However, cucumbers are hard to classify. You may assume they're a vegetable because of their mild, fresh flavor, appearance (they sure look a lot like zucchini) and use in recipes. But are cucumbers actually a fruit?
Here we settle this once and for all: Is a cucumber a fruit or a vegetable?
Members of the gourd family of plants, cucumbers originated across Southeast Asia. Currently, they are one of the most accessible types of produce, as they can be grown around the world.
Cucumbers are most commonly known for their long body, cylindrical shape and bright green color. But with nearly 100 varieties, they can vary widely in shape, size and color.
The most common ways to prepare cucumbers include slicing, to create a base for a refreshing salad or layering on a sandwich, and pickling with fresh spices like dill. Various food cultures, including Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and regional Indian cuisines also cook cucumbers into stir-fries, steaming soups and curries.
The botanical definition, which focuses on physiological elements like the structure and organization of the plant, classifies the cucumber as a fruit. A botanist would explain that fruits grow from the ovary of a flowering plant, and they possess seeds. Because cucumbers have seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of a cucumber plant, they are botanically a fruit.
Botanical vegetables may be other edible structures of a plant, such as the leaves, stems and roots, and they do not have seeds. Examples of botanical vegetables include lettuce, carrots, asparagus and broccoli.
Culinarily, Cucumbers Are Vegetables
If you were to ask a chef or dietitian how they would categorize a cucumber, chances are they will say that cucumbers are a vegetable. This is due to the cucumber's appearance, texture and flavor. While vegetables are less sweet, commonly prepared in savory meals and usually have a tougher texture, typically fruits are the opposite: soft, sweeter and more often added to breakfasts and desserts.
So while botanically, cucumbers are a fruit, culinarily, they can be classified as a vegetable.
Cucumber Nutrition
Here's the nutrition breakdown for a half-cup serving of sliced, raw cucumber, per the USDA:
Calories: 8
Carbohydrates: 2 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 0 g
Protein: 0 g
Total Fat: 0 g
Sodium: 1 mg
Since cucumbers are 96% water, they can help keep you hydrated. While they're not a standout source of vitamins and minerals, they do offer antioxidants, like cucurbitacins and cucumegastigmanes, that may help reduce inflammation.
The Bottom Line
So, are cucumbers a fruit or a vegetable? The answer is: both!
Although they are botanically classified as a fruit, cucumbers are overwhelmingly prepared in savory ways like in salads or as pickles, so it's fair to say that they are vegetables in the culinary world. Either way, cucumbers are a hydrating and tasty ingredient that can be beneficial to your health.
Check out our Healthy Cucumber Recipes if you're looking to incorporate a fruit (or vegetable!) into your next meal.
So, are cucumbers a fruit or a vegetable? The answer is: both! Although they are botanically classified as a fruit, cucumbers are overwhelmingly prepared in savory ways like in salads or as pickles, so it's fair to say that they are vegetables in the culinary world.
So, are cucumbers a fruit or a vegetable? The answer is: both! Although they are botanically classified as a fruit, cucumbers are overwhelmingly prepared in savory ways like in salads or as pickles, so it's fair to say that they are vegetables in the culinary world.
Though commonly thought to be a vegetable, cucumber is a fruit. It's high in beneficial nutrients, as well as certain plant compounds and antioxidants that may help treat and even prevent some conditions.
The botanical classification: Cucumbers are fruit.
A botanical fruit would have at least one seed and grow from the flower of the plant. With this definition in mind, cucumbers are classified as fruit because they contain tiny seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of the cucumber plant.
For example, tomatoes, avocados, eggplants, cucumbers, green peppers, zucchini, butternut squash, and others are classified as fruits by botanists because they are the fleshy plant part surrounding its seeds. However, for nutritional and culinary purposes, these foods are considered to be vegetables rather than fruits.
Cucumber is usually considered a vegetable because of how it's used in the culinary world. However, as it grows from flowers and contains seeds, it's botanically a fruit. Regardless of its fruit or vegetable status, there are countless ways to enjoy cucumber in your cooking or beauty routine.
Technically, pickles are fruit. They are made from cucumbers which are commonly seen as vegetables; however, they are a seed containing fruit of the cucumber plant.
A: Cucumbers alone cannot directly burn belly fat. To reduce belly fat, you must focus on making healthy dietary choices, exercising regularly, and making lifestyle changes. So while cucumbers can help with weight loss, they will not specifically target belly fat.
Excessive intake of cucumbers may trigger Hyperkalemia, which is a rare medical condition caused due to the presence of high potassium content in the body. Excessive intake of potassium rich cucumber may lead to flatulence, abdominal cramps and in some cases it can affect the renal system and kidneys.
Watermelon. Much like gourds, watermelon is technically a vegetable belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Eggplant. These are botanically classified as berries because of the presence of tiny edible seeds in it.
Botanists will tell you a tomato is a fruit, and many people already know that. But what many people don't know is that in the United States, tomatoes are legally vegetables.
First, anything that contains the seeds of the plant is a fruit, not a vegetable. This category includes items many consider to be vegetables, including squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant and avocados.
Olives are technically a fruit — not a vegetable — and can help you reach your optimal servings of fruit and veggies per day! Olives are filled with natural antioxidants which help reduce inflammation in the body, preserve bone mass, promote a healthy heart and decrease the risk of certain kinds of cancer.
Botanically speaking, a zucchini (a type of squash) is definitely a fruit. Not only does it have and come from seeds, it grows on the flowering part of the zucchini plant. Fun fact: Zucchini blossoms are gorgeous and edible. The zucchini isn't the only fruit masquerading as a vegetable.
Botanically speaking, a banana is both a berry and a fruit. (Remember, if it's a berry, it's also a fruit by default.) Here's the deal: The banana flower contains one ovary, which grows into a single banana. The banana also has a somewhat soft skin, juicy flesh, and many tiny seeds.
We commonly refer to tomatoes as a vegetable due to their use in savory dishes, but it is indeed a fruit. To understand why tomatoes are a fruit, we must start with defining the botanical classifications for fruits and vegetables. Fruit-bearing is a part of the natural life cycle of a flowering plant.
Botanically, potatoes are only vegetables because there isn't any other category for them, says Dr. Qi Sun, associate professor in the departments of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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