Have you ever looked at a picture puzzle online and thought the answer was obvious, only to discover a surprising twist? An image showing nine common kitchen foods asks: “How many fruits are in this post?” Most people quickly count the strawberry, banana, pineapple, mango, and orange and answer five. However, the real answer is nine because every item shown is scientifically classified as a fruit.

The confusion comes from the difference between science and everyday cooking. Botanists define a fruit as the seed-bearing part of a plant that develops from a flower’s ovary. In the kitchen, we usually call sweet foods “fruits” and savory foods “vegetables.” That is why foods like bell peppers, eggplants, zucchini, and tomatoes often surprise people.

A bell pepper is a fruit because it grows from a flower and contains seeds. Eggplants are also fruits and are even considered a type of berry in botany. Zucchini develops from the flower of the plant and carries seeds, making it a fruit as well. Tomatoes are another famous example—although they are often treated as vegetables in cooking, science clearly identifies them as fruits.

Even familiar fruits have fascinating secrets. Bananas are technically berries, strawberries are accessory fruits with their true fruits on the outside, and pineapples are actually made from multiple smaller fruits joined together. Nature is full of surprises, and the next time you cook with tomatoes, peppers, or zucchini, remember that your meal might secretly be a fruit feast!