It’s one of our favorite signsof spring.
What Is Rhubarb?
Is It A Fruit Or Vegetable?
Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable that looks like red celery with large leaves.
(On the other hand, tomatoes, which we normally use as vegetables,are actually fruits.)
Supposedly, the USDA made fruit classification in 1947 because tariffs for importing fruits were cheaper than vegetables.
Credit:Antonis Achilleos Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Where Does Rhubarb Come From?
When Is Rhubarb Season?
What Does Rhubarb Taste Like?
When rhubarb is fresh, its crunchy, like celery.
And like celery, it softens as its cooked or baked.
However, that’s where the comparisons end.
Is Rhubarb Poisonous?
While death from rhubarb poisoning is rare, it can cause kidney failure.
If you have too much rhubarb, it can be frozen for later use.
Frozen rhubarb is commonly available in the freezer section at the grocery store.
It can even be mixed into no-churn ice cream.
It’s also used to makeAperol aperitifsandsimple syrupsfor cocktails.
If youre baking the rhubarb directly into a recipe, then we recommend thawing and draining it before use.
Our Favorite Rhubarb Recipes
Ready to start baking?
Try a few of our favorite rhubarb desserts:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service.Rhubarb Grades and Standards.
Reiley L.High stalks: Could rhubarb be New York states next big crop?Cornell Chronicle.
Published May 20, 2024.
Mahr S.Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum.
University of Wisconsin - Madison Division of Extension Horticulture.
Urban Programs Travis County.Rhubarb - Texas Style.
Published March 16, 2022.
The Ohio State University salsburey.4s Blog.
Published July 22, 2019.
Mayo Clinic Staff.Hyperoxaluria and oxalosis - Symptoms and causes.
Published May 11, 2023.
