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Is An Avocado a Fruit Or a Vegetable?

(43 Posts)
mae13 Mon 26-Jan-26 14:14:30

I thought a tomato was a veggie until I was enlightened.

Dreadwitch Tue 27-Jan-26 18:07:28

Unfortunately that's not how it works. Technically, a fruit comes from the flower of the plant or contains seeds how and where it grows doesn't matter. Peanuts are botanically a fruit yet they grow underground nowhere near trees. Strawberries don't grow on trees neither do grapes.

Dreadwitch Tue 27-Jan-26 18:09:01

Avocado is botanically classified as a fruit because it develops from the flower's ovary and contains a seed. More specifically, it is considered a large, single-seeded berry.
While avocados are botanically fruits, they are often used in culinary contexts like vegetables due to their savory flavor profile and high fat content.

4allweknow Tue 27-Jan-26 19:58:48

Was taught at school if formed after plant flowers it's a fruit.

Mojack26 Tue 27-Jan-26 21:39:17

Fruit I think same as a tomato

Riverwoman Wed 28-Jan-26 09:11:26

Avocado is a fruit. It grows on a tree. I know that as I have a few avocado trees in my garden. Can send pic. Avocados are unusual as they are one of the few fruits that do not ripen on the tree and need to be picked to ripen; unlike tomatoes, peppers, brinjals and grapes but the same as olives which also do not ripen on the tree

Grammaretto Wed 28-Jan-26 09:35:01

Great to be properly enlightened! Thanks all you botanists on here.

I m on the till each week in our community shop. Vegetables and fruit are listed under separate headings and I was curious as to why ginger, garlic, turmeric and chillies are classed as vegetables.
I'll check avocados when I'm next in.

Mostly I have trouble with my alphabet so avocado should be with apples.

What's a mushroom, out of interest?

Allira Wed 28-Jan-26 10:28:35

What's a mushroom, out of interest?
The fruit of a fungus - be careful if you decide to pick your own!

Buddleja Wed 28-Jan-26 10:38:10

Interesting discussion. It seems that botanists are interested in what part of the plant we are dealing with but cooks are interested in whether it is sweet or savoury.

Allira Wed 28-Jan-26 11:06:23

Buddleja

Interesting discussion. It seems that botanists are interested in what part of the plant we are dealing with but cooks are interested in whether it is sweet or savoury.

You can make a lovely chocolate mousse with avocados! 😀

Riverwoman Wed 28-Jan-26 11:36:34

Ginger is neither fruit nor vegetable. It's a root; I think it's termed a Rhizome is we want to be botanical. Garlic is a bulb, like an onion. I think turmeric is the bark of a tree similar to cinnamon. Although chillies are reportedly classified as vegetable, Grammaretto is correct in questioning this as they are definitely fruits. Peppers, jalapinos and chillies are all cultivars of the same plant. They demand a lot more gardening attention than some people might imagine as they are very sensitive to drought and they are very unhappy if the temperature remains above 25C [77F] at night; they express unhappiness by catching all kinds of diseases.

David49 Wed 28-Jan-26 11:52:03

Some roots can reproduce vegetatively like potatoes and onions some can’t like carrots and turnip’s

Gardenersdelight2 Wed 28-Jan-26 12:18:37

@riverwoman I think turmeric is a rhizome the same as ginger
If you see it it looks like a mini orange version of ginger

Allira Wed 28-Jan-26 16:13:56

Turmeric is tidier!

Other picture is ginger

Allira Wed 28-Jan-26 16:14:45

Ah well, easily googled!

Norah Wed 28-Jan-26 16:52:48

No matter if avocados are fruit or vegetable, salads including rocket, grapefruit, walnuts, avocado, salatsauce, is served often here.

Grammaretto Wed 28-Jan-26 19:04:09

I have a turmeric capsule every day. I'm seldom ill so I shall continue.
We sell turmeric in our community shop but it stains fingers badly so I stick to the capsules.
Is it one of my 5 a day?😅

camlyn Fri 13-Feb-26 15:59:15

Surely sweetcorn is a cereal