You've got a whole eggplant on your cutting board and a knife in your hand. You slice through and see it — slightly shaded areas throughout your eggplant's flesh. Or maybe you lift an eggplant off the counter and find a bruise.
The brown patches that develop in eggplant aren't exactly appetizing, but are they safe to eat? And do they alter the remaining fruit's taste? Read on to find out what makes eggplant turn brown, how to prevent brown spots on eggplant, and whether eggplants with brown spots are safe to eat.
Why Do Eggplants Turn Brown?
Eggplants can have brown spots for two reasons: It's either the result of a process called enzymatic browning, or it's going bad. Enzymatic browning will only alter your eggplant's appearance, while a rotting eggplant will show additional indicators of spoilage.
What Is Enzymatic Browning?
Enzymatic browning is a process that occurs when certain fruits are exposed to air. The example you're most likely to know is apples turning brown once they're sliced.
An eggplant's flesh will start turning brown once it's exposed to oxygen, both before and after it's ripened. If an eggplant experiences trauma, such as an extreme temperature drop or physical injury, the fruit may undergo oxidation in certain areas, too.
It's a perfectly normal process, and foods that have reacted to oxygen in this manner are safe to eat. However, you can prevent enzymatic browning by adding an acid, such as lemon juice, to the exposed area.
Signs of Spoilage
Eggplant that is rotting or spoiling will produce obvious signs, in addition to browning and discoloration. These signs include:
- oozing bruises
- softness
- slimy texture
- funky, strong odor
- mold
- possibly bugs
If your eggplant is showing any signs of spoilage, toss it. Not only will the eggplant taste bad, it could make you sick.
Is Brown Eggplant Safe to Eat?
If an eggplant has brown spots or dark shading but shows no other signs of spoiling, such as softness, slime, or odor, then it's safe to eat. It's likely just been exposed to air and is experiencing enzymatic browning.
An eggplant with brown spots is not safe to eat if it contains bugs or mold or exhibits other signs of spoilage. It should be thrown out.
How to Prevent Brown Spots in Eggplant
There are several ways to prevent brown spots in eggplant, whether they result from enzymatic browning or decomposing.
Examine an eggplant carefully at the store before choosing one. Choose an eggplant that is firm and shiny and shows no signs of trauma, such as cuts, breaks, or bruises. Don't bag your eggplant with any items that could bruise or injure the fruit.
Additionally, you can delay enzymatic browning and rotting by keeping your eggplant properly stored in a safe environment.
- At home — Keep your eggplant on the counter or in a cool, dark place, away from fruits that produce ethylene gas. If you do store it at room temperature, keep it isolated and use within two days. Don't force your eggplant into a crisper drawer because you may break it and expose it to oxygen. You can also store eggplants in the fridge, but they don't like the cold temps, so you might see more browning inside.
- While you're cooking — After chopping or peeling your eggplant, cover it in lemon juice or store it in a mixture of cool water and lemon juice to prevent enzymatic browning.
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FAQs
Answer. Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.
Is eggplant still good if brown inside? ›
If you cut the eggplant and notice browning shortly afterward, the eggplant is safe to eat. However, if the eggplant is already brown when you first cut into it, then it should be thrown away.
When should you not eat eggplant? ›
It's likely just been exposed to air and is experiencing enzymatic browning. An eggplant with brown spots is not safe to eat if it contains bugs or mold or exhibits other signs of spoilage. It should be thrown out.
Can you eat the middle of an eggplant? ›
The middle of an eggplant has a soft, pulpy core that holds its seeds. You don't have to remove the seeds to eat an eggplant, but they do sometimes have a bitter flavor that you might like to get rid of before cooking the eggplant.
How to tell if eggplant is ripe inside? ›
Regardless of the type of eggplant you've got, don't leave fruits on the plant so long that the flesh becomes tough and the seeds firm up. The skin will look dull and take on a brown cast when fruits are overripe, and the flesh inside will be bitter. Fruits will feel slightly soft under gentle pressure when overripe.
How to tell if eggplant is cooked? ›
When it's cooked, “it should turn fully tender, all the flesh should be somewhat custardy. If you have to, hammer it a bit, knock it around, let it start to collapse.” When you're roasting eggplant, like in YuChen's recipe, “make sure you give them enough space so they can cook evenly,” she says.
How to tell when eggplant is bad on Reddit? ›
It bruises easily, and those bruises quickly turn bad. (Cut open a dented eggplant, and you'll see that the flesh is brown and corky in the affected area.) It also loses moisture quickly, leading to dry and pithy flesh. When choosing an eggplant, pick one that is heavy for its size; that will be the freshest.
What are the side effects of eating eggplant? ›
Eggplants are part of the nightshade family. Nightshades contain alkaloids, including solanine, which can be toxic. Solanine protects these plants while they are still developing. Eating the leaves or tubers of these plants can lead to symptoms such as burning in the throat, nausea and vomiting, and heart arrhythmias.
Is under ripe eggplant safe to eat? ›
While solanine can be toxic, the levels in ripe eggplants are typically low and not harmful to humans when consumed in normal food quantities. However, it's crucial to avoid the plant's leaves, stems, and unripe fruit, as they have higher solanine concentrations.
Is eggplant bad for gut health? ›
Eggplants are rich in prebiotic factors, such as polyphenols, carotenoids and fiber—all of which help sustain and nurture healthy gut bacteria—which is why this veg has been shown to improve microbiome diversity, notes Li.
Can undercooked eggplant make you sick? A. No, undercooked eggplant won't make you sick when consumed in moderation. While the leaves and petals can be hazardous, the eggplant is safe to eat raw or cooked, and the chemical solanine, which some people are sensitive to, is only toxic in large doses.
Should eggplant be refrigerated? ›
Eggplants do not store well for long periods of time. Without refrigeration, eggplants can be stored in a cool, dry place for 1 or 2 days. If you don't intend to eat the eggplant within 2 days, it should be refrigerated.
Can you eat over mature eggplant? ›
Eggplants are mature when the flesh is firm, and has a slight bounce to it when you touch it. If, when touched, a dent is left behind, the eggplant is too mature and should not be eaten. Eggplants can remain at room temperature for several days after harvesting.
Is eggplant ok if a little brown is inside? ›
Answer. Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.
When should you throw out eggplant? ›
Eggplant that is going bad may have dull skin or soft spots and a soft texture. The interior may be completely brown and slimy or may have an unpleasant odor. If your eggplant shows any of these signs, discard it.
What does under ripe eggplant look like? ›
A just ripe eggplant when sliced will have soft, well-formed but immature seeds; an immature and unripe eggplant will have no visible seeds; an overripe eggplant will have hard, dark seeds. (Seeds forming inside the fruit cause the skin to go from shiny to dull.)
How do you know when an eggplant has gone bad? ›
A ripe eggplant should be firm to the touch. It may have a slight give when pressed, but it should bounce back. When you cut into an eggplant, the flesh should be mostly white. A few brown spots are fine, but if the eggplant is mostly brown—and slimy with an odor—it's likely gone bad.
Does eggplant turn brown when exposed to air? ›
When eggplant flesh is exposed to the air, it combines with oxygen in the air, causing the flesh to brown, which consequently reduces its lifetime. Browning results in loss of eye appeal for consumers and may adversely affect nutritional and sensory properties of a freshly cut eggplant (Oms-Oliu et al., 2010).
Can I eat eggplant that is green inside? ›
With eggplants, however, color and gloss aren't everything. Ripe eggplants should be firm but not hard. Flesh should be white with a slight green tint (orange eggplants ripen orange/green inside). If you are unsure of your eggplant's ripeness, cut one crosswise and check the seeds.
Can you eat eggplant that has turned yellow? ›
The next stage after purple, the unripe fruit, is the fruit ripening and turning yellow then brown. You mentioned that they were purple. Did you try harvesting them then? Once they've already begun to turn yellow, they are rather inedible due to the fibrous nature of their flesh.
