Watermelon has two kinds of seeds: black and white seeds. “Black seeds are the seeds found in a regular watermelon, and they can be planted in the ground to sprout a watermelon plant, whereas white seeds are immature seeds, so they can’t be used to plant a watermelon plant,” says Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN.
What does it mean if a watermelon has white seeds?
According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, the thin, white flecks found in watermelon are actually empty seed coats that indicate a seed didn’t fully mature. These white seeds are tender and almost translucent and can always be found in both seeded and seedless varieties.
What does it mean if watermelon seeds are black?
The black seeds in a regular watermelon are just plain ol’ seeds. They’re mature, fertile seeds, so if you planted a few in the ground, they would indeed sprout into watermelon plants. While they’re thought to be too hard and therefore inedible, they are actually completely safe to consume.
Why do watermelons have different color seeds?
American farmers tend to produce watermelons of the black-seeded variety for aesthetic reasons, but watermelons have a vast array of gene combinations that can produce a variety of seed, rind, and flesh colors.
Can you eat white and black watermelon seeds?
Although common in seeded watermelon, white seeds appear in seedless varieties — just at a lesser volume. As a result of cross-breeding traits, these undeveloped seedlings aren’t capable of reproducing like the matured and fertile black seeds. Although many spit them out, all watermelon seeds are perfectly safe to eat.
What’s the difference between black and white watermelon seeds?
Watermelon has two kinds of seeds: black and white seeds. “Black seeds are the seeds found in a regular watermelon, and they can be planted in the ground to sprout a watermelon plant, whereas white seeds are immature seeds, so they can’t be used to plant a watermelon plant,” says Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN.
Is it OK to eat white watermelon seeds?
White Seeds. A common tale you may have heard is that the white seeds are safe to eat, while the black seeds aren’t, or vice versa. Well, consider that myth busted. Both of these seeds are safe to eat, and the only reason they appear different is just maturity.
Are black watermelon seeds healthy?
But did you know these black seeds have some magical nutrient properties? The tiny seeds are super nutritious and healthy. Watermelon is an amazing hydrating fruit as it contains 92% of water and is enriched with minerals and vitamins. Its seeds are super-rich in various nutrients.
Why should you not eat watermelon seeds?
Skittish adults might get nervous about choking on the seeds; kids fear that a rogue seed will cause a watermelon to grow in their stomachs. No need to worry, though! Experts say you should have zero fears — watermelon seeds are perfectly safe to eat.
Do black watermelon seeds hurt?
Anyway, a few seeds from fruits such as watermelons or apples passing through your digestive tract won’t hurt you. But they won’t help you much either. Nutritionally, there just isn’t much in a seed that your body wants. The worst a seed could do is block your intestine or airway, but that’s really rare.
Can a watermelon grow in your stomach?
The old tale about a watermelon growing from a seed into a full-size fruit inside your belly is just a myth. The truth is that watermelon seeds — and other fruit seeds — will simply sail through your digestive system and be eliminated from your body over the course of a day or so.
Do watermelon seeds contain cyanide?
While watermelon seeds are safe and beneficial to eat, the seeds of cherries, peaches, plums, apples, and apricots all have cyanogenic compounds in them. The good news is, a 2015 review out of the University of Leeds suggested a person would have to consume between 83 and 500 apple seeds to get acute cyanide poisoning.
When should you not eat watermelon?
It is recommended to not consume watermelons at night right before going to bed. “I would not recommend consumption of watermelon or any fruit after 7 pm. Watermelon is slightly acidic and if consumed at night, it may delay the process of digestion when the body is inactive.
What happens if you eat watermelon everyday?
If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium. The consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene daily could potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating, according to the American Cancer Society (opens in new tab).
How can you tell if a watermelon seed is good?
Healthy seed sinks to the bottom and dead (not viable) will float along with the majority of the pulp. Remove the “floaters” and pulp.
Can you eat black watermelon seeds raw?
Black watermelon seeds can be planted to grow watermelons, but your stomach does not create the proper environment for a watermelon. If you’re still a little nervous, chew up the watermelon seed when you eat them. In fact, you might want to chew it! Watermelon seeds are filled with nutrients.
Why do seedless watermelons have no taste?
The Facts About Seedless Watermelons
This is actually just a big, fat myth. A watermelon’s flavor, sweetness, and texture is determined by a handful of different factors, like the climate it was grown in and when it was harvested. Genes are responsible for the expression of all these qualities.
Can seeds grow in your stomach?
The possibility of seeds germinating and growing in the stomach is zero. While there have been rare cases of plants growing in the lungs, the stomach is much too harsh an environment for any seed to survive there.
Is it OK to eat watermelon at night?
Even healthy foods like tomatoes and watermelons should be avoided before sleeping.
Is a seedless watermelon genetically modified?
Seedless watermelon is not a genetically modified food; it is a result of cross-breeding. The male pollen of a watermelon, containing 22 chromosomes, is crossed with the female watermelon flower, which has been chemically altered to contain 44 chromosomes.
How much watermelon can you eat a day?
So how much watermelon can you eat in a day? According to health experts and nutritionists, you can eat anywhere between 100 to 150 grams of this fruit in a day.
Gerardo Gonzalez loves cooking. He became interested in it at a young age, and has been honing his skills ever since. He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique.
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