When is water chestnut in season? Is water chestnut a fruit or a vegetable?

Water chestnut is a relatively common fruit with a crispy shell and plump flesh. It is widely cultivated in the Taihu Lake area in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River Delta in my country. Many people cannot tell whether water chestnut is a fruit or a vegetable. The following content will share with you detailed common knowledge about it!

Contents of this article

1. What is the season for water chestnuts?

2. Is water chestnut a fruit or a vegetable?

3. How long does it take to cook water chestnuts before eating them?

When is water chestnut season?

Autumn. The natural growth period of water chestnuts is that tender leaves grow in April, flowers begin to bloom in May, water chestnuts grow in June, and they mature and go on the market in July and August. Water chestnuts in this period are the tenderest, and they begin to age and fall off after a while. Due to differences in regions and growth environments, their maturity period will also be different. Water chestnuts in some areas may mature later, and fresh water chestnuts can still be eaten in September and October.

Is water chestnut a fruit or a vegetable?

Water chestnut is both a fruit and a vegetable. When it is young and tender, it can be eaten raw as a fruit. When it is mature, it is mostly eaten after being steamed or cooked. It can also be used to make porridge. Water chestnut is a relatively common fruit. It has a hard and crisp shell and plump flesh. It is cultivated in the Taihu Lake area in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River Delta in my country. Of course, there are also wild water chestnuts.

Many people cannot tell whether water chestnuts are fruits or vegetables. In fact, water chestnuts are both fruits and vegetables. First of all, the young and tender fruits of water chestnuts can be eaten raw as fruits. From this perspective, they are fruits. The mature fruits need to be steamed before eating, and can also be used to make porridge. From this perspective, they are vegetables.

Water chestnuts are quite common in my country, especially in the Taihu Lake area in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River Delta. Of course, there are also wild water chestnuts, which mainly grow in lakes, with roots deep in the soil. They start to grow in March every year and bloom in May and June. The flowers are white.

How long does it take to cook water chestnuts before they can be eaten?

Generally speaking, young water chestnuts can be cooked thoroughly in ten minutes, while old water chestnuts can be cooked in twenty minutes. Water chestnuts are the fruit of the common aquatic plant water chestnut. They have a crisp and tender shell. When the flesh is young and tender, they can be eaten raw. Old water chestnuts can be steamed and then peeled and eaten, or used to make porridge. Water chestnuts can be air-dried and stored to extend their shelf life.

Water chestnut is a kind of fruit that we are all very familiar with. People prefer to cook it before eating, which will taste better. Generally speaking, the cooking time of tender water chestnut and old water chestnut is different. Tender water chestnut can be cooked through in about ten minutes, while old water chestnut needs to be cooked for a longer time, about twenty minutes.

Before cooking water chestnuts, it is best to clean them and add some salt during the cooking process. Salt can play a good role in disinfection and sterilization, and can help remove the odor of the shell. After the water chestnuts are cooked, put them in cold water to cool, and their taste will be better.