Squash, especially zucchini, is a popular garden veggie loved by many. But have you ever had squash that's bitter tasting and, if so, is bitter squash edible? This article will help with that, as well as what causes bitter squash. I just planted six zucchini plants and I am well aware that I will be giving it away to strangers on the street, just to use it all. Hopefully, with my tender loving care, I won't end up with squash that tastes bad. Read on to find out what causes bitter squash.
My Squash is Bitter Tasting
Actually, a bitter squash taste is a common problem found in zucchini as well as in cucumber. Both of these veggies are members of the Cucurbit family along with gourds, melons,pumpkins and other types of squash. Cucurbits contain a group of chemicals called cucubitacins. It is these cucurbitacins that are responsible for squash that is bitter tasting. The higher the levels of cucubitacin, the more bitter the squash will taste. The most likely cause for a bitter taste in squash is due to an environmental stress of some sort, most likely a wide temperature flux or irregular irrigation. Either of these will create an excess of cucurbitacins to concentrate in the fruit. Extreme cold, heat, drought or too much irrigation, or even a lack of plant nutrients, excessive pest infestation or disease can all create these elevated levels of cucurbitacin in the squash resulting in a bitter flavor. One other possible reason that your squash is bitter involves genetics and is especially true with regard to summer squash. Squash, as well as cucumber relatives, are basically weeds and easily cross pollinate with our garden domestic varieties. Saving seed can increase the likelihood of a potential cross pollination and resulting bitter flavor. It can also occur with purchased seed that may have been cross pollinated with wild cucurbits. Obviously, there would be no benefit to trying to solve a stressor to resolve the problem, as the bitterness is bred into the plant. In wild cucurbits, the bitterness is a blessing. Many insects find the bitter flavor as repellent as we do and are, thus, less likely to snack on the plant.
Is Bitter Squash Edible?
If you can accurately identify the stress and correct it, you may be able to salvage the harvest. However, if the squash tastes bad and is extremely bitter already, you may want to pull it out and discard it, starting over the following year. As to the edibility of bitter squash, eating them won't likely kill you, although if the levels of cucurbitacin are really high, you may wish they had. Very bitter squash with a high level of this compound will cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhea which can last for several days. Only in extreme or rare cases has this led to death. It is fairly likely that you would not even entertain the notion of ingesting very bitter squash simply because of the nasty flavor. That said, to err on the side of caution, it may be best to simply toss out any extremely bitter tasting fruits. You may, however, decide you want to use mildly bitter squash, which is okay. It helps to know that the bitter compound is more concentrated in the stem rather than in the blossom end of the squash. To reduce the bitter flavor, peel the squash, beginning at the blossom end, and discard a couple of inches of it at the stem end.
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FAQs
Extreme cold, heat, drought or too much irrigation, or even a lack of plant nutrients, excessive pest infestation or disease can all create these elevated levels of cucurbitacin in the squash resulting in a bitter flavor.
How to remove bitterness from squash? ›
It's called milking the vegetables. It's not milk, but looks like it. I milk my zucchini and squash. Then salt it, wait a few minutes, then rinse.
What to do if you eat bitter squash? ›
If you take a bite of squash and notice a nasty taste, spit it out and throw it away. Even a small amount can cause serious side effects that can make you sick. Avoid eating squash that you are unfamiliar with. For example, if your garden produces squash that you did not plant, avoid eating them.
Why is zucchini sometimes bitter? ›
When exposed to environmental stress, poor soil pH, or poor soil nutrition, zucchinis trigger the production of cucurbitacin, a natural phytonutrient that helps the plant overcome stress but consequently results in the unwanted bitter taste.
Why do some plants have a bitter taste? ›
Plants produce a variety of toxic compounds in order to protect themselves from being eaten. The ability to discern bitter tastes evolved as a mechanism to prevent early humans from eating poisonous plants. Humans have about 30 genes that code for bitter taste receptors.
Why does my cooked squash taste bitter? ›
The higher the levels of cucubitacin, the more bitter the squash will taste. The most likely cause for a bitter taste in squash is due to an environmental stress of some sort, most likely a wide temperature flux or irregular irrigation. Either of these will create an excess of cucurbitacins to concentrate in the fruit.
What is the best way to counteract bitter taste? ›
Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.
When should you not eat squash? ›
Knowing if your summer squash is still fresh is very similar with winter squash, but note that summer squash tends to turn bad much quicker. For best flavor, check for these signs of spoilage: Visible mold and fungus. Mushy, soft spots on a whole squash, that when cut are spongy and soft.
Is bitter squash healthy? ›
Bitter gourd contains bioactive compounds called saponins and terpenoids. These compounds are responsible for the vegetable's bitter taste, but may also play a role in lowering blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
How toxic is cucurbitacin? ›
Lavie's group showed that cucurbitacin E (also called α-elaterin) has antitumor properties. The two most common cucurbitacins are B and E. Cucurbitacin B, whose structure is shown, is extremely toxic when ingested (see hazard information box); E is not as toxic but is still harmful if swallowed.
Blanch Them
Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.
Why do my homegrown vegetables taste bitter? ›
Explanation: Inconsistent watering can result in plant stress and bitter taste. Also, dry conditions followed by excessive watering or vice versa can lead to inconsistent growth and flavor. Solution: Crops are not one-size fits all in terms of watering. Keep a consistent watering schedule for each of your crops.
Why do all vegetables taste bitter to me? ›
Researchers have discovered that the reason for this could be genetic. People who have a particular gene find certain vegetables unbearably bitter. It also affects the way that dark chocolate and coffee tastes to them, as well as beer. The gene in question is called TAS2R38 (which stands for taste receptor 2 member 38) ...
What causes bitter taste? ›
A lingering bitter taste might not necessarily be a serious issue, but there are a lot of potential causes, including: Acid reflux: This is likely the most common cause of a bitter taste in the mouth. Food at the bottom of your esophagus contains digestive acid and enzymes, which accounts for the bitterness.
What is the most bitter edible thing in the world? ›
Bitrex is the brand name for the bitterest substance in the world. The extremely bitter taste makes products taste so bad that it makes children want to spit them out immediately.
Why do humans not like bitter foods? ›
Evolution makes us averse to bitter tastes from birth. While that is evolutionary, our genetics play a part too. We have around 25 receptors on our tongue that detect bitterness but they don't work the same way for everyone.
How do you take the bitterness out of orange squash? ›
heat will draw out most of the bitter tasting. substances from the pith (bitter substances in the. orange pith are water-soluble).
How do you release bitterness? ›
If you find yourself stuck:
- Practice empathy. ...
- Ask yourself about the circ*mstances that may have led the other person to behave in such a way. ...
- Reflect on times when others have forgiven you.
- Write in a journal, pray or use guided meditation. ...
- Be aware that forgiveness is a process.
Sour, acidic tastes like these naturally counteract bitterness. Try squeezing some fresh Make-Lemon-Juice|lemon juice]] or adding a spoonful of vinegar to bitter dishes to neutralize the flavor a bit.
