Do All Eggplants Start White?

Eggplants comes in all different colors, shapes and sizes. Although most commonly associated with the color purple, various eggplants varieties are all white! Let’s explore the whole wide world of these less common white eggplant cultivators.

What is the difference between white eggplant and purple eggplant?

When comparing the size, the white eggplant is smaller to purple eggplant. Unlike the purple eggplant, the white ones come less bitter, denser and creamier. Another difference seen between the two eggplants is in the seeds. When compared to purple eggplants, the white eggplants come with more seeds.

Are eggplants originally white?

Eggplant was first cultivated and domesticated about 4,000 years ago. It may surprise you to learn that these original garden eggplants bore small, white, egg-shaped fruits, hence the common name eggplant.

Why are my eggplants white?

One of the most common reasons eggplant leaves turn white is due to sun scorch. In this instance, the white color starts out as a small spot here and there and eventually spreads to engulf the entire leaf. In some cases, it can appear as if you have splashed a bottle of bleach throughout the garden.

Are white eggplants good to eat?

White eggplants are best suited for cooked applications such as sautéing, pan-frying, deep-frying, grilling, and baking. Their skins are firmer than purple varieties and should be peeled before cooking. They can be sliced and grilled, used in stir-fries or sautéed with other vegetables as a side dish.

What is the best tasting eggplant?

Sweet, tender, flavorful and creamy, Fairy Tale are simply the best eggplants we’ve ever tasted,” says Taylor. This quick-cooking variety is so delicious that it doesn’t even need to be salted. Taylor suggests slicing them lengthwise, then tossing them into stir-fries or sautés, or skewering them on the grill.

What is the difference between Italian eggplant and regular eggplant?

Italian eggplant are similar in shape and color to American eggplant, but diminutive in size—only a few inches in diameter and 5 to 8 inches long. Italian eggplant are more delicate and sweeter than their larger cousins, and their smaller size makes them a good choice for stuffing, roasting, and broiling.

Do eggplants come in different colors?

Different varieties of eggplant may range from indigo to white (the term eggplant originated as a description of white colored eggplants because they look like eggs). Chinese eggplants are the same shape as a European eggplant, but are colored a dark violet color.

Is there a male and female eggplant?

Male eggplants have fewer seeds and are less likely to be bitter. To differentiate between male and female eggplants, inspect the flower end. The male has a small, round, smooth end; the female has an irregular, less smooth end.

What is the color of the freshly cut eggplant?

Freshly-cut eggplant, when exposed to the air, quickly oxidizes and turns black, kind of the way an apple goes brown after it is cut and exposed to air.

When should I pick white eggplant?

Harvesting Time
The fruit is usually between 4 and 7 inches (10 to 18 cm), depending on the cultivar. It would be best if you harvested white eggplants before the skin turns yellow. Ripe eggplants should feel firm to the touch but not hard, with white, glossy skin.

Why are my eggplants not turning purple?

Eggplants naturally turn yellow/brown when they fully ripen, as purple eggplants are technically underripe fruit. However, fully ripe eggplants are not really edible, so pick them before they turn yellow.

Does white eggplant taste different?

Taste: in terms of taste, white eggplants are less bitter, creamier and denser. Their flavor is a bit more delicate and these differences are quite subtle. White eggplant is similar enough in taste to purple that they can be interchanged in any recipe.

Should I peel white eggplant?

While the skin of a white eggplant may be tougher than purple eggplants and should be peeled off before cooking, the dense white flesh makes them better suited to baking, steaming or frying as they can hold their shape better.

What do white eggplant taste like?

When it comes to white eggplant, Specialty Produce describes the flavor as “fruity and mild” when raw. Cooked white eggplant has a “warm, mellow” taste. Though you don’t always have to peel a purple eggplant, you should peel a white eggplant before cooking because the skin is a bit thicker.

What is the easiest eggplant to grow?

Eggplant Varieties Easy to Grow include large oval eggplants, elongated eggplants, and white eggplants. Give eggplants a warm location, warm soil and keep them evenly watered and stress free and they will reward you with beauty and flavor.

What type of eggplant that is not bitter?

Choose eggplants that are shiny and firm. At this stage, any seeds found inside are still small, so the flesh will not have accumulated the bitter compounds found in eggplants that have become overripe and puckery.

Which is better male or female eggplant?

Source: The Cook’s Thesaurus, by Lori Alden. Despite the ages old, old-wives tale that there are male and female eggplants and the male of the species is better eating – detected because it has an “outie” blossom end as opposed to the female “innie” blossom end – there is no such thing.

What does Sicilian eggplant look like?

Sicilian eggplant are big and round, about the size of a grapefruit, and lighter purple in color. Sicilian eggplant are lighter in color and quite round.

What do Japanese eggplants look like?

Japanese eggplants are elongated and slender, averaging 20 to 25 centimeters in length, and have an oblong to cylindrical shape, tapering slightly at the ends. The eggplants may appear curved or straight and are capped with a green or dark purple stem, depending on the variety.

Is there a difference between Japanese and Chinese eggplant?

Characterized by their long, narrow shape, both Japanese and Chinese eggplant can be hard to differentiate. Japanese eggplant tends to have a much deeper purple color, while Chinese eggplant is usually lighter, more lavender-purple, and is sometimes even longer.