If you’ve sliced open or eaten an eggplant recently, you might have noticed something about the flesh inside: it has seeds in the middle.
Questioning minds might wonder why an eggplant has seeds, especially if you’ve never really looked at them before. In this article, we’ll talk about the seeds in eggplants, what they’re for, and how you can make use of them.
Quick Answer: Why Does Eggplant Have Seeds?
The main reason an eggplant has seeds is to reproduce. But if your question is more about why some eggplants have seeds and others don’t, it’s generally because of the time at which they’re harvested.
As eggplants reach maturity, they start to develop seeds in the middle. Therefore, the younger the eggplants are, the less likely they are to have seeds in their core. The flesh around the seeds tends to be a little on the bitter side, so if you’re the kind of person who prefers a mild taste, you might want to choose smaller eggplants.
Some even say that the more seeds your eggplant has, the more bitter it will taste.
Read Also: Why is Eggplant Sometimes Bitter? (And How to Fix It)
Can You Eat the Seeds from an Eggplant?
Another fair question to ask now that you know your eggplant might have seeds is whether or not you can eat them. There are many other kinds of fruits and veggies that people eat the seeds from, after all, like pumpkin seeds.
The answer is yes, you can eat eggplant seeds. Some describe the flavor of the seeds as being much less bitter than the flesh immediately around them. Others feel that the seeds do retain some of the bitterness of the flesh.
Related Article: Rosa Bianca Eggplant Size
You can cook them in a variety of ways to make them tastier for you. If you like pumpkin or sunflower seeds, you can even cook them in a similar way, adding spices or salt to them after roasting.
You can also just leave them inside the eggplant if you don’t have the time or patience to remove them all.
Want to know how to remove the seeds for later use? You can click on the video below for tips.
Related Article: Why Do I Hate Eggplant?
Using the Seeds to Grow New Plants
Just like you can with other plants, you can take the seeds from eggplants and use them to grow whole new eggplants. It’s like a renewable cycle, which can be critical if you’re looking to save a little money on groceries.
So how do you grow eggplant from a seed? Because they often need to be started before the last frost passes, they usually need to be sown inside or in a greenhouse.
Also Read: Why Does Eggplant Have Nicotine?
Put the seeds a quarter of an inch deep. They like water and moisture, so some gardeners recommend covering the top of the pot with a plastic bag to lock in the water.
Maintain these moist conditions, and your eggplant seed will germinate within one or two weeks. You’ll need to continue to keep them reasonably moist throughout their growth, which can take several more weeks.
Related Article: Why Does Eggplant Turn Brown When Cooked? (And How to Fix It)
Wrap Up
It’s true eggplants have seeds, and they can be used for a variety of purposes. Since they’re edible, you can easily incorporate them into a few recipes, or you can just leave them in the eggplant and eat it as-is.
If you’re a big fan of eggplant, we suggest harvesting some of the seeds and using them to grow more. This way, you can keep enjoying fresh eggplant time after time without having to make a run to the grocery store.
You Might Also Like: What is Baby Eggplant?
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
