Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:57:39 +0000

Stop Calling Peppers Veggies—They’re Actually Fruits, Function and Form Confirmed When it comes to cooking, classification often gets thrown out the kitchen window. One of the most common misconceptions? That colorful bell peppers, jalapeños, and sweet peppers belong strictly in the "vegetable" category. But science and nature have a more interesting truth: peppers are actually fruits. Understanding this fact changes how we think about their function in our diets—and why embracing peppers as fruits opens new culinary and nutritional possibilities. ### What Defines a Fruit? Botanical Definition of Peppers In botanical terms, a fruit develops from the flower of a plant and contains seeds enclosed within its flesh. One of the primary definitions distinguishes fruits from vegetables by origin and structure—not by culinary use or flavor profile. Since peppers develop from the ovary of a flower and contain seeds inside their fleshy layers, peppers qualify as fruits.