Is the dandelion stem edible?

[sofasurfer]

Is the dandelion stem edible? The milky part?

[Ken]

All parts are edible. Even the roots.

[canid]

It won't taste any better thought

[Ken]

It won't taste any better thought

He didn't ask about the taste.

[hunter63]

I am beginning to realize that when some thing is 'edible' just means it won't kill ya, doesn't have anything to do with taste.

[GreatUsername]

I've heard that any part of a dandelion will taste "not bad, actually" if you fry it, or basically treat it the same way you would cook kale.

[sofasurfer]

I ate a dandelion flower...my first wildlife forage...and it was sweet. Just wondered if it was important to make sure the stem is not eaten with it. The stem is kinda gross to think about eating. Maybe I'll get drunk and try it.
Thanks.

[Ken]

I ate a dandelion flower...my first wildlife forage...and it was sweet. Just wondered if it was important to make sure the stem is not eaten with it. The stem is kinda gross to think about eating. Maybe I'll get drunk and try it.
Thanks.

Then why not try this!

Dandelion Wine Recipe

http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-...#axzz2TCecoRA3

[Rick]

It won't taste any better though.

It won't taste any worse either.

[greatgoogamooga]

I've heard that any part of a dandelion will taste "not bad, actually" if you fry it, or basically treat it the same way you would cook kale.

Or wrap it in bacon

Goog

[canid]

I found pickling to suit them sell.

[Dux]

Picked up the habit of chewing from the base of the stem to the flower by watching cottontails. Starts out slightly bitter then finishes on a nice note that way. Kind of noodle like when I boil the stems a while.

[LowKey]

I just eat the leaves. Boiled, Fried, or raw.
But only in the spring. Before they flower.
Too bitter otherwise.

[Dux]

I must have a high tolerance for bitter. I eat the leaves and stems raw and blanched all summer long.

[Dux]

Is the dandelion stem edible? The milky part?

Is your confusion because of the milk like sap? Milkweed (appropriately enough) is milky and edible just as dandelions are.

Remember the rhyme "leaves of three, let it be" about poison ivy? Jack in the pulpit, clovers, sorrels, etc, etc have three leaves and are edible.

IMHO there are many myths about the outdoors, especially wild edibles. I suspect that "in the olden days" there was a lot more mentoring and a whole lot less reading about such things.

[thefemalesurvivalist]

Is your confusion because of the milk like sap? Milkweed (appropriately enough) is milky and edible just as dandelions are.

Remember the rhyme "leaves of three, let it be" about poison ivy? Jack in the pulpit, clovers, sorrels, etc, etc have three leaves and are edible.

IMHO there are many myths about the outdoors, especially wild edibles. I suspect that "in the olden days" there was a lot more mentoring and a whole lot less reading about such things.

Good points, Dux, I agree we need more hands on from people who've been there, done that. I've decided other than shelf mushrooms, to avoid gathering mushrooms until an expert takes me out in the field for a real mushroom hunt.

this last week I hiked along the spring trail up in Colorado. Collected 6 edible plants, added them to my cooked spaghetti. Point being to get used to that wild taste. The fronds tasted like asparagus. The dandelion, grass, clover, and stinging nettle were all young and not bitter. The wild rose was sweet, a nice dessert by itself.

There were many plants along the trail I didn't know, so I left them alone for the time being.

[Rick]

It depends on where you pick dandelions too. I've found those that grow in shade to be less bitter than those that grow in the sun. Most plants require leaves before they can send up a flower stalk. Dandelions are an exception because they have a deep tap root where energy is stored they don't have to wait on food created by leaves to flower. Most dandelions will sprout leaves and flower stalk about the same time. So you have no guarantee that younger leaves will be bitter free.

The bitter is something called Sesquiterpenes found in the plant. the % of S goes up when the plant becomes dehydrated and/or is subjected to sunlight (the leaves will make S because of the sunlight). Since sunlight is not overbearing in the spring and plants tend to be more in wet or damp ground the plants are less bitter. Once the sun rises overhead in late spring and spring rains stop the sun dries the ground and turns on S. production in the leaves. So...find dandelions in the shade where the ground is still damp and you'll find dandelions that are less bitter overall.

[flatlander88]

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[crashdive123]

^^^Exactly why I like this site

And here I thought it was our charm and ruggedly handsome looks.

[flatlander88]

And here I thought it was our charm and ruggedly handsome looks.

I thought that went without saying.