How Much Does an Eggplant Cost?

Last Updated on August 28, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Eggplant is considered a vegetable in modern cuisine, but, from a scientific point of view, it is actually a fruit! Its origin is believed to be India, where the eggplant grows in nature, without being cultivated by farmers.

It was introduced in Europe in the 14th century, and on the American continent 400 years later.

How Much Does an Eggplant Cost?

In general, eggplants are priced per pound, and their cost would be anywhere between $2 and $6 per pound. You can find different types of eggplants on the market and their cost varies depending on the quantity bought, size, variety, time of the year, whether there are any promotions/discounts held at the store, and whether they are organic or not. However, the price of most is within a few dollars per pound.

Regardless of the type or quality of the eggplant, you should not spend more than $5 a pound, according to reviews from members of the online forum Gardenweb. Also, the same members said on the website that the price of a tender Asian eggplant is around $3.5 a pound.

According to another forum thread, the cost of a Japanese eggplant is around $4.99 per lb., while for Italian eggplant, you will have to pay an average of $2.5 per lb.

Depending on the variety, you can purchase eggplants from most grocery shops for $2.5 to $5.5 a pound. For example, the price of the fresh white variety is $5 each, regardless of the weight, while the fresh purple variety is sold for around $2.5 one pound. One of the most expensive options is the fresh baby eggplant which is sold for almost $5.5 one pound.

Eggplant product information

In terms of appearance, there are several varieties of eggplant, and this is the reason why eggplant was initially used as a decoration for the garden. But we all know eggplant as a shiny vegetable, dark purple in color, about as long as a cucumber.

Eggplants have a special taste: it is not very strong, sometimes with bitter notes, for some similar to that of summer squash. The “older” it is, with more wrinkled skin, the more seeds the eggplant will have and the more bitter it will be. When cooked they will absorb the flavors of the other ingredients.

You might also like our articles on the cost of sweet potatoes, onions, and spaghetti squash.

Eggplant is rich in beneficial nutrients for you, vitamins, and minerals. Among them are vitamins C, K, and B6, magnesium, phosphorus, fiber, and potassium. Thus, eggplants help digestion and metabolism and can be a strong ally against anemia. On the cardiovascular system, the eggplant acts by maintaining the health of the arteries, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Eggplant varieties

Chinese eggplants

Chinese eggplants are long and thin, with light purple peel and white flesh. Because it has fewer seeds it is also less sour. They are usually served sliced and sautéed, with garlic sauce or sweet and sour sauce.

Japanese eggplant

This variety of eggplant is similar to the Chinese variety, except that they have a much darker peel. Their flesh is quite sweet. They are very good fried.

Globe/American Eggplant

American eggplants have very dark purple, almost black peel, and are quite small in size. They are very rich in protein, being perfect for grilling.

Italian eggplants

These eggplants are similar to American eggplants, but are slightly smaller and have sweeter, softer flesh. They can be used in any kind of recipe.

Indian eggplant

Indian eggplants have almost black peel and are very small. They are also called “baby” eggplants. They are used for curries.

Thai eggplant

Thai eggplants look more like small watermelons. They have many pips, which is why they are quite sour. They are cooked stuffed or in curry.

Eggplant “story”

This type of eggplant has a light purple peel with gradients to white. Their flesh is white and very sweet compared to other varieties. Because they are quite small, they are usually grilled.

Zebra/Sicilian eggplant

The name of the variety comes from the color of the peel: purple with white stripes. It is very thin and the pulp is without many pips. They are used for all kinds of dishes.

Rosa Bianca Eggplant

Rosa Bianca eggplants are one of the most bitter varieties. The peel is light purple in various tones to white. They can be used in any kind of preparation.

White eggplants

Although their peel is white, the flesh is not unlike that of purple eggplants. Researchers believe that, in fact, all eggplants were white, but over time, to protect themselves from insects, they changed their color.

Small green eggplants

Green eggplants have very creamy flesh. They can be used just like any other variety, for any kind of recipe.

Important things to consider

Eggplants are incredibly versatile so can be easily incorporated into your diet and added to your shopping list. As a piece of advice, eggplants can be baked, roasted, grilled, or sautéed and enjoyed with a drizzle of olive oil and some seasoning.

When picking out eggplants, look for ones with shiny, smooth skins that don’t have bruises or blemishes. They should feel heavy when you take them in your hand, and if you squeeze them a little you should feel that they are full.

Also, when picking the perfect eggplant for your recipe, try to choose vegetables that are smaller in size because they are generally sweeter, have thinner skins, more tender flesh, and have fewer seeds. However, if your eggplants are bigger or you want to avoid that sour taste, cut the eggplants into pieces, then sprinkle some salt on top. After a while, drain the liquid left by them and wash the salt off of them.

To check the degree of ripeness of the eggplant, press the side with your finger. If no trace remains, it means it is not ripe. If it dents but doesn’t recover within seconds, it’s overripe and you shouldn’t purchase it. If the dent recovers in 1-2 seconds, it’s perfect.

How to store eggplant?

Eggplants are quite perishable and do not last very long. A lot depends on how fresh they are when you buy them.

If they were picked that day, they would last in the fridge for about 7 days. The more days have passed since picking, the faster you have to cook them.

How can I save money?

In case you need to buy more than ten eggplants, take into consideration purchasing in bulk from a local farmer instead of buying from a grocery store. You may be able to buy eggplants that are sold in cases of 48 pieces from local farmers.

In general, farmer’s markets have the freshest and cheapest products compared to the local grocery stores. They may have them available both for delivery or pickup, depending on the distance. In case you don’t know where you can find a farmer’s market, you can search on Google, Facebook, or Yelp.