In the summer, bottle gourd not only cools the stomach but is also very beneficial for health. However, sometimes bottle gourds bought from the market look good from the outside but take a long time to ripen. Such bottle gourds can taste bland or bitter. If you too are troubled by this problem, you should know the right way to buy bottle gourds

Round vs. Long Gourds

There are two main types of gourds available in the market. One is the long gourd and the other is the thin gourd. In agricultural science, the long gourd is called Narendra Shivani, and the round gourd is known as Narendra Madhuri. People commonly refer to the round gourd as the Indian gourd. Both differ in taste and ripening.

Which gourd ripens quickly?

If you want to make a vegetable that cooks quickly and remains perfectly mushy, round gourds are a good choice. Round gourds cook much more easily than long gourds and have a sweeter flavor. Long gourds are often injected to make them grow faster, which is why they take longer to cook.

Identifying Fresh Bottle Gourd

When buying a gourd, be sure to check its top. If the top appears freshly broken and not dry, it means the gourd is fresh. Stale or dried gourds tend to have fibrous inside, which will not digest properly and is not tasty.

Pay attention to color

A good gourd always has a smooth skin and a dark or medium green color. If you can see small hairs on the gourd, it means it's very fresh. Such gourds are very soft and have few seeds. Always choose a medium-sized gourd. Larger gourds are often overripe and full of seeds.

Check with your fingernail

There's a surefire way to test the purity and rawness of a gourd: prick it with your fingernail. If your fingernail easily penetrates the peel, it's a fresh and unripe gourd. This gourd vegetable is incredibly tasty and delicious. The next time you go to the market, keep these small details in mind. Keeping these things in mind can help you choose the best vegetables for your kitchen.