Are gourds edible?

Some gourds are edible, and some varieties are simply ornamental. Ornamental gourds are not poisonous, but they contain very little flesh and often taste bland or bitter, making them hard to eat.

The most prevalent gourds in the fall are purely ornamental, so it is advisable to check with a grocer before purchasing gourds to assess whether they are edible or not.

One edible gourd is called a bottle gourd, and it is often eaten in Morocco. One can prepare and eat the bottle gourd by first cutting off the narrow neck, peeling the skin and removing the seeds from the inside. The remaining flesh can then be chopped up and boiled or added to a stew.