An eggplant is a what a fruit or vegetable?

Answer 1

technically, it is a fruit because it contains the seeds. However it is commonly referred to as a vegetable.

"The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal (Solanum melongena) is a solanaceous plant bearing a fruit of the same name, commonly used as a vegetable in cooking"

Answer 2

Hmm, I've answered this question similarly for a tomato! There are different classifications as far as eggplants (and most crops) are concerned. Botanical and agricultural classifications are probably what you are wondering about I am supposing?

Botanically, an eggplant is a fruit, and in fact many common vegetables are fruits. Fruits that are commonly considered vegetables include cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, and probably some other things I am missing. Botanical classifications, make the most logical sense (at least to me) because they basically say, a fruit is derived from an ovule and has seeds (that's probably not how the book says it, but whatever :)). Botanically, there is no such thing as a vegetable! Makes it easier!

Agriculture on the other hand, has it's own classifications and aggies classify eggplants as vegetables. I'm not sure there is a very good, consistent explanation for this, and honestly, a lot of agricultural classifications almost seem arbitrary. If any farmers read this, please feel free to contradict me....

Anywho! This means, eggplants are fruits botanically, and vegetables agriculturally (and probably in the culinary world too) and so the answer is Yes, they are both!

Answer 3

Because the eggplant is a member of the nightshade family, it's related to the potato and tomato. Though commonly thought of as a vegetable, eggplant is actually a fruit . . . Specifically a berry.

Answer 4

Fruits contain seeds and come from the blossom of a plant-- therefore, eggplant is a fruit- although it is commonly referred to as a vegetable.

Answer 5

Eggplant is a fruit just like tomato,but we call them vegetable.

Answer 6

It's technically a fruit, but it's legally a vegetable. THe U.S. government put it in the vegetable category with it's cousin the tomato, because it's used like a vegetable.

Answer 7

I learned something. Biologically it is a fruit having seeds like a watermelon. However in cooking it is prepared more like a squash or fried. Also technically a tomato is a fruit but again is usually consumed as a vegetable.

Answer 8

Fruit, as it grows from a flower and has seeds. Vegetable tend to be the roots/stalks of plants.

Answer 9

Technically, it's a fruit because it has the seeds inside it.

But, I think that it would be considered a vegetable in normal language usage.

Answer 10

It's a vegetable. The general rule is if it has seeds, it's a fruit.