How Do You Pick The Right Aubergine?

“Eggplant should be slightly firm but not hard,” says Leone. In other words, if you push on it with your finger and the veggie feels very soft, or you’re able to puncture the skin, it’s too far gone. A perfectly ripe eggplant will not have as much give when touched as a ripe tomato or peach.

How do you tell if an eggplant is good?

A good eggplant will have glossy, taut skin. You’ll also want to test the texture of the flesh. When buying an eggplant, the flesh should be firm but give slightly when pressed, then bounce back. If your eggplant is soft to the touch, that’s an indication that it’s beginning to spoil.

What does a ripe aubergine look like?

An eggplant is ripe once it changes to a brown color and stops being spongy, taking on a tough, woody texture. It also becomes very bitter and inedible when ripe. For that reason, eggplants are always picked before they are ripe.

Should eggplant be firm or soft?

So be sure to choose eggplant that is firm, even hard to the touch. There should be no shriveling or soft spots. Also check the calyx (the green leaves at the stem end); it should be fresh and green, not dried out and brown.

What color is ripe eggplant?

Ripe eggplants should be firm but not hard. Flesh should be white with a slight green tint (orange eggplants ripen orange/green inside). If you are unsure of your eggplant’s ripeness, cut one crosswise and check the seeds. They should be clearly visible.

How do you ripen eggplant after picking?

You can ripen eggplants after harvesting, but results vary, depending on the problem. Ripen them on the counter at room temperature. It helps to put the eggplants in a paper bag where they should ripen within a few days.

Can you eat eggplant raw?

Can You Eat Eggplant Raw? Luckily, the answer is yes! While the leaves and flowers can be toxic, the eggplant itself is safe to consume both raw and cooked, and the compound that some might be sensitive to, solanine, is only toxic when consumed in large quantities.

How long does it take an eggplant to ripen?

Depending on the variety, most eggplants are ready for harvest about 65 to 80 days after transplanting from nursery seedlings. If you grow eggplants from seed, expect to wait 100 to 120 days before harvesting them.

Why is eggplant not good for you?

Eggplants are part of the nightshade family. Nightshades contain alkaloids, including solanine, which can be toxic. Solanine protects these plants while they are still developing. Eating the leaves or tubers of these plants can lead to symptoms such as burning in the throat, nausea and vomiting, and heart arrhythmias.

When should you not eat eggplant?

8 Tips to tell if eggplant has gone bad

1. Eggplant stopped being firm and starts getting soft.
2. It is not so nicely shiny any more.
3. The skin starts looking slightly shriveled’
4. When cut, your eggplant is slightly slimy.
5. The flesh, when cut, is turning brown.
6. The seeds are slimy.
7. There are rotting spots on the fruit.

What are the black dots in eggplant?

Eggplants can have brown spots for two reasons: It’s either the result of a process called enzymatic browning, or it’s going bad.
These signs include:

• oozing bruises.
• softness.
• slimy texture.
• funky, strong odor.
• mold.
• possibly bugs.

What should an aubergine look like inside?

Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.

How long does eggplant keep in the refrigerator?

5 – 7 days
To refrigerate, wrap in a paper towel and place in a reusable container or perforated plastic bag in the crisper section of your refrigerator for use within 5 – 7 days. Eggplant may also be blanched or steamed then frozen for up to six months.

How big should eggplant be before picking?

You can harvest eggplants any time that you see it, starting when it’s only an inch or two long.

How long does an aubergine take to cook?

Brush the flesh side with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the aubergines, flesh-side down, in a grill pan or baking tray and grill for 10–12 minutes, until leathery and soft.

Do you soak eggplant before cooking?

Soak eggplant slices or cubes in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking. The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.

Should eggplant be peeled?

While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, “Do you peel eggplant before cooking?” is yes, peel it.

Does eggplant continue to ripen off the vine?

Cut the fruit off the plant through the green calyx attached to the vine. The fruit can be eaten immediately and doesn’t require further ripening off the vine.

Should eggplant be purple or black?

Check the color. There are several different colors of eggplant; the most common is the very dark purple, but some are lighter purple, striped or even yellow or white. Whatever the color, make sure the eggplant is all that color — there is no green, indicating unripeness. The skin should be shiny, too.

Are green aubergines poisonous?

As a member of the nightshade family, aubergine is related to tomatoes and potatoes, and like them its leaves are poisonous.

Why does eggplant make me poop?

Aid in Digestion
It bulks up your stool, so it passes more easily through the digestive tract, while also stimulating peristaltic motion, the contraction of the smooth muscles that help food pushed out of the body. So, basically, good for taking a poop!