How to Choose Eggplant Like a Pro: Tips and Tricks

 Eggplant is a vegetable used during the summer season. It is famous for its use in many delicious dishes. Used in Eastern, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisines, eggplant belongs to the nightshade family.

Eggplants are known by various names in different parts of the world. Aubergine, brinjal, garden eggs, and guinea quash are some common names. It is technically a fruit. Since it is not as sweet, it is preferred as a vegetable. The flavor and texture of eggplants blend well with dishes that have strong spices and vegetable oil.

If you visit the farmer's market, you can find plenty of eggplant varieties. There are many colors including deep purple, pale purple, speckled, white, green, and yellow. Additionally, there are many sizes and shapes of different varieties. Big and fat, long and thin, and small and round eggplants. 

Each variety of eggplant has a unique and subtle flavor. Eggplant varieties include Chinese, Fairy Tale, Japanese, Little Green, Graffiti, and Italian eggplant. The common varieties in Australia are Long Tom, Black Bell, Pea, Purple, and Thai Round. There are as many ways and recipes to cook eggplant as there are varieties. 

Why is Eggplant a Popular Veggie? 

People love eggplant because it is very versatile. Whether it is the different varieties it is available in or the countless ways it can be cooked. You can bake, grill, roast, stuff, or sauté an eggplant. It also goes well with curry dishes. You can also make different sauces and dips with eggplant.

The subtle flavor of eggplant blends well with most flavors. It absorbs oil, tomato, and other flavors easily. It has a soft and spongy texture when cooked. Although it might be bitter if there are too many seeds in it. Eggplant is generally a preferred vegan substitute in many dishes.

Purple is considered a royal color. The Lebanese people treat eggplant as a royal vegetable. It is part of many favorite flavorful Lebanese dishes. The dark purple color of eggplant is very appetizing and eye-catching. 

How to Choose the Best Eggplant?

There are a few key things you might want to take into consideration when buying eggplants. The checklist is the same across each variety of eggplant. Regardless of which type of eggplant you may want, you would want to pick the best ones from the bunch. 

Appearance Test

The first thing to check is the appearance of the eggplant. You should pick eggplants that have smooth and glossy skin. The eggplant should be shiny throughout. A dull and wrinkly skin color often suggests bad quality or poor storage.

Eggplants that have wrinkled skin are old produce. They were likely harvested a long time ago. Select the ones that have a tight surface. Check for any soft or brown spots or blemishes throughout. If there are brown or soft patches, do not buy them.

Press or Push Test

The second test on the checklist is the press or push test. Press the eggplant with your thumb slightly. If they are slightly firm and not stiff, you should buy them. However, if you push it, the vegetable feels very soft or is punctured. It is not good for cooking.

A punctured or very soft eggplant, along with brown blemishes, often suggests it is overripe. Perfect for cooking, eggplant will not be as soft. Softness in some parts of an eggplant can be removed by cutting them out. Ensure that such eggplant pieces are bought at a bargain price.

Stem Test

The stem of an eggplant is equally important to check as the globe. Ensure to pick a piece with a fresh green stem. It should not have any mold or softness. Often, the globe may appear perfect, but the stem may show signs of a bad eggplant. 

Additionally, check the cap of the eggplant. The cap, also known as calyx, should be fresh, clear, and tightly attached to the globe.

Bitterness Test

It is a common perception that eggplant is bitter. The whole process of salting, washing, and drying the eggplant to remove the bitterness seems tiresome. Even after the whole process, the bitterness can’t be completely removed. Thus, many people avoid eating it. 

However, if they are picked with care, you can avoid bitter pieces. There are a few ways to figure out if an eggplant is bitter or not without actually cutting it. Thus, you should learn how to make a distinction between a male and female eggplant. 

The male eggplant is the best for cooking. On the other hand, the female eggplant is optimal for sowing purposes. The female eggplant has more seeds. They also taste bitter to protect the seeds from seed eaters. Thus, you should avoid buying female eggplants when shopping.

The female eggplants generally have a rounder globe and shape as compared to the male eggplants. The belly button, also known as the blossom end, or bottom end, which is opposite the eggplant stem, features a specific sign to differentiate between male and female eggplants.

In female eggplants, the bottom end appears more like a slit or may have a dotted shape. The male eggplants have a very well-defined round mark at the bottom end. Some pieces may be difficult to recognize but can be easily distinguished when compared with other eggplants in the bunch.

Size Test

A good quality eggplant tends to be heavy in comparison to its size. The bigger size of eggplants generally suggests a long maturation period. They tend to have more seeds and thus be more bitter. Therefore, choose to buy small or medium-sized eggplants.

Pick well-shaped and well-formed eggplants. If available, graffiti and white eggplants are a great pick since they have fewer seeds. If there are only large eggplants at the market, pick the ones that have a tight and firm skin.

Washing Eggplants

As with other fruits and vegetables, eggplants should be washed before use. Eggplants should be rinsed several times under cold running water to remove dirt and toxins. It is not required to use soap or detergent while washing, as the vegetable absorbs the harmful chemicals.

Preparing Eggplants

If you have a bitter eggplant and don’t have the time to go to the market to pick a new one. You can follow the degorging process to eliminate the bitterness. 

The process is generally done before cooking bigger, older eggplants. It softens the vegetable, draws out extra moisture, and reduces the amount of fat absorbed while being cooked.

To degorge the eggplant, cut the washed eggplant into slices or halves as per the recipe. Arrange the pieces in a colander with the flesh part facing up. Sprinkle salt on the slices generously. Put a heavy plate on top to draw out extra moisture. Keep it for half an hour. To finish the process, rinse with cold water and pat dry with a kitchen towel.

However, if you have fresh and perfectly ripe eggplants, you don’t need to salt them. Eggplants can be blanched if needed, as per the recipe you want to prepare.

Storing Eggplants

Eggplants should be stored carefully, as they are easily damaged. Store them in the refrigerator as soon as you bring them home from the market. If you don’t store it in the refrigerator, you can wrap it loosely in cling film.

Eggplants ripen very quickly. Thus, they should be consumed fresh. However, if you plan to cook them later, you can put them in a loose, open bag in the veggie compartment of the refrigerator. At most, the eggplant should be consumed within a week of purchase.

But if you have already bought an overripe eggplant, you can roast the eggplant. Roasted eggplant can also last a week. Similarly, to increase the shelf life, you can make eggplant puree. Roast and blend the eggplant; add some lemon juice to avoid discoloration. Freeze the puree and use it in dips and sauces when needed.

Health and Nutrition

Eggplants are rich in folate and fiber. They are also a good source of potassium and are low in calories. The fiber content helps control cholesterol. Potassium aids in maintaining good blood pressure. The presence of folate may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Eggplants are also rich in antioxidants and help fight against chronic conditions. Overall, eggplants can provide vital vitamins and minerals in a low-calorie diet, provided they are prepared healthily.

Tips and Tricks for Cooking Eggplants

One important tip is to remember that eggplant absorbs and takes up the flavors of tomatoes and other species it is cooked with. It gives volume to the dish. Eggplant is not edible raw. But when cooked eggplant is paired with dairy, herbs, or spices, its flavor is completely transformed. Olive oil matches well with eggplant.

Garnishing with herbs, including coriander, basil, mint, or parsley, can enhance the flavor of your eggplant dish. Similarly, cumin, ginger, and garlic are excellent spices. If you are inclined towards plant-based food, then eggplant can be a great choice. It is preferred by chefs for vegan substitute dishes due to its meat-like texture.

Choosing Eggplants Like an Expert

Choosing the right eggplant is important to reduce cooking and preparing time, avoid bitter eggplants, and ensure a delicious dish. You would feel that all your hard work in cooking has been in vain if the eggplant dish turns out to be bitter.

It is also worth noting that eggplants are the best during their season. When they are available at a reduced price, it is generally a sign of good produce. If available, prefer buying locally grown produce. It not only supports the local economy, but you can also get fresh produce at a cheaper cost. 

Buying from distant producers often increases the market value due to additional transport and storage costs. Read our other shopping guide, How to Choose Air Fryer: A Step-by-Step Selection Guide.