When we cut into a bell pepper (or, as some might know it, a capsicum), most of us will remove the core and the seeds, using only the outer flesh of the pepper when cooking dishes or preparing crudités. But is there a reason we don’t eat the stem and seeds?
Pepper-based rumours have been circulating – and we’re here to bust the myth and tell you exactly why we chop those bits out.
Are the seeds in bell peppers poisonous?
No, the seeds in bell peppers aren’t poisonous (and can be easily digested by the body) – so you don’t need to worry if the odd few end up in your dish.
Did you know? Peppers are one of the best vegetables to fight and beat belly fat.
Can you eat them then?
Yes, you absolutely can! Their taste may not be to everyone’s liking, however, but they remain perfectly safe to eat. They are quite bitter in flavour and don’t tend to soften with heat, so they aren’t often used when cooking with the rest of the pepper.
Interestingly, bell pepper seeds contain some nutrients and antioxidants – so it’s worth considering incorporating them into your cooking in some way! Plus, it’s a great opportunity to test out some zero-waste cooking.
What can you make with the seeds?
You can save bell pepper seeds along with other vegetable scraps, such as carrot peels, onion roots, garlic skins and herb stems, to make a zero-waste vegetable stock or bone broth. Store them in a sealed container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer.
They can also be used in salads to create texture, although the slightly bitter taste might put some off.
Alternatively, you can also plant the seeds to grow peppers for the following year.
