Is a red bell pepper a fruit or a vegetable?

A red bell pepper is technically a fruit, but it is commonly used as a vegetable in culinary applications. The confusion around whether a red bell pepper is a fruit or a vegetable is due to the difference between the botanical and culinary definitions of the terms.

Botanically, a fruit is the mature ovary of a flowering plant, usually containing seeds. By this definition, a red bell pepper, along with other varieties of bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash, is classified as a fruit. On the other hand, in culinary terms, a vegetable is any edible part of a plant that is not classified as a fruit, such as roots, stems, and leaves. This is why red bell peppers are often considered as a vegetable in cooking.

In terms of nutrition, red bell peppers are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They are low in calories, high in fiber, and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium. Additionally, they are a good source of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that may help protect against chronic diseases.