Edible Flowers 101

Edible Flowers for Beginners:

• Do not eat flowers if you have hay fever, asthma or allergies.
• Do not eat flowers obtained from a florist, nursery or garden center. Do not eat flowers growing on the side of the road.
• With the widespread use of pesticides by commercial growers, purchase edible flowers from a supplier who grows them specifically for consumption. Due to their popularity, many grocery stores & gourmet markets now sell edible flowers. It is most ideal to grow them yourself, so you know they are completely pesticide-free.
• If you decide to grow your own flowers to eat, be certain you know your flowers since not all are edible. Some are poisonous.
• Pick flowers on the day you are planning to use them. It is best to pick them in the morning or late afternoon when the water content is high.
• To maintain maximum freshness, keep flowers cool after harvest. Store your flowers, whole, in a container of water and place them in the refrigerator until you need to use them. Blooms and short-stemmed flowers can be kept fresh by laying them between layers of dampened paper-towel.
• Before use, wash flowers thoroughly in salt water. Perk them up by dropping them into a bowl of ice water for 30-60 seconds; then drain on paper towels. Remove all the green parts, stems and leaves, and any white 'heels' on petals since these parts can often be bitter.
• Petals can be stored for a day in a plastic bag in the refrigerator - but, ideally, you should use them within a few hours.
• Introduce flowers into your diet one at a time in small quantities.