Could a non-bitter eggplant become bitter after cooking?
I've seen a couple of questions here, that touch the issue of aubergine bitterness:
But nobody writes about the connection between the taste of a raw and a cooked eggplant. (Do not be afraid to taste a raw eggplant - it's not poisonous, you would have to eat 36 raw eggplants to cause any harm.)
So, if you chew a small bit of a piled eggplant before cooking, and it does not taste bitter, is that a guarantee that it will not taste bitter after cooking?
Best Answer
Hello Alexander and welcome! All of the information I've seen about eggplants say that it is less bitter with cooking. So, if it is not bitter when raw, it should not get bitter when cooked.
As you note, there are several ways to remove excess moisture and bitterness. Some of those would be salting, peeling, and removing the pith and seeds. However, most eggplants today are bred to not have the bitterness, or at least not as much.
Always be sure to use young, fresh eggplant as the more they mature the more bitterness they will have if they are prone to it.
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Quick Answer about "Could a non-bitter eggplant become bitter after cooking?"
So, if it is not bitter when raw, it should not get bitter when cooked. As you note, there are several ways to remove excess moisture and bitterness. Some of those would be salting, peeling, and removing the pith and seeds. However, most eggplants today are bred to not have the bitterness, or at least not as much.Why is my cooked eggplant bitter?
The flesh can be bitter too because of the anthocyanin compound found in the flesh of the eggplants. The older the eggplants, the more it accumulates this compound causing them to be bitter. Older eggplants also have larger and mature seeds which can be the cause of its bitterness.How do you know if eggplant is bitter?
Old or overripe eggplants or those that are off color or sit out for a while after being harvested are more likely to exhibit a bitter flavor. Therefore, choose eggplants that are heavy, shiny and firm and avoid eggplants that are off-colored and/or do not exhibit a bright, glossy color.What happens when you overcook eggplant?
Unlike many vegetables, eggplant is not harmed by long cooking. An undercooked eggplant can have a chewy texture; but overcooked eggplant is just very soft. Do not cook in an aluminum pot because the eggplant will become discolored.If You Like Eggplant, Remove the Bitterness Before You Cook It
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