| Can bamboo shoots really be eaten? my 7 year | | | | Therefore it is important to make sure you have |
| old child asks, Yes I tentantively reply, but my | | | | a full understanding of the procedures involved in |
| knowledge is poor, so I research. Bamboo shoots | | | | cooking and preparing your shoots, this article is |
| can be eaten from certain bamboos, I learn that | | | | just an overview of the cooking procedures. |
| Bamboo shoots must be peeled and cooked | | | | Bamboo shoots have been eaten for many |
| before using. It is important to note that bamboo | | | | centuries and are great as a healthy substitute to |
| shoots must not be eaten raw. The first stage | | | | potatoes and other starchy foods and are ideal |
| after peelins is to trim the roots, peel the outer | | | | for weight watchers. An analysis of bamboo |
| leaves (sheath leaves), and remove any tough | | | | shows that it is a great source of vitamins and |
| flesh the young tender leaves can be left | | | | minerals as well as essential minerals like |
| attached. | | | | phosphorus, calcium that is need for healthy |
| The shoots should be cut across the grain into | | | | bones and teeth, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin |
| one-eighth inch slices. | | | | and vitamin c. The low calorific value of bamboo |
| The bamboo shoots should then be cooked in | | | | (which is approx 43 calories per 100g) is great for |
| boiling water in an uncovered pan for 20 minutes, | | | | people wanting to use it as part of their weight |
| it is important to leave the pan uncovered as this | | | | watching regime. |
| allows the compounds within the bamboo shoots, | | | | The bamboo shoots also contain enzymes like |
| that cause the bitter taste to dissipate into the air. | | | | nuclease, deamidase, proteolytic enzymes, |
| If there is any bitter taste to the shoots after | | | | amylase, amigdalin splitting and silicon splitting |
| cooking, boil them in fresh water for 5 more | | | | enzymes, which are useful in the digestion of |
| minutes. Bamboo shoots can also be microwaved, | | | | proteins within the body. |
| in an uncovered shallow pan of water for four | | | | There are may other uses for bamboo, the |
| minutes. Shoots will still be crisp and crunchy after | | | | leaves are useful in the treatment of stomach |
| cooking. If you have any bamboo receipes that | | | | upsets, in many parts of india, the leaves of the |
| you would like to share with us visit our forum at | | | | bamboo are used in the form of decoction to |
| | | | treat diarrohea, they are also useful in encouraging |
| In China and Japan, Phyllostachys heterocycla (also | | | | the efficiency of the stomach in the digestion of |
| known as Phyllostachys pubescens or P. edulis) is | | | | food. |
| the most popular source of bamboo shoots, but | | | | Other uses include the treatment of respiratory |
| some species require careful preparation as they | | | | diseases, menstrual disorders, intestinal worms, |
| release lethal quantities of cyanide when cut. | | | | wounds and ulcers. |