Is Zucchini A Fruit Or Vegetable

by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated -

Some people wonder – is zucchini a fruit or a vegetable? – and the answer will likely surprise you.

Is Zucchini a Fruit or Vegetable?

Zucchini is technically a fruit, although it is treated and widely referred to as a vegetable. As per USDA, it is listed under “Vegetables and Vegetable Products” Food group. When zucchinis develop, however, they form from an overgrowth of the zucchini flower, and is botanically classified as a berry. Any fruit is classified as the ripened ovary of a flower that contains the seeds for the plant. A vegetable, on the other hand, must be an edible plant part, such as the roots, stems, leaves or tubers of a plant. Based on these definitions, zucchinis are botanically considered fruits. [1] [2]

That being said, the majority of people treat and think of zucchinis as vegetables, perhaps because of their resemblance to cucumbers (which is also technically a fruit), or possibly due to how they are used in cooking. [3]

Close up shot of fresh green zucchini in a bowl against a light blue background

Zucchini contains zero fat, and is high in water and fibre. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Unlike most fruits, zucchinis hold up very well when baked, roasted, fried or seared, as are most other vegetables. They are chopped up for salads and used in stir-fries. Thus, while zucchinis are technically and botanically fruits, most of the world will continue thinking of – and using – zucchinis as vegetables.

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About the Author

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

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