Bitter melon is a nutrient-rich vegetable with many hypoglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. However, many people find its bitter taste unacceptable. Here are some suggestions to help you reduce the bitterness of bitter melons:

1. Shopping: Choose young bitter melons with smooth skin and bright colors, as they have a relatively mild bitter taste. Avoid buying old bitter melons with rough skin and dull color as they have a more bitter taste.

2. Remove seeds: The seeds and inner membrane of bitter melon are rich in bitter components, so be sure to cut the bitter melon open before cooking and scrape off the seeds and white inner membrane with a spoon.

3. Slice: Cut the bitter melon into thin slices or small pieces to increase the surface area in contact with the seasoning. This allows the seasoning to better penetrate into the bitter melon, further reducing the bitterness.

4. Soak in salt water: Soak the cut bitter melon in salt water for 15-20 minutes. Salt water can neutralize the bitter components in bitter melon, thereby reducing the bitterness. After soaking, rinse with clean water to remove excess salt.

5. Blanching: Before cooking, blanch the cut bitter melon in hot water for 1-2 minutes, then pour cold water into the cold river. This process can help remove some of the bitterness while retaining the taste and nutrients of bitter melon.

6. Matching seasonings: During the cooking process, use sweet, sour or salty seasonings, such as sugar, honey, vinegar, bean paste, etc., to balance the bitter taste of bitter melon. Pairing bitter melon with other ingredients, such as meat, tofu or seafood, can also lessen the bitterness.

7. Try different cooking methods: Choose appropriate cooking methods, such as stir-frying, stewing, boiling, steaming or roasting, to reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon. For example, bitter melon stuffed with meat, bitter melon braised pork ribs, and bitter melon scrambled eggs are all classic dishes that reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon.

8. Make drinks: Squeeze bitter melon into juice and then mix it with other juices or drinks, such as apple juice, orange juice or honey water, which can effectively reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon. At the same time, this practice makes it easier for you to absorb the nutrients of bitter melon.

9. Try new varieties: There are many different varieties of bitter melon on the market with varying degrees of bitterness. Trying some less bitter varieties, such as white bitter melon or Japanese bitter melon, may make the flavor more acceptable to you.

10. Adapt to the bitter taste: The bitter taste of bitter melon is good for the body, stimulating digestion, lowering blood sugar, etc. Try to get used to the bitter taste of bitter melon to enjoy the health benefits of this unique taste.

By using the tips above, you can effectively reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon and enjoy its rich nutritional benefits. As you cook, try different ingredient combinations and cooking methods to find what works best for your tastes. At the same time, gradually get used to the bitter taste of bitter melon to take full advantage of its health benefits.