Eggplant is a dark purple or brownish-purple color that resembles the color of the outer skin of European eggplants. Another name for the color eggplant is aubergine (the French, German and British English word for eggplant).
What color should an eggplant be?
There are several different colors of eggplant; the most common is the very dark purple, but some are lighter purple, striped or even yellow or white. Whatever the color, make sure the eggplant is all that color — there is no green, indicating unripeness. The skin should be shiny, too.
Why is my eggplant purple?
Aubergines come in many different varieties, and not all of them are the characteristic colour. However, many of them are a shade of violet or purple, and this is caused by the presence of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are pigments which often give red, blue or purple colouration in plants.
Why is my eggplant not purple?
Eggplants naturally turn yellow/brown when they fully ripen, as purple eggplants are technically underripe fruit. However, fully ripe eggplants are not really edible, so pick them before they turn yellow. Note that some eggplant varieties are naturally yellow when unripe, too.
How can you tell if an eggplant is good or bad?
A good eggplant will have glossy, taut skin. You’ll also want to test the texture of the flesh. When buying an eggplant, the flesh should be firm but give slightly when pressed, then bounce back. If your eggplant is soft to the touch, that’s an indication that it’s beginning to spoil.
What does good eggplant look like?
Look for a smooth, shiny eggplant. Dull skin indicates that the fruit is beyond good eating as it is turning bitter. Eggplant varieties typically retailed in the United States have a deep, rich purple-black color, which should be even with no streaking.
Is it OK if my eggplant is brown inside?
Is Brown Eggplant Safe to Eat? If an eggplant has brown spots or dark shading but shows no other signs of spoiling, such as softness, slime, or odor, then it’s safe to eat. It’s likely just been exposed to air and is experiencing enzymatic browning.
What color is an unripe eggplant?
Eggplants are actually eaten before they turn ripe. That classic, shiny, purple color is the color of an underripe fruit.
What color were eggplants originally?
The first eggplants grown weren’t the large purple varieties frequently grown today, but rather small, white varieties with fruits shaped like eggs (thus the name eggplant).
What does over ripe eggplant look like?
Seeds of a ripe eggplant should be a light yellow. If the seeds are brown, the eggplant is overripe and likely bitter. The skin of purple varieties turns bronze when they are overripe. White eggplants will start turning yellow when overripe.
Are eggplants naturally purple?
Some vegetables are naturally purple, like eggplant. And some are purple because farmers bred them to be colorful, like purple cauliflower.
When did eggplants become purple?
The first recorded use of eggplant as a color name in English was in 1915. The pinkish-purple-grayish color shown in the color box as eggplant was introduced by Crayola in 1998.
Are there different colors of eggplant?
Eggplants are different shades of purple depending on factors such as ripeness. There are also two major varieties of eggplant known as European and Chinese eggplants with the latter being a slightly lighter purple that is also less brownish.
What are the black dots in eggplant?
If you notice black seeds inside the eggplant when you cut it open, throw it away; it has been sitting around too long and will be bitter. Eggplant are naturally sweet when fresh, and do not need to be salted for a long time to remove bitterness.
Should eggplant be refrigerated?
Eggplants do not store well for long periods of time. Without refrigeration, eggplants can be stored in a cool, dry place for 1 or 2 days. If you don’t intend to eat the eggplant within 2 days, it should be refrigerated.
How long will eggplant keep in refrigerator?
The eggplant will stay fresh for four days. 2. Refrigerate: You can store eggplants in the crisper drawer for up to one week. Gently wrap your eggplant in paper towels to protect it from moisture, then place it in an unsealed plastic bag.
What does a bad eggplant look like inside?
Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.
What does a spoiled eggplant look like inside?
It’s Gone Bad
The most obvious reason that an eggplant is brown on the inside is that it has gone bad. Just like any other fruit or vegetable, eggplants go bad and turn brown as a result. Eggplants that are brown due to their expiration date are often mushy, smelly, and show other signs of spoilage too.
Can you cut mold off eggplant?
If your eggplant is still firm and the mold spots are really small, it’s safe to cut off the affected spots and eat or cook with the rest of the plant. Make sure to leave a 1 in (2.5 cm) perimeter around the mold spot as you slice it out. That way, the contaminated part of the veggie can’t touch the rest of the plant.
Why is my eggplant skin brown?
The brown area is caused by sun scalding. If the scalding is not too severe, it can be removed and the eggplant eaten.
Why does eggplant turn brown after cutting?
Freshly-cut eggplant, when exposed to the air, quickly oxidizes and turns black, kind of the way an apple goes brown after it is cut and exposed to air. Black eggplant can ruin the appearance of a dish. To prevent this from happening, prepare a bowl of water in advance prior to cutting eggplant.