Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely known food, consumed by millions of people across the globe.While it is a popular ingredient in salads, pickles, and other dishes served on the lunch or dinner table, kids especially love it for its delicate and juicy flavor. Cucumber or Cucumis sativus is a commonly grown garden produce and is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family along with watermelon, squash, and pumpkin.There are roughly three varieties of cucumbers known to us, and each variety has a different appearance and taste. Slicing cucumbers are longer than the other two varieties. The slicing cucumbers are eaten fresh and in their unripe state. Then we have the pickling cucumbers which are short with rough skin. They are used for pickling or processing. Finally, we have the burpless cucumbers which have thin skin and a sweet taste.Cucumbers are also a major topic of debate among nutritionists and botanists, much like tomatoes. Many often wonder whether to call the cucumber a fruit or a vegetable. While a lot of people are of the opinion that it is a fruit, several others prefer to call it a vegetable and interestingly enough, both parties have put forward valid arguments that make it quite a heated topic for debate. The truth is, while there are many reasons why it is thought to be a vegetable, the general categorization of a cucumber is a fruit.If you want to know why cucumbers are mostly classified as a fruit, keep reading. If you enjoy this article, why not read about are bay leaves edible and are beans a vegetable.Is cucumber a fruit or a vegetable?Cucumbers are considered as both fruits and vegetables by several people, much like tomatoes or okra. This has resulted from failed attempts to reach a consensus regarding their correct categorization. The question remains, whether to call cucumber a fruit or a vegetable.Various opinions and reasonings have been put forth from the botanical world as well as the culinary world. When in the botanical group, people have accepted cucumbers to be a fruit, based on their function and physiology, the culinary enthusiasts argue that they are vegetables based on their appearance and texture.Scientifically speaking, cucumbers are fruits and not vegetables. While a fruit is a seed-bearing part of a flowering plant, a vegetable is any edible part of a plant, like the stems of some plants or even leaves. Since these green items bear seeds and are also edible plant parts like stems and leaves, hence the confusion. Technically speaking, they can be classified as fruits based on their primary function, which is to bear the seeds of the plant. Fruit is formed from the ovary of the flower of a plant and contains seeds, which eventually grow into new plants. Hence, even if it is a plant part that is eaten or consumed, its primary function is what classifies them as a fruit, just like a tomato.Botanical Classification Of CucumberIn terms of botany, cucumbers are categorized as a kind of botanical berry. Much like tomatoes, they do not have any internal divisions and possess hard outer skin. Botanically speaking, fruit and vegetable are both parts of a plant with their distinct definition. Fruits refer to the plant parts which contain the seed. On the other hand, vegetables are the edible parts of the plant.Now, when it comes to cucumber, it contains many small seeds and is also eaten raw or in a salad. Apart from the seeds, another important factor that explains why cucumbers are classified as fruits is the fact that like all other fruits, they grow from the little yellow flowers of a flowering plant. In most plants, the fruit acts as the main reproductive part. The fruits contain seeds that help new plants to grow. The seeds of a cucumber can be used to grow a new cucumber plant. After taking all of this into consideration, it can be concluded that according to science, cucumbers are indeed fruits and not vegetables. The botanical classification is completely based on the physiological characteristics of cucumbers, which include their structure and functions. As per the botanical classification, the product has to have at least one seed and it has to grow from the flower of a plant. Since cucumbers fulfill both these criteria, it becomes easy to eliminate the idea of cucumbers being classified as vegetables. Hence, botanically, they fall under the fruit category.Culinary Classification Of CucumberThere is another interesting approach to the age-old question ‘Is cucumber a fruit or a vegetable?’ and that is the culinary approach or classification.In culinary terms, most chefs would define cucumbers as vegetables. The reason behind this is, according to nutritionists, vegetables have a tough outer skin and rough texture. Additionally, they need to be cooked in various dishes or food items and mostly taste bland before cooking. To qualify as a fruit, the product has to have a much softer texture and the taste varies from sweet to savory. Since cucumbers have thin skin with a saccharine-savory flavor, they are considered to be fruit. There are several other foods that are considered to be vegetables by the culinary people, including okra, tomato, green peas, avocado. In the culinary practice, this idea is based on the fact that different products from the same botanical family do not have the same nutritional value.Benefits Of CucumberCucumbers are one of the most commonly produced items and are often grown in one’s garden. They have a number of health benefits. Originally cultivated in southern Asia, the humble cucumber has now spread across the world. The several health benefits of cucumbers can be listed as follows:Cucumbers are low in calories and contain a good amount of water.Cucumbers are generally apt for treating any kind of skin problems or eruptions.Cucumber contains a lot of water and provides hydration. Eating fresh cucumbers is helpful in dealing with illnesses like cholera, which can cause water loss from the body.Fresh cucumber juice from the garden is a great treatment for reducing the accumulation of uric acid and thus is often eaten to act as a cure for arthritis.Being low in calories and fat content and rich in fibers and antioxidants, cucumbers help in weight reduction. Eating fresh cucumbers on a daily basis can help in dealing with obesity.They are easily available in the market and help in regulating digestion. So many people prefer to have fresh cucumbers in salads and different dishes, as part of their meal.Regular intake of cucumbers helps to prevent stomach ailments like acidity and gastric problems.The different vitamins present in cucumber help to deal with the various effects of stress and anxiety.The potassium-rich seeds of cucumbers help to prevent urinary disorders.Cucumbers also helo to deal with Halitosis, thus getting rid of bad breath. It is believed that eating cucumbers helps to fight bad breath-causing bacteria.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are cucumbers vegetables then why not take a look at are birds warm-blooded, or are black diamonds real.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely known food, consumed by millions of people across the globe.
