Kitchen Quicktip®: Bell Peppers

Do you know how to get the best value for your money when buying bell peppers?  Momma G taught Miss Ginger years ago, and now she's gonna teach you!

Her secret? Look for the boys! And how do you tell a boy bell pepper from a girl bell pepper?  Same way you would tell with any animal- turn it over!  The boys have 3 distinct divisions, like the peppers in the top of this photo, while the girls have 4, like the pepper beneath.

Why does it make a difference?  Because the boys have a lot more "meat", the green part on the outside that you actually use, vs. the girls, which have a lot more internal "reproductive organs" on the inside that you end up throwing away!  

See?  The girl on the left has lots of seeds and internal structure to throw away, while the boy on the right yields much more edible pepper.  Pound for pound, you'll get more for your dollar if you buy only boys!

Are they really boys and girls, or was Momma G just pulling my leg? May some botanist out there can set the record straight, but you gotta admit: Momma's story sure makes it easy to remember which peppers to buy!