Talk:Chayote

The taxonomy given for chayote states that the family cucurbitaceae is in the order violales, which is incorrect. The order is cucurbitales. 20 Nov 2009 [klondikers@AOL.com]98.116.91.38 (talk) 01:59, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

Ready to Eat?

I bought a chayote, firm and green. The temp in the fridge will kill it, so if kept outside the fridge, how long before it should be cooked? What should it look and feel like when it is ripe? Thank you. elizabeth [e-mail address - deleted 2007]

Chayote do not 'ripen' per se, Similarly to many other vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots, they simply grow to full size and then age. If it is large firm and green then it is ready to eat. As far as I know it can be safely stored in the fridge. For more info see the external link Gourmet Sleuth --Sonelle 28 June 2005 12:39 (UTC)

In my experience, the Choko pear flesh needs careful handling as the juice will eat into your skin. In Australia, we traditionally prepare them under water for cooking. I can't imagine what eating it raw might do to you if you didn't add lime juice or something similar! Perhaps we have a slightly different variety here. (Slightly perplexed) 210.50.143.21 (talk) 02:35, 13 November 2009 (UTC) Ian Ison

American (Mexican) chayote juice won't really "eat" into your skin, but it will dry it if you don't wash your hands during and after handling the vegetable. The juice can damage the skin but washing your hands them and using hand cream is enough to reverse the effects. Eating them raw is deffinetly not recommended for this variety either. As for the main question of refrigerating them, you can stash them at the bottom of your fridge and forget about them, they won't go bad for quite a long time, but if see brown spots, it's gone bad, do not use.

Alternate Uses

I have heard quite a lot of speculation in Australia (Queensland to be specific) that the Choko (as it is know there)is the main ingredient used in Mcdonalds Apple Pie's,or whatever they are called. (obviously instead of Apple) Another varaint I have heard is that they are used in Cherry Ripes (a chocalate bar, like Mars Bar or Hershey Bar) which seems to be native of only Australia and possibly New Zealand.

Anyone heard this or is this just Urban Myth? --195.171.131.152 13:19, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

Medicinal uses have been pharmacologicaly tested

See page 29 of http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/pdf/355.pdf for references. Sonelle [[User_talk:Sonelle|(talk)]] 11:09, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

Alternate names

The subheading needs to be changed. Alternate means "every second one". The term should be "alternative", not "alternate". Alpheus (talk) 11:22, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

Not when used as a noun; the adjectival use is "every second one". As a noun, it can mean an "alternative" (check Wiktionary). If you're gonna get picky about grammar, at least get picky! 207.216.57.226 (talk) 06:06, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

Polishing

I changed alternate to alternative as was suggested by Alpheus above me. Additionally, I noticed this in the article and removed it: "Although most people are familiar only with the fruit, which in culinary terms is a fruit, the root, stem, seeds, and leaves are all edible." This states, pretty much, "people are familiar with the fruit which is a fruit," so I removed it. If this is intended, add it back. b0lt (talk) 05:44, 16 May 2008 (UTC)