List of culinary fruits

This list contains the names of fruits that are considered edible either raw or cooked in various cuisines. The word "fruit" is used in several different ways.[1] The definition of fruit for this list is a culinary fruit, that is, "Any edible and palatable part of a plant that resembles fruit, even if it does not develop from a floral ovary; also used in a technically imprecise sense for some sweet or semi-sweet vegetables, some of which may resemble a true fruit or are used in cookery as if they were a fruit, for example rhubarb."[2][3] Many edible plant parts that are true fruits botanically speaking, are not considered culinary fruits. They are classified as vegetables in the culinary sense (for example: the tomato, zucchini, and so on), and hence they do not appear in this list. Similarly, some botanical fruits are classified as nuts (e.g. brazil nut), and do not appear here either. Even so, this list is otherwise organized botanically.

Various fruits for sale at REMA 1000 grocery store in Tønsberg, Norway

Pomes edit

 
A basket full of apples
 
Different pear varieties
 
Sapodilla fruits

Pomes include any crunchy accessory fruit that surrounds the fruit's inedible "core" (composed of the plant's endocarp) and typically has its seeds arranged in a star-like pattern.

Drupes edit

 
Plums
 
Apricots
 
The coconut is a drupe.
 
Ways to slice a mango

Drupes represent any fruit that has only one seed (or "stone") or one hard capsule containing seeds.

Botanical berries edit

 
Blueberries
 
Grapes
 
Bananas on grocery store shelves
 
Bilimbi

Botanical berries represent any fruit that has a relatively thin exterior, with mostly flesh and more than one seed inside.

Pepos edit

 
Watermelons
 
Cantaloupe and slice
 
Bael being made into bael ka sharbat, a popular Indian drink
 
Horned melon (kiwano)

Pepos represent any fruit that is covered by a hard, thick rind with soft flesh inside, and seeds filling each locule. Melons are good examples of this.

Hesperidiums edit

 
One whole lemon and one cut in half
 
The buddha's hand, a uniquely shaped variant of citron
 
Lime and blossom

Also known as citruses, Hesperidiums possess thick and leathery rinds. These fruits are generally sour and acidic to some extent and have a wagon wheel-like cross section.

Aggregate fruits edit

 
Wineberries
 
A sliced cherimoya
 
Half of a raspberry

Aggregate fruits are a cluster of many fruits produced from a single flower.

Multiple fruits edit

 
The pineapple is a multiple fruit.
 
The jackfruit is known for being the world's largest fruit.
 
A halved Fig

Multiple fruits are a cluster of many fruits produced from multiple flowers.

Capsules edit

 
Cacao pods
 
Mangosteens, sliced in a way that exposes the carpels
 
Bacuri

Capsules represent a pod fruit with multiple carpels.

Legumes edit

Legumes represent a pod fruit with one carpel.

Follicles edit

Follicles represent a single ovary that splits along a single seam.

Plants with edible fruit-like structures edit

 
Juniper berries
 
Modified fleshy cone of Podocarpus elongatus
 
Rhubarb made into rhubarb pie

Plants with edible fruit-like structures are not technically fruit, but are used culinarily as such.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ See Vegetable#Terminology
  2. ^ See the Wiktionary definition of fruit
  3. ^ Harri Vainio; Franca Bianchini (2003). Fruit and Vegetables. IARC. p. 2. ISBN 9283230086.

External links edit