As the name implies, bitter melon really is very bitter, a taste most of us don’t like. But if you see some in your local grocery store, be sure to buy one. Bitter melon is known for its anti-diabetic properties and has long been used as a natural treatment for diabetes.

This vegetable is very effective in controlling blood sugar levels, but if you can’t get past its bitterness, you should know that there is a way to get rid of its bad aftertaste. Once it’s gone, you can enjoy the medicinal benefits of bitter melon and incorporate this vegetable in most of your cooking.

#1 – Peel Off the Skin

Before peeling off the bitter melon’s skin, give it a good washing. Once done, peel its skin off, especially its rugged surface. Cut both ends of the bitter melon, too.

Of note, you can also leave the skin as is, if you want. Some people prefer eating bitter melon this way.

#2 – Scrape the Seeds and Cut Into Smaller Pieces

Cut the bitter melon in two, and with a spoon, scrape off the big seeds. Once all the seeds have been removed, cut the bitter melon into smaller pieces.

#3 – Rub with Salt

To get rid of the bitterness, you will need lots of salt. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt on the cut pieces and rub the slices with it. See to it that the salt covers all the sides of the slices since the salt will draw out the bitterness from the vegetable.

Place the salted bitter melon in a colander and set it aside for about half an hour to remove the bitterness. The holes will prevent the juice from pooling up on the colander’s bottom.

#4 – Squeeze and Wash

After about 30 minutes, squeeze the juice out under clean, running water to wash the salt from the bitter melon.

You now have a bitter melon that’s a lot less bitter, which you can add to your cooking.

If the vegetable’s bitterness is what’s stopping you from benefiting from it, just follow these simple steps.