Are Carnations Edible? How to Prepare Carnation Petals

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) flower petals are edible, sweet with a mild flavor of nutmeg and clove. Some people describe the taste as peppery and slightly tangy. Carnation stems are inedible.

Since the seventeenth century, liquor makers have distilled carnation petals to use in the French liqueur chartreuse. You can sauté or candy carnation petals and use them as a garnish for various dishes and desserts, including soups, cupcakes, sorbets, and ice creams.

The carnation flowers at garden centers and in bouquets at florist shops have likely been treated with pesticides and herbicides that make them unsafe for consumption. Look instead for a specialty grower who specifically designates their plants as edible flowers.

The carnation petals are the only part of the plant suitable for eating. Before using edible carnations in cooking, cut the petals away from the white base of the flower and discard the stamen and sepals. Wash the petals in cool water and pat them dry with paper towels.

Here are a few ways to incorporate carnation petals into your cooking:

1. 1. Add the petals to salads. Once you’ve prepared carnation petals, you can add them to a salad of chopped butter lettuce, arugula, thinly sliced fennel, mandarin slices, and dried cranberries. Cooks also often add edible carnations to the bases of aspics (savory gelatins) before chilling the dishes.
2. 2. Garnish ice creams. Candied or plain carnation flowers add visual interest to frozen dairy desserts, such as ice creams and sorbets. Simply sprinkle the petals on top and enjoy.
3. 3. Make candy carnation petals. Candied flower petals add sweetness and vibrant color to pastries, desserts, syrups, and jellies. To candy the petals, use a pastry brush to add a whisked egg white, then sprinkle the petals with superfine confectioners’ sugar. Allow them to dry on a sheet of parchment paper.
4. 4. Mix the petals with other edible flowers. When adorning baked goods or garnishing a plate, mix carnation petals with rose petals and the edible portions of borage, anise, bachelor’s button, coriander, chicory, honeysuckle, marigolds, nasturtiums, snapdragons, dandelions, lilacs, hibiscus, pansies, and violets.

Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.

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