Their unique flavor and spicy kick make jalapenos a favorite ingredient in a wide range of culinary dishes. But are they a fruit or a vegetable? In this blog post, we’ll explore this question and share other interesting facts about fruits and vegetables.
Fruits vs Vegetables
First, let’s take a refresher on the basic differences between fruits and vegetables.
Technically speaking, fruits are the mature ovaries of a flowering plant and contain seeds. Simply put, this means that all fruits you can think of (including oranges, watermelons, and peaches) start as flowers.
On the other hand, we use the term “vegetables “ to refer to all other edible parts of a plant, including roots, stems, and leaves. That’s why potatoes, carrots, and beets are all classified as vegetables.
So, to recap: fruits start out as flowers and contain seeds, while vegetables are edible parts of a plant. However, as we’ll see below, this classification isn’t always as clear cut as it might seem at first blush.
Jalapenos: a Fruit or a Vegetable?
Based on the definitions provided above, jalapenos tick all the boxes to be classified as fruits since they start as flowers and contain seeds.
However, from a culinary standpoint, most people consider jalapenos to be vegetables because they’re spicy and we typically use them in savory dishes rather than desserts..
It’s worth mentioning that this debate is not unique to jalapenos. Many other food items can also be considered fruits or vegetables depending on who you ask.
For example, tomatoes, avocados, and cucumbers are often botanically classified as fruits but are consumed and thought of as vegetables due to how they are used in cooking.
Here’s a selection of previous blogs you can check out to learn more about this topic:
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