Don Silvers

Male or female, which is sweeter? If we've talking people, the jury's still out. But if we're talking eggplant, the male win hands down--they've got fewer bitter seeds. So to end up with better eggplant dishes, start out with male eggplants. Granted, a good male is hard to fine, but Lidia Bastianich knows how...and she's telling. To determine the gender of eggplants, look at the bottom of the vegetable where the flower was once attached. The male eggplant has a well-rounded bottom with a smooth, even stem area. The female has a narrow bottom with an elliptical, deeply indented stem area.