Is watermelon a vegetable?
Watermelon is a familiar summer delicacy to many, but its classification can cause confusion. Is watermelon a vegetable or a fruit? This question is surprisingly complex and requires consideration from both a botanical and culinary perspective.
Botanical perspective
Botanically, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini. Botanically, a fruit is defined as the part of a plant that develops from a flower and contains seeds. According to this definition, a watermelon is a fruit because it develops from a flower and has seeds inside.
Culinary perspective
In the culinary world, fruits and vegetables are often classified based on their taste and purpose. The fruits are usually sweet and are used in desserts, snacks or sweet dishes. Vegetables, on the other hand, are often less sweet and are used in main courses, salads and savory dishes. Watermelon is sweet and is usually eaten on its own or as part of sweet dishes, so in culinary terms it is classified as a fruit.
History and use of watermelon
Watermelon comes from Africa and has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is especially popular during the hot summer months due to its high water content (about 92%) and refreshing taste. Watermelon is used in many different ways: on its own, in salads, smoothies and even grilled.
Summary
Although the watermelon botanically belongs to the cucumber family and shares some characteristics with vegetables, it is classified as a fruit both botanically and culinary. This is due to its sweet taste and the fact that it develops from a flower and contains seeds.
You can read more information about watermelon and its classification from, for example, the following sources:
