Male and Female Peppers... What?

If you’ve been bopping around Pinterest and cooking blogs lately you might have seen the discussion around the gender of bell peppers. The idea that there are male and female peppers has been around for ages. The variety of colors, sizes and shapes has lead many people to try and determine the meaning of each difference and how one should use them in their cooking. Recently, the meme that has been passes around the internet states that female peppers have 4 bumps, are sweeter, and more full of seeds. The males are classified by 3 bumps and are better suited for cooking rather then consuming raw. It sounds like a quick and easy fact that any cook would know offhand. However, it is most definitely false.

Bell peppers are not separated by gender. In fact, like so many organisms in the plant world, bell peppers come from flowers that contain both sex organs and readily self-pollinate. Furthermore, while the flowers have no gender and are therefore hermaphroditic, it makes less sense that this would somehow result in gendered fruits.

Bell peppers are not separated by gender. In fact, like so many organisms in the plant world, bell peppers come from flowers that contain both sex organs and readily self-pollinate. Furthermore, while the flowers have no gender and are therefore hermaphroditic, it makes less sense that this would somehow result in gendered fruits.

Despite this fact, some still argue that classifying peppers in this way is helpful for cooks who need to pick the right peppers for their recipe or project. In other words, thought the gender might be a fallacy the difference in bumps still determines what is sweeter raw or better suited for cooking. However, this too has little evidence to back it up. The number of lobes is inconsequential on almost all fronts. The only truth to the meme might be that a four-lobed pepper contains more seeds. This is likely due only to the size of the pepper rather then anything with the deeper biology of the flower or fruit.

At the end of the day the way to a sweeter pepper has everything to do with the variety and the way it was grown. Depending on the type, the weather, the soil and the time spent one the vine one will have a sweeter pepper regardless of the lobes. In truth, the number of lobes is due only to the variety being grown. Their can be anywhere from 3 to 5 lobes. The 4 lobed-pepper is the most popular verity and commonly found in most produce sections.

It can be tempting to believe any simple food fact passed around the internet. If it sounds like it might make sense we often just believe it, especially if their is little consequence to doing so. Yet, knowing the truth will always be beneficial to any cook looking to improve their dishes. Rather then believe an old wive’s tale about gendered peppers, you’d be better off double checking where the pepper came from. A pepper grown in healthy conditions and proper harvested will always be sweeter.