Classic pumpkin varieties aren’t naturally sweet like a fruit. They’re savory, like a vegetable. And you don’t bite into it and eat it raw like an apple or toss it into a fruit salad.

Given that pumpkins are used in both sweet and savory dishes, you might wonder where it falls in the fruit-veggie distinction ...

The answer may surprise you. A pumpkin is, in fact, a fruit. According to expert Joe Masabni, ... “We see them as to whether we eat them as a dessert, salad or as part of a meal,” Masabni said.

Per Britannica, pumpkin is technically a type of berry called a pepo, which is a fruit that has a hard outer layer and no dividing chambers. (And for the record, squash is also technically a fruit.) ...

The message is clear: Fruit salad is back on the menu. Not those overripe chunks of melon, slick grapes, and the odd, wilting berry. And not those sad plastic containers on anonymous deli shelves.

Whether it’s a fruit or a vegetable, you can never go wrong by eating a pumpkin—thank GOURD! Next up: 40 Best Pumpkin Dessert & Bread Recipes Related articles ...

Where does the name pumpkin come from? The word “pumpkin” comes from the Greek word “peopon,” which translates to “large melon,” says Lori Shemek, PhD, CNC, a nutrition and weight loss ...