Squash vs. Gourd vs. 🎃

Описание: Squash vs. Gourd vs. Pumpkin 🎃

The tricky thing about squashes and gourds is that there isn't really a difference in how they are grown or how they look. It all depends on whether or not you can (pleasantly) eat them.

The things preventing you from eating gourds pleasantly are…
Their tough almost rock solid skin. This is why the main use of gourds is to let them dry out fully and make water jugs or bowls.
Their lack of flesh. For how hard it is to get into their shell, there really isn't that much to enjoy in most cases. It puts other fruits (yes… pumpkins are fruits) to shame for the juice to squeeze ratio.
Their bitter taste. Even if their IS flesh, as is the case with Daisy pumpkin gourds, the flesh will be bitter and unpleasant for most people. These gourds “can” be eaten in their early months, but don't tend to be available in that stage unless you grow them yourself.
They give you a tummy ache. As far as I can tell, gourds aren't poisonous or deadly as some people claim… but there are accounts (all citing the same study) that they can give you stomach pains when eaten. I didn't want to test this one, but for reasons 1-3… I won't be eating gourds anytime soon.

Everything else that you eat, is going to be a squash.

And pumpkins are just the pleasant little plump shape that could be the shape of gourds or squashes. Those ones you gotta cut open to find out.

Happy Squash Season!


#pumpkin #squash #kitchen #foodscience #butternutsquash