New to You
10 Unusual Fruits and Veggies to Add Fun Variety to Your Garden

How to Eat Dragon Fruit and Why You Should Try It

Seasonal Easy-Peel Sumo Oranges are a Must-Try Sweet Citrus

Fruit

How to Eat Jackfruit, Including Peeling, Prepping, and Cooking

Here's How to Prep and Cook Fresh Persimmon Fruit

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