In this blog we are going to tell you about Difference between Pumpkin and Squash, so read this blog carefully to get the complete information.
The season of fall is not only beautiful but also several delicious fruits and vegetables grow during this season. It is considered that fall is dominated by the Cucurbitaceae family. There are several food items in the Cucurbitaceae family such as gourds, squash, pumpkin, and others. The Latin name for these food items is collectively called the Cucurbitaceae family. The two most common fruits of this family are Pumpkin and Squash. They both grow on vines. But due to similarities and belonging to the same family, people usually get confused between pumpkin and squash. So in this article, we will focus on what pumpkin and squash are and how they differ from each other.
What is Pumpkin?
Pumpkin is a very popular fruit that is orangish or yellowish. It usually grows in fall. Pumpkins are very famous during Halloween as people carved them into jack o’ lanterns. It is also used as a filling in Thanksgiving pies. Pumpkin is derived from a Greek word that means large melon. Its stem is stiff and its seeds are edible. It has various health benefits as it is rich in fatty acids and provides energy for body metabolism. It also provides essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals to the body and is low in calories and carbohydrates. It is used to make various delicacies like soups, desserts, salads, and many more. It is largely produced in China but is popular all around the world, especially in the United States.
What is Squash?
Squash is another popular fruit that also belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is quite similar to pumpkin. Squash is available in various shapes, sizes, and different colors. One of the notable things about squash is that there are many varieties of it. Some of the varieties include butternut squash, Hubbard, pattypan, Muscat, acorn, and others. These are just a few of them as squashes are available all around the world in different forms. Every country has its kind of Squash. So generally squash is commonly used for all such fruits. They are very healthy for the body and have various benefits for skin and hair. They contain essential vitamins and are also rich in magnesium and fiber. Additionally, the Omega content of Squash is very high and helps the body in many ways. Squashes are used to prepare various food items like soups, desserts, and others. It is largely popular and produced in the United States.
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Main Differences between Pumpkin and Squash
The following are the main differences between pumpkin and squash as mentioned below:
- The stems of pumpkin are strong and stiff whereas the stems of Squash are hollow and are not so stiff so can easily be twisted with the wind.
- Pumpkin can be consumed to reduce calories and carbohydrates in the body whereas Squash’s consumption helps add essential vitamins to the body.
- Pumpkins are potassium, vitamin A and E while squashes are rich in vitamin A, B6, magnesium, and fiber.
- Pumpkins are extensively produced in China whereas squashes are largely produced in the United States.
- Pumpkins are harvested in September and are available till November while squashes are harvested in winter and are available throughout the year.
- Pumpkins have low Omega content whereas squashes have high Omega content in them.
- Pumpkin seeds are rich in fatty acids while squash seeds are rich in protein and fiber.
Conclusion
Both pumpkin and squash are two common fruits that belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. But generally, squash is a term that refers to all such fruits belonging to the same family. So, you can say that pumpkin is a kind of Squash. Additionally, squashes are found in different varieties in different parts of the world. On the other hand, pumpkin is a variety of squash but is popular as pumpkin in different parts of the world. Pumpkins are widely popular because they are used on Halloween to make Jack O’lanterns. However, they both have various health benefits for the body and both are used in making soups and desserts. So we hope that this article was helpful and has cleared all your doubts related to the two terms.
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We Hope this blog is sufficient enough to provide the information about Difference between Pumpkin and Squash. Thanks for reading this blog.