Fruits are one of the most nutritious and delicious foods available to us. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help protect us from disease and promote good health. Fruits also contain a variety of edible parts, which can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. This article will cover some of the edible parts of fruits and provide examples of how they can be used.
Below is the name of edible parts of fruits and vegetables with their scientific names and fruit type. We have covered the most commonly used fruits and veggies we take in our daily life. Generally, we choose Seeds, Core, Stem, Leaves, Calyx, Peel (skin), and Pits as edible parts of different fruits.
| Fruit Name | Scientific name | Edible Part | Fruit Type |
| Lady finger/Bhindi/Okara | Abelmoschus esculentus | Complete fruit | Capsule |
| Cheeku/Sapodilla | Achras sapota | Endocarp and Mesocarp | Berry |
| Bel/Bael/Wood apple | Aegle marmelos | Pulpy endocarp (inner pericarp) and Placenta | Amphisaraca |
| Cashewnut/Kaju | Anacardium occidentale | Cotyledon and Peduncle | Nut |
| Pineapple/Ananas sativus | Ananas comosus | Fleshy axis, bracts, fused perianth, and Pericarp/Outer part of the receptacle | Sorosis |
| Custard apple/Sitafal | Annona squamosa | Mesocarp/ and Thalamus/Pericarp | Etarios of Berries |
| Groundnut/Peanut | Arachis hypogea | Cotyledon/Seed | Lomentum |
| Beetle nut/ Arecanut/Supari | Areca catechu | endosperm/Seed | Berry |
| Jack Fruit/Kathal | Artocarpus integrifolia | Bracts/Perianth and Seed | Sorosis |
| Chilli | Capsicum frutescens | Complete fruit including pericarp and placenta | Berry |
| Papaya/Papita | Carica papaya | Endocarp and Mesocarp | Berry |
| Cereals | Oryza sativa (Rice), Avena sativa (Oat), Zea mays (Maize), Triticum durum (Durum Wheat), Triticum aestivum (Bread Wheat), Hordeum vulgare (Barley) | Complete starchy fruit (Endosperm and Embryo) | Caryopsis |
| Gram | Cicer arietinum | Cotyledon and embryo | Pod |
| Orange, Lime, Sweet Orange | Citrus reticulata, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus Senensis | Glandular Juicy hairs | Hesperidium |
| Coconut | Cocos Nucifera | Endosperm | Drupe |
| Musk Melon/Kharbuja | Cucumis melo | Seeds, Endocarp, Mesocarp | Pepos |
| WaterMelon/Tarbooj | Cucumis Vulgaris | Seeds, Endocarp, Mesocarp | Pepos |
| Cucumber/Kheera | Cucumis sativus | Young seeds, Endocarp, Mesocarp | Pepos |
| Fig/Anjeer | Ficus carica | Fleshy receptacle | Syconus |
| Strawberry | Fragaria vesca | Fleshy thalamus | Etaerio of achenes |
| Dhamin/Phalsa | Grewia asiatica | Mesocarp | Drupe |
| Walnut | Juglans regia | Biobed cotyledons of seed | Drupe |
| Bottle gourd | Lagenaria siceraria | Mesocarp and Endocarp | Pepos |
| Litchi | Litchi chinensis | Aril | Nut |
| Tomato | Lycopersicon esculentum | Complete fruit including pericarp and placenta | Berry |
| Apple | Pyrus malus and Malus sylvestris | Fleshy thalamus | Pome |
| Mango | Mangifera indica | Mesocarp | Drupe |
| Mulberry | Morus alba and Morus nigra | Complete fruit including fleshy perianth and axis | Sorosis |
| Date/Khajoor | Phoenix dactylifera | Pericarp | Berry |
| Almond | Prunus amygdalus | Seed including cotyledon and embryo | Drupe |
| Banana | Musa paradisiaca | Mesocarp (less developed) and Endocarp (well developed) | Berry |
| Guava | Psidium guajava | Complete fruit including thalamus, pericarp, and placenta | Berry |
| Pulses | – | Seed | Legume/Pod |
| Pomegranate/Anar | Punica granatum | Fleshy-juicy testa of seed | Balausta |
| Pear/Sapota | Pyrus communis | Flashy thalamus | Pome |
| Brinjal | Solanum melongena | Complete fruit including pericarp and placenta | Berry |
| Tamarind | Tamarindus indica | Pericarp (Mesocarp) | Lomentum |
| Water chestnut/Singhara | Trapa bispinosa | Seed | Nut |
| Grapes | Vitis vinifera | Complete fruit including pericarp and placenta | Berry |
| Chinese Dates/Jujube/Ber | Zizyphus mauritiana and Zizyphus jujube | Mesocarp and Epicarp | Drupe |
| Cucurbits | depending on variety | Mesocarp and Epicarp | A special type of berry |
The most common edible part of a fruit is its flesh. This is the juicy, sweet part that we commonly think of when we think of fruit. It is usually a bright color and can vary in texture from soft and juicy to crunchy and firm. The flesh is the part of the fruit that is most often eaten raw, but it can also be cooked or juiced. Examples of fruits with edible flesh include apples, oranges, grapes, pears, and mangoes.
Another edible part of a fruit is the skin. The skin is the outermost layer of the fruit and can be eaten raw or cooked. The texture of the skin can vary between fruits and can range from thin and delicate to thick and tough. The skin of the fruit contains many beneficial nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Examples of fruits with edible skin include apples, lemons, limes, and watermelons.
The seeds of the fruit are also edible. These are the tiny, hard, inedible parts of the fruit inside the flesh. The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked, and they contain beneficial nutrients such as protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Examples of fruits with edible seeds include apples, pears, strawberries, and kiwis.
The pulp of the fruit is another edible part. This is the soft, juicy part of the fruit that is found just beneath the skin. The pulp is usually white or cream-colored and is full of flavor. This part of the fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is a great source of vitamins and minerals. Examples of fruits with edible pulp include oranges, bananas, and papayas.
Finally, the stems and leaves of some fruits are edible. The stems and leaves of fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, and they contain beneficial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Examples of fruits with edible stems and leaves include kiwis, raspberries, and blackberries.
Edible part of the coconut
Coconut fruit has three parts:
- The fleshy green or dry brown epicarp
- Fibrous mesocarp
- Stony – hard endocarp
Fruit type – Drupe
Fruit is developed from the monocarpellary superior ovary which is a single-seeded type of fruit.
The seed of coconut is endospermic, which means they have endosperm.
The edible part of the coconut is the endosperm, which is half cellular (white solid part) also called Kernal.
Half of the endosperm remains in a nuclear state also called a free nuclear state and it is a transparent liquid state (called coconut milk).
Thus, in drupe fruit, the fruit wall is the non-edible part while the seed which is endospermic is the edible part.