My 3-year-old and I were sharing our traditional mix of Christmas nuts. He's getting pretty good at cracking them open by himself, and wanted to know what the part he eats is called. Anyone have an authoritative answer?
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1Also see english.stackexchange.com/questions/32206/kernel-vs-core and english.stackexchange.com/questions/39578/… – Martha F. Jan 5 '12 at 15:56
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2The inner bit is the kernel, and it's surrounded by the shell. This is replicated in the Unix world by the user/admin using a "shell" program to communicate with the "kernel" (ie, the inner workings) – user3190797 Dec 2 '18 at 22:49
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I've always heard the "meat" of the nut, or "nutmeat". Alternate terms include "kernel" or "seed" or, well, "nut".
If you were to ask a botanist, the edible part is the embryo and the endosperm, though it varies depending on which type of seed you're referring to. Also, for a few seeds—not sure if any of them are called nuts—we eat the seed coat as well (e.g., beans).
answered Jan 5 '12 at 13:48
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Iv actually always known the inside of a peanut named the mouse, I don’t believe anybody that calls it a embryo. This part of the nut is definitely called a mouse.
