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]
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.
