Is it possible to remove bitterness?

India
April 28, 2013 2:27am CST
Stuff like cucumber ridged gourd are used as fruit and vegetables. But at times they taste bitter; bitter gourd is bitter always. Usually to remove bitterness in cucumber the ends are cut as slice and rubbed over respective ends, soon you see white sticky substance there, now wash the ends and discard the end pieces with the sticky matter over it. [b]But this does not work always; I asked a farmer here; he said it depends upon the soil; once he has planted on 2 acre land all were found to be bitter. [/b] To lessen bitterness of bitter gourd soak them in salty water, while cooking add tamarind; it works. [b]But if one wants to eat bitter gourd, better to eat as bitter. What is your opinion? Do you eat ridged gourd, bitter gourd besides cucumber. Any tips to remove bitterness? Also ‘HOW TO REMOVE BITTERNESS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS’. Please respond comment.[/b] Thanks in advance. Professor Dr. Bhuwan Saraf. PhD. April 28. 2013. Cheers have a lucky day ahead [u][/u]
5 people like this
10 responses
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
28 Apr 13
dearest prof, I enjoy eating both. with bitter gourd, I prefer not to taste the bitterness. after cutting, it is usually soaked in salty water for a few minutes before getting it cooked. so it is not that bitter really. cucumbers here usually are very good, very seldom that I encounter bitterness. thank you for the tip on how to remove bitterness. will know what to do next time. have a nice day. ann
2 people like this
• India
28 Apr 13
The salty water absorbs the bitterness. Thanks for response.
@mimiang (3760)
• Philippines
28 Apr 13
Oh, bitter gourd is my favorite. My relatives cook it with eggs and tomatoes. I love it with rice, and I also love its leaves for the ginger soup.We call it ampalaya. I havev no idea on how to rem,ove the bitter taste but I love it just as it is
1 person likes this
@mimiang (3760)
• Philippines
2 May 13
@Professor2010 I thank you for telling me. Now I know what to do and can do it on my own. God bless your good heart
• India
30 Apr 13
Hello The bitter gourd should be soaked in salt with water and let it stay for a minute and then wash again.Try this
@vandana7 (99020)
• India
29 Apr 13
Dad is diabetic, but he does not like bitter gourd. He brought a bitter gourd jamun syrup but he has not opened it, and trust me it wont be consumed. I also think we are psychologically trained to believe that whatever is bitter has to be good. May be that is why we are happy enough taking all those allopathic medicines and even go to the extent of washing our hair with soap nuts...which can leave some bitter taste in mouth if you are careless enough to let it enter. lol Seriously, one aunt (former neighbor) boils it in sour buttermilk after soaking it for an hour or so with salt ...they dont use salt water instead they use a lot of salt and squeeze out the water from the vegetable after doing that..and then boil it in sour buttermilk..before ...frying it...weird I feel...all vitamins must be leaving so what is the big deal..lol
1 person likes this
• India
30 Apr 13
Vandy Thanks for details, yes it needs kind of mindset. Once we boil and drain out the water all essential salts are gone. Karela tastes good if cooked with Tamarind, yogurt bitter milk etc, i mean some sour thing.
@kourdapya (924)
• Philippines
29 Apr 13
I'm fine with bitter gourd and cucumber being bitter, that's how they are. They are nutritious and that's what matters to me. My mother can cook bitter gourd and removed its bitterness real good. But I wonder if the nutrients are still there. The cooking process seemed to reduce most of it. Meanwhile, to avoid having bitterness with family members, I guess it depends on a person's willingness to forgive. It's not easy I know but that's the beginning to repair a broken relationship with anyone. Forgiveness with oneself is really important.
1 person likes this
• India
30 Apr 13
lol boiling will remove most of the useful things Yeah to avoid bitterness in family is not that easy, takes much effort.
• Philippines
29 Apr 13
After chopping them, I rub them with salt and let it stand for a while. Most of the time, it does the trick, but some gourd are still bitter no matter what you do. Anyway, I like them bitter or not.
1 person likes this
• India
30 Apr 13
Thanks for response, the salt has some reaction with the chemicals that produces bitterness probably
@srisahara (4508)
• Indonesia
29 Apr 13
Yes prof, i often found cucumber with bitterness. But I still love it. In my country, most of cucumber is not bitter, we just find it in the end and over all is okay. Yes, most of people love the vegetable because of its advantage for our body and our beauty. Have a nice day.
• India
30 Apr 13
Most are not bitter here too, well it probably comes from the soil
@aabuda (1722)
• Philippines
28 Apr 13
I liked eating bitter vegetables. I think they are rich in vitamins and minerals so why bother ourselves of taking out their bitterness when in fact they are rich in vitamins and minerals? I think it is different with bitterness in the family, because I think if we truly loved one another, we can actually take out all the bitterness in our hearts and lived happily without hatred in our hearts.
1 person likes this
• India
30 Apr 13
Many vomit after eating bitter stuff, hence removal is a must. About bitterness in family i appreciate your views.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
28 Apr 13
Yes, we do the same thing with bitter gourd. We soak it in salty water. But I heard some that we just don't have to stir it that much when cooking so as not to become bitter but I'm not sure about that. I would do the traditional method that I know. Have a great day!
1 person likes this
• India
30 Apr 13
Better cut in to slices and after removing the bitterness, you fry with minimum oil on non-stick pan, lol it tastes great
@kokomo (1867)
• Philippines
28 Apr 13
Yeah, you are right Sir. I knew it already and its proven. The bitter gourd should soak into salt with water and let it stay for a minute and then wash again. From the time that you will taste it after you already put it in the pot and serve it then the bitterness is surprisingly disappeared.
1 person likes this
• India
28 Apr 13
Thanks for response. lol looks like magic.
@joizee (502)
• Philippines
28 Apr 13
Hi Professor, I do eat bitter gourd or bitter melon and the Filipino name for it is "ampalaya". I do know the salty water method and it's the only way I know how to lessen the bitterness. It really doesn't remove the bitterness, any kind of method isn't effective much. Unless, I think, if you would remove all the outside that would permanently remove the bitterness because you wouldn't have anything to eat anymore. Haha! The bitterness is in the hard part of the vegetable and the flesh with seeds should be taken out because it's inedible. We best cook bitter melon sauted in garlic, onions and a little egg. Or mixed with other veggies cooked in little water with fish brine. Thanks professor! :)
• India
28 Apr 13
hi joi So it is also known as bitter melon, i learn many things here; this is the charm of mylot.