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    Home » How to

    How to Clean and Prepare Squash Blossoms

    Jun 26, 2019 · 20 Comments

    June 26, 2019 by Beth 20 Comments

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    squash blossoms on towel

    Squash blossoms are a delicious edible flower that you can find in your garden or occasionally at the farmer’s market. It’s serious impossible for me to pass them by as I absolutely love the idea of eating flowers. There is nothing more beautiful and girly that to have that bright yellow flower on your plate. That being said, they can be somewhat intimidating so here’s how to clean and prepare squash blossoms.

    squash blossoms on towel

    What is a squash blossom?

    Squash blossoms are also known as zucchini blossoms. They are the flower from which zucchini grows. 

    What do squash blossoms taste like?

    Squash blossoms taste faintly of zucchini. It’s a very mild flavor, which is why you often see it paired with mozzarella cheese or eggs. Trust me, they taste great too. My husband will gobble up a few pieces of my Squash Blossom Pizza without hesitation. It’s definitely for everyone.

    What part of the squash blossom is edible?

    Technically, the entire squash blossom is edible. However, the stem, pistil and stamen have a different texture. They won't harm you but for a more refined dish, they are usually removed.

    Where to buy squash blossoms?

    The best place to get squash blossoms is from your backyard. Zucchini are pretty hardy in most places so if you get sick of zucchini then you can just start picking and eating the flowers instead. If you don’t have a garden, try picking up squash blossoms at your local farmer’s market.

    It’s rare to find squash blossoms are your local grocery store as flowers since flowers are so delicate.

    How do you keep squash blossoms fresh?

    Store them in the refrigerator to keep them as fresh as possible. Just place them on a baking sheet that is lined with paper towels or a towel. The towel will soak up any excess moisture. Then place additional paper towels on top of them.

    How long do squash blossoms last?

    Like most flowers, squash blossoms don’t have a very long shelf life so it’s something that you won’t find very far from the farmer. You will need to use them within a few days of bringing them home. They will start to wilt and shrivel after about 24-48 hours. They are really best when prepared the day they were picked.

    How do you clean squash blossoms?

    Squash blossoms are delicate so be careful when washing them. Fill a bowl of water and gently submerge the blossoms. Take care to remove any insects or dirt from the flowers. Wait to wash the blossoms until right before using them to retain their freshness.

    squash blossom floating in water

    How do you prepare squash blossoms?

    To prepare the blossoms you’ll need to trim the ends of the flower near the stem to remove the flower. You’ll also need to remove the stamen or pistil from within the blossom.

    squash blossom flower, stamen or pistil and stem separated on counter

    How to cook squash blossoms?

    The most traditional way of cooking squash blossoms is stuffing them with cheese and then to make deep fried squash blossoms.

    Looking for squash blossom recipes? Try these.

    • Squash Blossom Pizza (with the AIP substitutes)
    • Squash Blossom Frittata (with AIP reintroductions)

    Love seeing my delicious photos? You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    [mv_create key="7" type="diy" title="How to Clean and Prepare Squash Blossoms" thumbnail="https://thehonestspoonful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Squash-Blossom-Fritatta-13sm.jpg"]

    Did you use this how-to? I’d love to hear your thoughts so please comment below.

    *Please note that this is how I was shown to prepare squash blossoms. If you were shown something different, that's fine. You don't have to follow my instructions. However, there's no reason to leave rude comments in the post.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. ItalianFlowerGirl says

      August 11, 2022 at 2:34 pm

      Many people have commented that they have eaten the entire flower. The entire flower is edible. Yet you continue to say only the flower is edible. You are spreading misinformation. I am of Italian descent and these are a staple in our diets during the summer season. I am proud to report none of my ancestors have gotten sick from eating the entire flower. Not sure where you got your facts from but reality is the entire flower is edible.

      Reply
      • Beth says

        August 11, 2022 at 4:12 pm

        I too am of Italian descent. And this is the way I was taught to clean and prepare squash blossoms. If you don't like it, you can eat the entire plant. I really don't care. There's no need to be rude or insulting.

        Reply
    2. Irene says

      July 07, 2022 at 8:40 am

      Thank you. I'm launching into stuffed courgette flowers from my home grown fruit. Thank you for your advice. If turn out ok will post a picture.

      Reply
      • Beth says

        July 16, 2022 at 6:47 pm

        Yeah! Homegrown are the best.

        Reply
    3. Audrey Cuda says

      June 21, 2021 at 11:36 pm

      I’ve been eating squash flowers for many of my 82 years being of Italian descent, I have never removed the stamen, or pistil.

      Reply
      • Beth says

        June 28, 2021 at 8:53 pm

        It's not absolutely necessary but it's the proper way to prepare it.

        Reply
        • Sandra says

          February 16, 2022 at 8:43 pm

          "Proper"? Really?
          The pistil, which conveys a slight sweetness, is perfectly edible and one may elect to eat it - or not.

          Reply
          • Beth says

            March 03, 2022 at 5:22 pm

            Yep. I said what I said. If you want to eat it, go for it.

            Reply
    4. Diana says

      June 15, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      I heard there was a male and female flower.
      Both edible?

      Reply
      • Beth says

        June 21, 2021 at 6:27 pm

        Yes! The instruction still work regardless of the male or female flower. It's actually hard to tell the difference.

        Reply
    5. Toni R Halladay says

      October 05, 2020 at 4:04 pm

      Exactly what I needed to learn! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 05, 2020 at 4:34 pm

        Great! Glad it helped.

        Reply
    6. Amy says

      May 22, 2020 at 1:27 am

      I eat the entire blossom. It's all edible!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        May 24, 2020 at 6:08 pm

        Thanks for the info!

        Reply
    7. Shelly Ingles says

      October 16, 2019 at 7:08 pm

      I ate the stamen and pistol of about a plate of them before I read only the petals were edible. No ill effects

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 16, 2019 at 9:05 pm

        Haha. Oh no! At least we know that nothing bad will happen. Thanks for letting us know.

        Reply
    8. Lizzette darakorn says

      October 27, 2017 at 3:45 am

      I love these flowers they are delicious and I buy mine in Hispanic grocery markets.

      Reply
      • Beth says

        October 27, 2017 at 6:42 pm

        Aren't they great!? They're super popular at farmer's markets around here. I bet they would be easy to grow in your own backyard too!

        Reply
    9. David Oyster says

      September 14, 2017 at 7:47 pm

      Why do you need to remove the pistil from squash blossoms before cooking and eating.

      Reply
      • Beth says

        September 15, 2017 at 6:33 pm

        The only edible part of the blossom is the flower.

        Reply

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    Beth Chen from Bon Aippetit

    Hey I'm Beth!
    If you're looking for AIP, Paleo or Allergy friendly recipes then you've come to the right place. Here you'll find lots of nutritious and delicious recipes with the occasional clean living lifestyle tips. Just because you have food restrictions doesn't mean that you can't enjoy life. BON AIPPETIT!

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