How do you tell a zucchini from a cucumber?

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asked Apr 14, 2022 in Gardening by Niddletwin (3,380 points)
How do you tell a zucchini from a cucumber?

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answered Apr 18, 2022 by AngieSmit (24,390 points)
A good way to tell a zucchini from a cucumber is to look at it and discern the colors and firmness of the skin.

The flesh of the zucchini will be dry and whitish yellow in color with very small seeds; although the interior of a zucchini is firm, it is still soft and easy to cut through.

On the other hand a cucumber will have a thicker skin and a white colored crisp, juicy inside.

And towards the center the flesh becomes soft and there are larger seeds.

In England Zucchini is called Courgette.

Zucchini smells somewhat like cucumber but not exactly the same as zucchini and cucumber are from different families of plants.

Cucumbers belong to the gourd family while zucchini belongs to the Cucurbita family.

Technically speaking, cucumbers are considered to be a fruit by many people.

Zucchini is healthier than cucumber because zucchini is much more rich in and loaded with vitamin B and vitamin C as compared to cucumbers.

However both vegetables have relatively equal amounts of calcium but zucchini is richer than cucumbers in potassium and iron.

Zucchini is bitter because zucchini naturally produces chemicals called cucurbitacins.

These chemicals called cucurbitacins are what causes Zucchini to naturally be bitter.

It's a natural defense mechanism that the Zucchini have to protect them from plant eating wildlife.

There's nothing harmful about a bitter Zucchini.

The zucchini, courgette or baby marrow is a summer squash, a vining herbaceous plant whose fruit are harvested when their immature seeds and epicarp are still soft and edible.

It is closely related, but not identical, to the marrow; its fruit may be called marrow when mature.

The best way to eat zucchini is to consume is raw.

However, salads and raw dishes are not the only way to enjoy this healthy summer squash.

You can add zucchini to your muffins and cakes, soups, tacos and other entrees.

Zucchini and courgette mean the same thing, only in French.

Zucchini is the common term used in American English speaking countries, while courgette is the more common term among French and British English speaking people.

To store zucchini in the fridge, keep the squash whole, dry and unwashed.

Store them in a plastic or paper bag with one end open to encourage air circulation, and pop them in the refrigerator crisper drawer.

They'll keep there for 1 to 2 weeks, though you'll probably see the skin start to shrivel over time.

There's no need to peel zucchini.

 In fact, the skin is a big source of zucchini nutrition (the deep green color is a dead giveaway) so you definitely want to leave the skin on.

How to cut zucchini: after giving the zucchini squash a good rinse under cold water, slice off the stem and discard it.

Though they may look similar, cucumbers and zucchini do not belong to the same family.

Cucumbers belong to the gourd family while zucchini belongs to the Cucurbita family.

Technically speaking, cucumbers are considered to be a fruit by many people.

The term Zucchini has an Italian origin while courgette is relatively French

Zucchini is used by those people who speak North American and Australian English whereas courgette is used by those who speak French, British, New Zealand and South African English.

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