Can You Eat It?
Can You Eat it?
Can you eat all parts of vegetables and herbs? What to do with the inedible parts? The compost bin is a great place for food parts that are not usable or leftovers, but many times we can make better use of many food parts that some of us were taught to discard. Can you use the stems of broccoli and cauliflower? Carrot tops or beet greens? Are these poisonous, or do people just throw them away for no reason?
Here are some common food items that are good to know what you can do with
Can you eat the dark green part of scallions?
Absolutely. All parts of the scallion are edible. I use the white part as I do with onion. The green part I use mostly raw, in salads or at the end of cooking any dish, mix it in. This cooks it lightly but still keeps the flavor. Add it to rice, shakshuka, cooked greens, beans etc.
The root part, that you would normally discard, I recommend planting in some good soil. It will grow and regrow more green onions for you.
What about the dark green parts of leeks?
These are very useful, rich in nutrients and flavor. They are very fibrous, so not exactly edible, but great to add into your stocks. They will add a gentle onion flavor and enrich your stock greatly.
How about the stems on herbs?
Yes to use them, but only some to eat as is. If the stem is soft enough, like cilantro, yes, use it everywhere. It add a nice little crunch to your guacamole. All other stems that are soft and thin enough, such as parsley, dill or tarragon. Woodier stems however, such as from rosemary and thyme, are good used for stocks.
Can you eat mushroom stems?
Yes, with the exception of shiitake. Shiitake stems are tough and woody. For others, trim the end of the stem and chop it with the rest of the mushroom. I use the shiitake stems for stock. Boil the stems for 40 min, then remove the stems and use the water to make yummy rice or a soup.
Can you eat the brown underside of portobellos?
The “gills” of the portobello are completely edible. They can discolor light colored sauces so some chefs scrape them off for aesthetic purposes.
Can you eat celery leaves?
Yes. Chop them and add them to stock, soup, stews, etc. Treat them like any herb. You can also fine chop and use as a green decoration on rice or soups at the end of cooking.
Can you eat unpeeled carrots?
The skin of carrots are completely edible and packed with vitamins and fiber. But I recommend scrubbing them with a vegetable brush first. If organic, I recommend eating the skin too.
Are carrot tops edible?
Of course. Chop them into your salad, or lightly sauté them with other greens. They go well in soups or mixed with cooked beans.
Is it safe to eat beet greens?
For sure. Use beet greens the same as you would use kale, or mustard greens. They do give out a bit of reddish color, especially the stem. You may want to cook the stems apart is some water for 20 min, then discard the stem and use the water to make pinkish rice.
Can you eat artichoke leaves?
Yes, but not the entire leaf. Just the whitish, meaty part at the end. It is easier to eat it if the artichoke is cooked, though I have eaten it raw as well (following my dad). You scrape the meaty part with your teeth and create a neat pile of stacked inedible leaf parts on the side. Some create dips for it, but in Israel we just ate it, as is.
Can you eat the seeds of squash like pumpkin seeds?
Yes. The next time you make an acorn or butternut squash, save the seeds. Rinse them, dry them, swirl them with some oil, add salt and roast them. They taste very similar to pumpkin seeds.
Can you eat the peal of the Kiwi?
Yes, you can eat the kiwi, the same way you would eat an apple. I hope you eat the apple with its peal, as well as pears.
Can you eat the liquid on the top of the yogurt?
Yes, mix it in. It’s simply some of the whey that has separated from the rest of the yogurt. It’s rich in protein and low in fat. How often do you see those two things together?
Can you eat the seeds of peppers?
Though the seeds are not the reason for the “hotness” of the pepper – it’s actually the white veins – I would discard them as they contain the “night shade” part of the pepper. The part that is less good for us in terms of nutrition absorption.
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