Is Pumpkin a Fruit or a Vegetable?

You’ve probably heard that pumpkins are technically fruits even though they taste like vegetables. But which label is accurate? We’re here to answer this age-old question.

[{"selector":"#anim-46614976-3dc8-4322-b480-314d1fddd8c2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afadf83e-4d30-4ef5-bf89-8670283cb2f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.11175%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b66a0f3-9364-42cc-a5d5-a6da4e70c13c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fcd5e74-955a-4b21-b4d4-0a2a9fd12f07","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-124.66666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Is Pumpkin a Fruit or a Vegetable?

[{"selector":"#anim-284b4812-e5f7-4048-ab50-652d74abf141","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f672d4a0-d65c-46c8-9672-63ac1350b91d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.20225%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d61ac39-4f47-41c5-80a8-964e4fc2878e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a863133a-8d7e-463f-87ea-26f487ce96a4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0caa37e-3113-4279-b4e8-4ce8f949bcfd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcca6865-ad68-4014-a65e-e55a7310e05d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.75%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Pumpkin is technically a fruit because it develops from a flower and bares seed. Photo courtesy All-America Selections Learn more

They're Also Berries

[{"selector":"#anim-e4a1eb54-b8da-4480-9542-0b5622a1190a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a288de6d-2bc1-4de2-86dc-6d8aa8f6d4af","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.20225%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81ba6a6e-5507-47ff-86d8-09b33f1b4381","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7376802e-4605-48ad-9c31-477303898a64","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b277ed5c-1728-4e5f-ba46-1157cd0ebcaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e24d468-04cc-4134-beea-56d6514d62da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.75%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A berry is any fruit without a pit that forms from a single flower with a single ovary. Grapes, blueberries, tomatoes, and squashes are all true berries. Photo: lilkar/Bigstock Learn more

So What's a Vegetable?

[{"selector":"#anim-af1429dd-a0a0-4e62-b2cc-7a9c4ea15f00","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebe849f9-e58d-468b-ab79-9b0e9b22b3c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.35955%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62684669-28c1-440c-8b4f-b1d116fa51e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5ec47f2-1d6a-4d48-b02c-34f2a98431ef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec381fa5-0360-45df-8907-ee55c354053d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-269c73d5-44bf-4f33-ae41-fd9a911b6e35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.75%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The term “vegetable” doesn't exist in botany. It comes from the culinary world and refers to plants with low sugar content that are used in savory dishes. ©Kirsten Nunez Learn more

Is a Pumpkin a Starch?

[{"selector":"#anim-74b83910-3717-405e-a841-c7b1b5a2917d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a055819-377d-4548-8dc3-8f114654f197","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.20225%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63c3a6da-77b4-4465-93ed-678a3144b17e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60d60169-07b1-464d-89ef-e55862c24fcf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d7505b8-b607-4773-8f25-fecfc6983b3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a566b7b4-26c8-48b4-979f-1f1dd34408fb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.75%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Compared to a true starch like potatoes, pumpkin has quite a bit less starch. The best category for pumpkin would be among squashes in the cucurbit group. Fotokris/Bigstock Learn more

Health Benefits of Pumpkins

[{"selector":"#anim-96679ef0-cfed-48d5-a8fc-e1c503373da0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9016b716-895f-4b68-b8b7-2e2e362ea104","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.20225%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83d3eef3-98b7-46ad-ba0d-29ddafc6c103","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c868f81-5812-427d-b8b8-2f6f71d85227","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08694673-c375-4e18-be10-d93a52265b21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c7ea4c8-08a4-4da3-bd28-ae626bdddb5c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.75%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Pumpkins are a great source of fiber and are loaded with beta carotene. This antioxidant helps support immune health, eye health, and reproductive health. Jacob Spencer | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Learn more

Swipe up to learn more!

[{"selector":"#anim-e52be7b1-f944-48ae-a637-849b9f0a4eb4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58e7242a-2b38-4f4b-a8e8-aed2a3d68752","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 221.80760%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

More in Kitchen Tips

[{"selector":"#anim-910061f9-05d4-435c-ab15-53332ece2104","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ad985eb-9c30-494a-9b61-5a39fb87480d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-143.98148%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-558a1b9f-2f73-4b66-ac35-1c4f355f81d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed415fdb-de03-467c-8272-f08b23cf8cc4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-143.98148%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d85f76a-c195-4b95-add6-6d554c4f719d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfa69cfb-09fe-4f0a-ad9a-d209c8a344d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fc39698-1d2b-4e4e-97c4-daac86baf188","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.13924%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec5afba3-b220-4c40-bdc4-8960ccb383a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5aa412c1-24c8-4010-b71f-1cf00177756d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-143.98148%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ece10b9e-1e9f-469b-ab1e-bf5bb963ad77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2229276-28fd-4a90-b910-f96f6fd826d1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-143.98148%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52c366c7-6dff-4f58-9923-dc7a60419abe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 23 Best Vegan Pumpkin Recipes 35 Different Types of Squash (with Pictures)

Is Pumpkin a Fruit or a Vegetable?

cleangreensimple.com

You’ve probably heard that pumpkins are technically fruits even though they taste like vegetables. But which label is accurate? We’re here to answer this age-old question.

Is Pumpkin a Fruit or a Vegetable?

Is Pumpkin a Fruit or a Vegetable?

They're Also Berries

They're Also Berries

So What's a Vegetable?

So What's a Vegetable?

Is a Pumpkin a Starch?

Is a Pumpkin a Starch?

Health Benefits of Pumpkins

Health Benefits of Pumpkins

Swipe up to learn more!

More in Kitchen Tips