Bottle gourd is a fibrous vegetable (having good amount of fiber). Apart from this, its effect is also cooling, hence its consumption is considered more beneficial in summer. Vitamins and minerals are definitely found in bottle gourd. Because of this, it is beneficial for your digestion and skin, while being low in calories, it is also helpful in weight loss. You should definitely make this seasonal vegetable a part of your diet, but while buying it from the market, you should keep some things in mind so that you can buy fresh bottle gourd.
Fresh vegetables are more beneficial for health because they contain the right amount of nutrients. Stale vegetables may not only have less nutrients, but they may also contain bacteria. So let us learn some simple tips so that you can identify fresh bottle gourd while buying.
Peel texture and color
If the bottle gourd is fresh then its color is light green and there are not many spots on the peel. If the color of the peel is dark and you can see dark colored spots on it or the texture of the peel is a little shriveled, then it may be stale. Avoid buying such gourd.
Check by pressing the gourd
While buying bottle gourd from the market, press it lightly. If the bottle gourd is slightly soft then it is fine, but if it seems too soft or is too hard then it may be old and has more seeds in it. Even if the peel looks thick, it could be a bottle gourd that has been stored for several days.
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Check the gourd with your fingernail
While buying bottle gourd, you can also try digging your nails on its peel. If it sinks in easily. If a little water is coming out from it then the bottle gourd is raw and it will be good to eat. On the other hand, if the peel feels very tight when pressed with the nail, then the bottle gourd may be stale or it may be ripe.
see the shape of the gourd
If the gourd is very big or thick then it is possible that it has ripened while still on the tree. In such a situation, there will be many seeds inside it and it will not taste good to eat. In this way, you can identify fresh and old bottle gourd or ripe and raw bottle gourd by some simple methods.
Also read: Is melon sweet or not…how to identify before buying? These methods will be useful
Keep this in mind also
Nowadays chemical gourd is also available in the market. If the size of a bottle gourd seems larger than normal to you, then you should not buy it. Apart from this, if the peel of bottle gourd looks too shiny then you should avoid buying it.