Is The Key To The Best-Tasting Eggplant Whether It's Male Or Female?

Here's the thing: There are a lot of hacks out there for finding the best produce (like picking the perfect watermelon based on the "yellow belly"). But one I hadn't heard before is that you should be picking your eggplant based on its gender—so, of course, I had to investigate.

According to the Farmers' Almanac, there is a difference between male and female eggplants, and here's what they look for: "To differentiate between male and female eggplants, inspect the flower end," the site says. "The male has a small, round, smooth end; the female has an irregular, less smooth end." Additionally, "male eggplants have fewer seeds," they write, "and are less likely to be bitter."

In a post on the University of Washington's Botanic Garden website, they share a quote from nutrition educator Mary Keith, who says there's no truth to the rumor: "There are not 'male' or 'female' eggplants," she explains. "They all come from the female organs of the flower."

The likely root (pun intended) of the gendered eggplant myth, however, may tie back to the fact that flowers do have different portions that are often labeled "male" or "female." It seems there's no conclusive reason to base your eggplant selection on its supposed gender.