Are Apples Vegetables?
This is a simple question with a complicated answer. Everyone agrees that apples are fruits, but when it comes to whether they’re vegetables, opinions differ.
The Botanical Definition
The botanical definition of a vegetable is any edible parts of plants that we can use in cooking. This includes things like:
- Leaves (e.g. spinach and cabbage leaves)
- Stems (e.g. asparagus)
- Roots (e.g. carrots and potatoes)
- Fruits (e.g. oranges and apples)
- Seeds (e.g. lentils and chickpeas)
- Bulbs (e.g. onions and garlic)
In this case, apples are technically classified as vegetables, even though we’d usually categorise them as fruits when eating.
The Culinary Definition
Meanwhile, the culinary definition of a vegetable is any edible part of a plant that we usually eat as part of a savoury dish.
This would exclude apples, as we’re more likely to eat them as part of a sweet dish, not a savoury one.
Conclusion
So, are apples vegetables? It depends on which definition you want to use. Botanically speaking, apples are indeed vegetables, while culinarily speaking, they’re usually categorised as fruits.
