artichoke - choke

[liv4fud]

have been eating artichokes only for a few years now and from what I gather the choke is the inedible part - i.e. it is to be discarded.

but I have noticed that mostly all the canned artichokes that we get in the market leave the choke intact. it might be obvious in this case due to the weight of the product.

but the thing that disturbs me is that eateries (like Baci) and restaurants that serve artichokes - in sandwiches and all - seem to be serving with the choke intact.

I haven't found an answer yet whether its ok to eat the choke or not. And if we consume - like I have - what potential harm could it cause?

[ricib]

I don't eat the "choke" part because for one, it's part of the Thistle or Sunflower family. Who wants to eat Thistles?

Here's a nice site with plenty of info on Artichokes.

Artichokes

[liv4fud]

I had seen the site before, but the problem is - that still doesn't answer my question.

you know all the semi-restaurants that serve artichoke salads or sandwiches put the canned ones tossed in herbs.
And as I mentioned they have the choke on.
I have eaten them and so far I am alive.

what I would like to know will be like eating the shell of the blue crab, is it ok to eat the choke of the artichoke

[Mezzaluna]

The choke of the canned artichokes is okay to eat, although you may not enjoy the texture. I usually cut it out if I'm making a dip or dish to serve to company, but I don't usually bother if it's just for myself. The artichokes are cooked and canned with citric or ascorbic acid added. Citric or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) would both tenderize the flesh and the choke and keep the vegetable from discoloring. I still pick over the canned ones pretty well because occasionally the outer leaves are tough and the bottoms fibrous.

Marinated ones in a jar or from a deli have lemon juice or vinegar (or both) added, so they're tender enough eat out of the jar.

With fresh artichokes (and I have one in the fridge I cooked last night), I always remove the choke. It's just not soft enough to be palatable. The artichoke is in the fridge because it was large and needed more time to cook than I had before dinnertime. I let it finish cooking, cooled it and put it in the fridge. I'll dip it in a wonderful lemon-tahini dressing I buy (Drew's) and enjoy it cold- without the choke!

[chrose]

Ever wonder what an Artichoke would look like if you let it grow?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23825407@N00/4542268/

[mudbug]

ricib,
Does that mean you eat the rest of the artichoke? Because if you do, you're still eating a "thistle". Who want's to eat them? Anyone who likes artichokes, millions of people around the world. Many countries eat the blanched stem of the Cardoon, also in the same botanical family.

liv4fud,
As Mezzaluna said, it's fine to eat canned artichoke chokes. They're not poisonous. Technically, you can eat them for sustenance. But the more mature they are, the tougher they are making them very unpleasant to chew and swallow. If you get baby artichokes, you can simply trim off the top cone of petals at the point where the yellow meets the green, cut off the stem level with the base. Quarter the remaining if desired. Cook as desired, and eat the whole thing.

chrose,
Always the gardener... they are beautiful, aren't they?

edited for spelling

[ricib]

hahaha, yeah mudbug, I guess you got me there. I do eat the rest of the edible parts of artichokes.



I plead hangover from the night before.