It is better to wash off purchased physalis
First of all: not every physalis is edible. “Physalis” is actually just the generic name for a group of nightshade plants, some of which are poisonous and some of which are really tasty. However, the Andean berries are typically sold under the name “Physalis” in the supermarket. Some of these are also known under the name “Cape gooseberry”. Fruits available in the supermarket mostly come from South America (especially Colombia) or South Africa, depending on the season. There the berries are grown commercially using pesticides. For this reason, you should always wash the physalis you have bought, even if, according to information from the Ökotest Foundation, the pesticide contamination of the popular soft fruit has not yet been noticeable.Incidentally, the sticky, oily layer is typical of the Andean berries and does not indicate any pesticide residues.
also read
- Physalis are in season all year round
- When can I finally harvest delicious physalis?
- Hibernate physalis properly
Wash physalis properly
- Carefully remove the dry lantern cover.
- If necessary, you can cut them off at the fruit base with nail scissors.
- Now rinse the fruit thoroughly under warm running water.
- If you want to wash off a lot of berries, simply put them in a colander without a cover and rinse them in it.
Even harvested physalis do not have to be washed
In contrast to purchased fruits, however, you do not necessarily have to wash Andean berries from your own garden. The berries have a more or less pronounced, sticky layer. This is not poisonous and can be eaten without hesitation. However, this layer can taste slightly bitter, which some people don't like. In this case, washing up is advisable. Otherwise you can eat your physalis directly from the bush without hesitation - only the shell should be removed before consumption.
How do you recognize ripe physalis?
You can eat the sticky layer of the physalis, but it is better to leave green Andean berries hanging on the bush. The fruits belong to the nightshade family and are therefore poisonous when green. However, the berries are fully ripe and therefore edible when they have a rich orange-red color and the shell surrounding them looks brown and dry. Incidentally, the fruits of the Chinese lantern flower, which is also native to Germany, are not edible.
Tips & Tricks
The South American tomatillo also belongs to the physalis family. The green fruit is traditionally processed as a vegetable and forms the basis for any decent Mexican salsa.
