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