Is green part of squash safe to eat? - Ask Extension
A local CSA squash had green streaks inside. We worried whether this was just under-ripe or if it was dangerous/toxin? I see that solanine doesn't aff...
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Is green part of squash safe to eat? #889163
Asked November 01, 2024, 11:31 AM EDT
A local CSA squash had green streaks inside. We worried whether this was just under-ripe or if it was dangerous/toxin? I see that solanine doesn't affect squash as it does potatoes, but we still erred on caution side and composted about 2/3 of the squash. But, we'd like to know for future if we were overly cautious and wasted what we could have eaten, or if we did the right thing. Thank you very much!!
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
It should be safe to eat, though might not be as palatable (those areas might be tougher or not as flavorful). Squash is not a member of the Solanaceous (nightshade) family like tomato, potato, pepper, and eggplant is, so will not produce the same chemicals. It's hard to tell what caused the greening in this case...the plant might have had a viral infection, the fruit could have been bruised, or the fruit was possibly picked a little under-ripe. There are other physiological disorders which might also cause greenish flesh, though the green flesh shouldn't be toxic.
Miri
Miri
