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Here in the world of gardening, confusing fruits for vegetables and vegetables for fruits is almost inescapable. Eggplants, tomatoes, and avocados are many amongst other fruits that are always referred to as fruits. But is squash a vegetable?
Since the fruits mentioned above are considered vegetables, what about squash? What would you call a squash? Well, squash develops from the flower-producing part of a plant and contains seed so it is a fruit, although many people would refer to it as a vegetable.
Stick on to our guide today as we reveal all there is to know about squash and what makes it a fruit.
Let’s begin!
What You Need To Know About Squash
Squash(Cucurbita) is a genus of herbaceous fruits from the gourd family. Most of the species from the gourd family are grown and usually consumed for their flesh and seeds. Squash is native to the Andes and Mesoamerica.
Squashes are one of the oldest known crops. In many regions, because squashes are gourds and have a unique shape, they are served as utensils or containers in the kitchen.
Squash have several varieties, and most of these varieties have a mild, nutty flavor. It has enough antioxidants to help curb oxidative stress, which may in the long run help with cancer prevention.
When it comes to nutrients, squash is a good source of vitamin A, C and B. They are so rich in minerals- magnesium and potassium inclusive.
The exceptional characteristics of squash are enough to mistake it for vegetables, while many people are more convinced that squash is a fruit.
Let’s have a clear understanding of what vegetable and fruit is.
See Also: Is Thyme a Perennial Plant?
Difference Between Vegetables and Fruits
Fruits and vegetables are always classified based on which part of the plant they emerge from.
What is a vegetable?
A vegetable is a herbaceous plant that gardeners cultivate for an edible part. Vegetable is a part of a plant that is mostly used as food; they are grouped based on the portion of the plant.
So, vegetables can be grouped as roots, leaves, stems, bulbs, or even flowers. There are notable characteristics that makeup vegetables; if most of these characteristics are not found in them, then these questionable traits could make people refer to it as fruits.
What is a fruit?
A fruit is a part of the plant that develops from the flower of a plant. Fruit is usually sweet, have a fleshy texture, and contains seeds.
- Taste: Most fruits contain fructose, which is why they are sweet yet have bitter seeds. However, vegetables have this green, salty, and most times bitter flavor.
- Color: A fruit possesses varieties of Colors from yellow to green, red, purple, pink, orange, name it! Although vegetables usually take green color, they can come in white, purple, and even pale yellow.
- Uses: vegetables are mostly eaten as main meals or even side dishes. Many vegans would turn to vegetables for comfort and nutrients. On the other hand, fruits are either snacked during the day or eaten as desserts.
Vegans still would consume fruits just as much as they would consume veggies.
Now to our question:
Is Squash a Vegetable or a Fruit?
Remember, we said earlier that squash is a genus of herbaceous fruit. Squash grows from the flower of a plant. It contains seeds, so technically, it is a fruit.
So, squash is not a vegetable, and many people refer to it as a vegetable because it is mainly used as one in the household, so don’t be surprised when people prepare it as vegetable.
What can you make with squash?
There are a good number of meals you can make with squash. You can either have it as fruit or as a vegetable. If you are unsure what to make, you can start with a side dish.
They’re great side dishes that you can make with your squash. Making squash should not be an arduous task. You can learn how to make different recipes with squash.
Have you ever wondered why many people refer to many fruits as vegetables and vice versa? Read on to find out.
Why Do People Refer to Some Fruit as Vegetables?
It is no longer a thing of surprise that many people would refer to fruits as vegetables and vegetables as fruits. But here’s the reason why this is always so.
Many fruits are not sweet; they tend to have a very distinct flavor relative to vegetable. So many cooks would refer to fruits as vegetables.
What are the Examples of Fruits and Vegetables?
One amongst many is tomato, others include zucchini, avocados, cucumber, pepper; green, red, or yellow, olives, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins.
What can you Prepare with Vegetables and Fruits?
Well, for starters, vegetables and fruits are great when you use them for salads. So you can have a full bowl of salads, and guess what? You can have both in the bowl.
Conclusion
It is easy to mistake fruits for vegetables when you do not know what both are. However, our guide today gradually explained what vegetables and fruit are.
If you have always wondered and asked, is squash a vegetable? Well, now you know that botanically squash is a fruit, yet many people would refer to it as a vegetable because of how it is prepared or used in many households.
But whether you choose to enjoy your squash as a fruit or as a vegetable you would reap all the benefits.
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