Pickles can be different things such as condiments, vegetables, appetizers, and snacks we all love to enjoy at family picnics. You can make pickles with other food items, but the most common pickles are cucumbers.
Cucumbers come under the fruit category. Some chefs also refer to them as vegetables. And many people debate over pickles being vegetables or fruits. If you ever got into this debate too, I’m sure you need a straight answer already.
Ahead, getting to know the difference between fruits and vegetables will help you classify pickles correctly. Follow me closely in this article.
What are pickles?
Pickles are cucumbers (or any other fruit or vegetable) that have been soaked in a brine solution.
People started making pickles as a way to preserve cucumbers and other food items to keep them fresh and flavorful.
The cucumbers are either left whole or cut into bits and left to ferment in a jar. Fermentation enhances the taste and texture of the cucumbers. The longer the pickles are left to ferment, the better they taste.
You can make pickles at home or buy them from stores. Pickles are now far more than preserved cucumbers.
You can add them to your breakfast sandwich or salad, use them as pizza toppings or eat them as a snack.
What is the difference between vegetables and fruits?
Vegetables are the edible parts of a plant which include the leaves, stem, root, flowers, and fruits. On the other hand, fruits are the seed-bearing parts of any plant.
Furthermore, a fruit is a vegetable filled with seeds (these are the seeds that grow the same plant). Fruits are either sweet or sour and you can eat them raw.
As mentioned earlier, vegetables include all edible parts of a plant, including fruits. Some vegetables are tender, and others are hardy.
You can easily remember it this way, all fruits can be called vegetables but not all vegetables are fruits.
For instance, based on the botanical classification you can call bean pods fruits because they bear seeds. But broccoli, cauliflower, beetroot, carrot, and pulses are vegetables.
Are pickles vegetables?
Yes. Pickles are vegetables when you consider them from a point of culinary usage. Cucumbers can be classified as vegetables; pickling them does not change what they originally were.
Additionally, pickled cucumbers are common ingredients in savory dishes like vegetable salads and vegetable dishes. However, if your pickles are not cucumbers or any other vegetable, they are not vegetables.
Although pickles are vegetables, they do not count as healthy vegetable serving when you add them to your meals.
Pickles contain other ingredients like salt and sugar. These ingredients make them a not-so-healthy vegetable if you consider your dietary intake.
Are pickles fruits?
Yes, they are. Pickles are made from cucumbers. And botanically, cucumbers are fruits. They grow from seeds and contain many seeds but no pit.
Moreover, cucumbers are savory fruits people eat like vegetables. Whether you pickle cucumbers or not, they remain fruits.
Are pickles berries?
Cucumbers are also berries which makes pickles berries as well. Cucumbers are savory fruits of plants with only one ovary and no pit. This makes pickles berries.
Are pickles condiments?
You can use pickles as condiments to add flavor to your dish. Although they are not healthy vegetables, you can enjoy the vitamins and minerals pickles contain when you add them to your meals.
In addition, you can include pickles in your pizza toppings when you make one at home.
Are pickles healthy?
Yes, they are. However, you have to eat them in moderation. Below is a list of the health benefits of eating pickles:
Pickles contain probiotics
Probiotics are healthy gut bacteria that grow when the natural sugars in pickles break down to lactic acid during fermentation.
These bacteria boost immunity, improve digestive health, and lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition, these healthy microbes support healthy weight management.
Pickles are good for a low-calorie diet
If you’re looking to cut down on your calorie intake, you can add more low-sodium pickles to your meals. One cup of pickles contains 16 calories which is nothing compared to the recommended daily calorie allowance.
Pickles make a great addition to any weight-loss diet. You can add them to your diet as a snack or condiments to your dish.
Antimicrobial properties
The vinegar in the brine solution has antimicrobial properties that can help control blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes. It also helps to burn calories and aid weight loss.
They are a rich source of vitamins A & K
Pickles contain high amounts of vitamins A & K. Vitamin A promotes healthy vision and boosts immunity. Vitamin K is good for the heart and supports bone health by regulating calcium levels, thereby preventing osteoporosis.
Pickles provide your body with antioxidants
Vitamin A and the many other antioxidants present in pickles defend the body cells against free radical damage.
Some of the free radical damage include aging, the development of cancer cells, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
The pickle juice is also healthy
If you ever heard that pickle juice is healthy, it’s true. Pickle juice is healthy for athletes. It helps to restore electrolyte balance after an intense workout session. Drinking pickle juice can also help to treat muscle cramps.
Side effects of eating pickles
The nutritional benefits of eating pickles outweigh the downsides. Pickles become unhealthy for you when you consume too many. The cons include:
High sodium content
Pickles contain high amounts of sodium because of the brine solution they are soaked in. Consuming high-sodium pickles in large quantities put you at risk of developing high blood pressure.
Bloating
Not many people know this, but the salt in pickles can cause bloating. This side effect is common with processed pickles. You may also experience bloating when you eat too many pickles.
The downsides of eating pickles are avoidable if you eat them in moderation and if you go for low-sodium options instead.
FAQs
Are pickles raw?
Yes, they are. Pickles are uncooked cucumbers submerged in brine and other spices. However, you can eat them raw as a snack or cooked in meals.
Are all pickles cucumbers?
No. Pickled cucumbers are the most common type of pickles, but they are not the only type of pickles. You can pickle eggs, fish, fruits, and meat.
Are olives pickles vegetables?
No, they are not. Olives are fruits and not vegetables. So, olive pickles are fruits.
Are dill pickles vegetables?
Yes, they are. Dill pickles are vegetables because they are made with cucumbers, but they do not suffice as a vegetable serving.
Conclusion
Pickles are made with cucumbers. Cucumbers are vegetables in culinary usage. This makes pickles vegetables. But when you consider them botanically, how they grow, cucumbers are fruits. And this also makes pickles fruits.
At the same time, cucumbers are berries and you can call pickles berries. Generally, pickling doesn’t change the class of the food item. Remember that pickles can also be non-plant-based food items like eggs, beef, and pork.
Therefore, pickles are fruits, vegetables, berries, and any food item they were before you put them in the pickling juice.
Thanks for reading.
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