After you bake eggplant, is it fine to not drain the water?
An eggplant can be baked or grilled; then you peel it. I read that you have to drain it then (e.g. in a colander), even overnight. What if you don't drain the water-does the taste change considerably? Can you still make spread out of it?
Best Answer
This is really about water content, not flavor. Eggplant contains a lot of water, and there can be plenty left after baking or grilling. If you then make a mashed/pureed spread like this, that water could make it a lot more liquid than you want.
That said, if you really thoroughly roast or grill the eggplant, you can get enough of the water out of it that you don't really need to drain it. If you prick a couple small holes in it, and bake for something like 45 minutes to an hour at 400-450°F (200-230°C), or similarly grill until it's well-charred, it'll probably be dry enough.
The exact details depend on the size of the eggplant, and what you're trying to make out of it.
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Does eggplant need to be drained?
And finally, when eggplant is fried, it absorbs oil like a sponge. It will not absorb as much oil if it has been salted and drained before cooking. Cut the eggplant either into cubes or slices as directed by the recipe.Is it necessary to salt and drain eggplant?
Really? In most cases, that's just not necessary. After an extended series of experiments, I found you only need to salt eggplant if you're going to be frying it, and even then only sometimes. If you're cooking it in some other way \u2014 roasting, grilling, steaming \u2014 salting has no effect.How do you drain roasted eggplant?
You can scrape out the largest ones using a small spoon; these larger seeds tend to hold bitterness. After roasting, remove the eggplant pulp and let it rest in a bowl for at least 30 minutes. A smoky liquid will collect in the bowl.Preparing ( debittering ) Eggplant, a Quick and Easy Way, How to, Episode 10
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Answer 2
Draining the water also helps getting rid of a somewhat bitter taste eggplants may have, especially if they are overripe. If you start with a fresh, young eggplant which is relatively light to its size (that's the best way to pick eggplants), then there's no need to bother with draining. The heavier eggplants may need draining, depending on their type and condition.
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