Ten edible flowers and how to use them

Flowers can turn meals positively magical. From drinking out of tulip cups to to scattering flower petals in Wildflower Pound Cake to tossing brightly colored nasturtium petals in a salad, they can take an ordinary dish and make it extraordinary.

There are plenty of flowers that are edible, but you need to be sure that even edible flowers are safe to eat and haven't been sprayed with pesticides. We grow as many edible flowers as we can in our organic garden so we know for sure that they're safe to eat. Be sure to read the notes at the end of the list for other safety tips.

Here are ten types of flowers that are edible and how to use them. All of these are suitable for growing in zone 4 Minnesota gardens and much of the rest of the country.

Rose petals

Rose petals are commonly used in jellies, for flavoring extracts and honeys, and finely chopped in baked goods like cakes and cookies. For best taste, remove the white bitter end of the petals.

Nasturtium flowers

These brightly colored annual flowers generally come in shades of orange, yellow and red. They make a gorgeous addition to salads and lend a peppery taste. They can also be used to make beautiful flavored vinegars, soups and garnishes. The seed pods can be used to make nasturtium capers and the flowers can be stuffed with fillings.

Tulips

Tulip flowers make sweet little cups for kids to drink out of or to fill with mousse or other sweet desserts. They can also be stuffed with savory fillings like tuna or egg salad for festive lunches. Although they are edible, tulips are typically used as a container (such as a cup) and not eaten themselves. Note: Some people are allergic to tulips. If touching the petals causes any reaction such as rash or tingling, don't eat them. Also note that the bulbs are poisonous.

Zucchini flowers

These large, yellow-orange blossoms are commonly found in farmers markets. They can be cut into strips and stirred into omelets, stuffed with a ricotta mixture and batter fried, or used in salads or stir fries.

Chive blossoms

The pretty purple, pink or white flowers at the ends of chives and onions make a zesty addition to salads. The petals can also be wonderful in omelets, as garnishes for soups and in stir fries.

Daylilies

Daylilies have a mild flavor similar to lettuce, zucchini or asparagus. They can be used as garnishes on cakes, stuffed or added to salads.

Lavender

Lavender flowers can be used to flavor ice cream, lemonade, scones, sugar, butter, cakes, cookies and even oatmeal. The stems can be added to your grill when grilling foods to lend a smoky, lavender taste to grilled foods.

Pansies, violas and violets

These are all classic flowers for making crystallized flowers. They are also lovely garnishes on cakes and cupcakes.

Herb flowers

The flowers from herbs such as borage, oregano and thyme taste similar to the herbs themselves. These can be sprinkled on dishes or used in cooking similarly to the leaves.

Dandelions

Dandelion blossoms are generally plentiful and make wonderful additions to many dishes. They can be battered and fried, stirred into corn muffins, used for dandelion wine and much more. See For the Love of Dandelions for suggestions for cooking and crafting with dandelions and Ten More Dandelion Recipes to Make with Kids for a wide variety of creative ways to cook with these cheerful flowers.

Important notes:

Remember to only eat flowers that you know were grown organically.

Be sure you are 100% certain about your flower variety.

Use caution eating flowers if you have allergies, asthma or hay fever.

Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating or stuffing. Eat only the petals.

Edible flowers each have their own unique tastes (even between varieties). If you're not sure of an edible flower's taste, nibble it before cooking with it.

Some flowers, such as marigolds, are perfectly edible but are not always tasty. These can make pretty garnishes that can be removed before eating.

Some flowers, such as lavender, are edible but have a very strong flavor. Use these very lightly.

Many flowers wilt or brown very quickly. For best results, pick them or purchase them right before use.

Some flowers are poisonous. Only cook and garnish with flowers that you have confirmed are edible.

For an extensive list of edible flowers and their attributes, see this chart.

Where to find edible flowers:

The best way to find organic edible flowers it to grow your own, organically. Most florists sell pesticide-treated flowers, so these are not suitable for cooking. Farmers Markets often sell edible flowers, especially zucchini blossoms. Also see if organic gardening friends are growing any varieties you're anxious to sample.

Want to try cooking with some edible flowers? I'm featuring a variety of recipes for each of these flowers in this column all month.

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Also see:

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