Fruits are a great source of delicious nutrients and vitamins that can make up a big part of our healthy diets. They make a wonderful snack because the majority of fruits don’t have to be prepared in any way and can be eaten fresh.
From a botanical standpoint, fruits are categorized as fruits because they contain seeds while something classified as a vegetable does not.
This puts foods like avocado, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes into the fruit category which can be confusing from a culinary perspective because we generally treat those foods like vegetables.
However, if the deciding factor between a fruit and a vegetable is the presence of seeds then why are some fruits seedless? That’s what we are here to discuss today.
We will be looking at 9 fruits that can be found without seeds and discussing how they become seedless, both in the wild and in cultivation.
We will also be looking at ways that seedless fruits can be used in cooking, so keep reading to find some yummy inspiration!
1. Bananas
Wild bananas generally have large black seeds but all bananas are susceptible to a naturally occurring effect called parthenocarpy which results in seedless fruit.
Humans propagated only bananas with this quality and through many years of cultivation it has resulted in the bananas we enjoy today.
2. Pineapples
Pineapples are another fruit that has been cultivated since ancient times, like bananas. Wild pineapples are pollinated by hummingbirds and have many tiny seeds, but the pineapples that are sold to us have developed through years of human selection.
3. Watermelon
Watermelon generally has hard, black seeds that are inedible as well as soft, light-colored seeds that aren’t really noticeable if eaten. Watermelon without dark seeds is cultivated in the same way that pineapples and bananas are.
4. Grapes
Seedless grapes come from a natural genetic mutation. Grape growers used vine clippings of the plants the seedless grapes were noticed on and used them to cultivate more plants that would bear seedless fruit.
5. Coconut
Coconuts are a very unique item on this list because they don’t contain any seeds in their edible center but they do have a layer that is equivalent to a seed.
The center, edible part of a coconut is very smooth compared to other seeded fruits. The edible part is usually soft and creamy and the center is filled with coconut water.
While coconuts are technically not seedless fruits, they deserve a spot on the list because they naturally have all the pros of seedless fruits without needing to be modified or selectively bred.
6. Citrus
Citrus fruits like limes, lemons, and oranges are developed through human selection. Fruits with a low count of seeds are selected and then used to breed plants that will give the same type of fruit.
This process is continued until a plant with a seedless variety is achieved. The branches of the successful trees are grafted to make trees that are genetically identical to the original plant.
7. Tomatoes
Seedless tomatoes are cultivated by spraying hormones on the plant during the early flowering stages. This prevents the fruit from going through natural pollination and stops the growth of seeds.
8. Berries
Some berries, like blueberries and strawberries, can naturally be found seedless under the same (although rarer) circumstances as the other seedless fruits.
Many berries are difficult or impossible to cultivate into a seedless variety, even through genetic modification.
9. Cucumbers
Yes, cucumbers are considered a fruit due to their seeds. Some cucumbers have hard seeds but most are bred to have very soft seeds that are barely noticeable and simply add texture to the fruit.
Are Seedless Fruits GMOs?
This question has been asked a ton of times when discussing this topic, and with good reason. With our advancements in the field, we’ve been able to do some fascinating stuff through genetic modification.
GMO, which is short for “genetically modified organism”, is an organism that has been modified in a laboratory to maintain sought-after properties and remove others, less wanted properties.
This could, for instance, be the presence of a seed – or any other physiological trait.
Genetically modifying organisms has been a hot topic because of different reasons. Browsing the web has given me an understanding that a subset of people are worried about the process. The reason for this being the impact that said organism may have on us once digested.
Seedless fruits are, however, not genetically modified organisms. Genetic engineering techniques have not been used to bring forth these properties. The plants carrying the seedless fruits have occurred naturally and been cultivated by humans.
Why Are Some Fruits Seedless?
No fruits are naturally seedless, but some fruits can naturally grow without seeds through developing without fertilization.
This is called parthenocarpy and it occurs in wild plants but is a process that is replicated by humans to cultivate seedless fruit.
Parthenocarpy is a natural mutation that shows up in fruit when the ovule, the structure that contains female reproductive cells, is not fertilized.
This is a process that can also be reproduced artificially through the use of plant hormones called gibberellin, auxin, and cytokinin.
When Are Seedless Fruits Used in Cooking?
Seedless fruits are perfect for cooking because the lack of seeds eliminates the worry of a surprising, bitter crunch sneaking into your delicious meal or dessert.
Seedless lemons are especially a game-changer for many recipes. The lack of seeds makes drizzling some lemon juice over freshly baked fish or squeezing some juice into a smoothie or drink so much less annoying.
Seedless orange slices can easily be cut up and thrown into a salad. They can also be juiced much more conveniently.
Bananas are a great seedless fruit to include in desserts because they have a smooth and soft texture when mashed and add a lot of sweetness and moisture to baked goods. They can famously be used to make banana bread or banana cream pie.
Seedless grapes can be used to make perfectly smooth jelly. They also make a really refreshing snack for the summer when they are frozen.
Grapes also make a lovely addition to a salad and the seedless variety is perfect for that purpose because you can just slice them in half and throw them into your salad.
Are Seedless Fruits Genetically Modified?
Not all seedless fruits are genetically modified but most are achieved through some form of human interference.
As mentioned before, cultivators will mimic the rare occurrence of parthenocarpy by propagating only plants that have not been fertilized.
However, some fruits, like tomatoes, are sprayed with hormones to ensure that they are seedless. This is not a very common process for fruit production and sale.
Most seedless fruits are modified through natural methods by breeding only the plants with natural parthenocarpy or fruits that have a low number of seeds.
The Pros and Cons Of Seedless Fruit
Seedless fruits are definitely more enjoyable and more convenient to eat on the go. Eating a watermelon slice, for example, is more pleasant when you don’t have to worry about spitting out the hard, bitter seeds so you don’t accidentally bite into them.
The texture of a seedless fruit is usually softer and smoother than a fruit with seeds so the experience of eating them is better. They also have a longer shelf life so they are able to stay fresh for longer.
On the other hand, seeds can help bring nutrients into a fruit, so when you are eating the seedless version of a fruit, you are likely missing out on some health benefits.
Seeds also add fiber which aids in digestion and stabilizing blood glucose levels.
The bigger con occurs when the fruit is modified through the use of hormones. Eating genetically modified foods can have adverse health effects.
The genetic modification of fruits can also have a negative impact on biodiversity.
The good news is that most of the seedless fruits that we see in stores are cultivated through natural methods because the seedless variant of those fruits already exists in nature, it’s just rare.
So while these fruits may be missing out on some benefits that seeds provide, they are in no way harmful to eat.