Difference between fruit and vegetables – botanical or practical?

Fruit or vegetable? This is a frequently debated question – especially when it comes to tomatoes, peppers or melons. There are clear botanical rules, but in everyday life, taste and preparation are often the deciding factors. Let’s take a closer look at the difference!

Botanical distinction: fruit or vegetable?

From a botanical point of view, the difference between fruit and vegetables is clear:

•  Fruit comes from perennial plants and develops from a pollinated flower. It contains seeds and is used to reproduce the plant. This includes apples, cherries, berries, but also tomatoes and pumpkins! 
• Vegetables are made up of other parts of the plant, such as leaves (spinach, lettuce), stems (asparagus), roots (carrots) or tubers (potatoes). They usually come from annual or biennial plants that have to be replanted after harvesting.

Common classification: sweet or savoury?

In everyday language, fruit is often equated with sweet fruit, while vegetables are more savoury. But this is not always true – tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are botanically fruit, but are usually classified as vegetables.

Use in the kitchen

Another criterion is use in the kitchen:

• Fruit is usually eaten raw or used in desserts, jams and juices.
• Vegetables are often boiled, fried or served as a savoury side dish.

A little science, a little instinct

The difference between fruit and vegetables depends on whether you look at them from a botanical or an everyday point of view. While science has clear rules, in the kitchen we tend to focus more on flavour and preparation. At the end of the day, the only thing we can be sure of is that whether it’s fruit or vegetables, the main thing is that they’re tasty and healthy!