Energy
middle half41 kcalthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 45 kcal
- Middle 50%
- 31–62 kcal
Based on 122 records reporting energy.
Vegetablesmoderate variability
Bitter melon, cooked calories: 27 per 65 g
This exact USDA record reports 27 calories for 65 g. That answer belongs to this description and weight; it is not a universal value for every meal that shares the name.
Quick facts
USDA reference amount · 65 g
- Calories
- 27 kcal
- Protein
- 0.5 g
- Carbohydrate
- 2.7 g
- Total fat
- 1.8 g
- Fiber
- 1.2 g
- Sodium
- 83 mg
Portion calculator
Estimate your portion
Choose a source measure or enter the weight you ate.
Estimated for 65 g
27calories
Bitter melon, cooked
- Protein
- 0.5 g
- Carbs
- 2.7 g
- Fat
- 1.8 g
— means the source has no value available.
These values scale the selected reference food by weight. Ingredients, preparation, and portion size can change your meal’s estimate.
Nutrition facts, household measures, preparation notes and USDA sources
The editorial read
The useful answer has a weight, a composition, and an identity
Portion: the cited record reports about 27 calories for USDA reference amount at 65 grams. On a fixed-weight basis, the same record contains 41 calories per 100 grams. The first number answers a portion question; the second answers a concentration question.
Composition: that source amount also reports 0.5 g protein, 1.2 g fiber, and 83 mg sodium. Read those values together: a calorie total by itself cannot describe the nutrient profile.
Identity: the largest listed formulation input is balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, representing 96.8% of the record’s listed input weight. The record contains 3 source-input rows in all. These are provenance for a standardized calculation, not a recipe for your plate.
The reference amount and 1 cup answer different portion questions. Their values are scaled independently from the same per-100-gram source record.
The household measures attached to this record span roughly 27–53 calories across the listed portions. That is a set of scaled examples—not a confidence interval, a recommendation, or a claim about the full universe of recipes.
Calculated from the smallest and largest usable household measures listed by USDA for this exact FNDDS record; not a confidence interval.
Record-specific decision brief
What the numbers say—and what choice still belongs to you
This analysis belongs to USDA FDC 2709878: “Bitter melon, cooked.” It separates gram-weight arithmetic, corpus context, label signals, and record selection so one number does not have to answer four different questions.
01 · Portion arithmetic
Three weights, one fixed composition
For FDC 2709878, each row multiplies the published per-100-gram values by its stated weight. “USDA reference amount” through “1 cup” are weight scenarios: named measures come from USDA, while percentage labels are transparent arithmetic.
| Scenario | Weight | Energy | Protein | Fiber | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDA reference amountExact record reference weight | 65 g | 27 kcal | 0.5 g | 1.2 g | 83 mg |
| 1 wholeUSDA-listed household measure | 120 g | 49 kcal | 1 g | 2.3 g | 152 mg |
| 1 cupUSDA-listed household measure | 130 g | 53 kcal | 1.1 g | 2.5 g | 165 mg |
02 · Fixed-weight context
Where 100 grams sits inside Other vegetables and combinations
The comparison set contains 122 exact records in the Other vegetables and combinations USDA category. Here, “middle half” describes FDC 2709878’s energy position in that corpus—not nutritional quality, desirability, or a health rating.
Protein
lower quarter0.8 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 1.9 g
- Middle 50%
- 1.2–2.8 g
Based on 122 records reporting protein.
Dietary fiber
middle half1.9 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 2.3 g
- Middle 50%
- 1.7–3.1 g
Based on 122 records reporting dietary fiber.
Sodium
middle half127 mgthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 135 mg
- Middle 50%
- 102–165 mg
Based on 122 records reporting sodium.
03 · FDA label lens
The strongest strength-side and tradeoff-side signals
At FDC 2709878’s 65 g reference weight, the largest strength-side percentage among the nutrients evaluated here is Vitamin C; the larger tradeoff-side percentage is Sodium. Percentages use FDA label Daily Values, whose general “high” guide begins at 20% Daily Value. This is not an overall score or a personalized target.
Strength-side signals
Vitamin C21 mg
≈ 23% DV. This crosses the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Tradeoff-side signals
Sodium83 mg
≈ 4% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Saturated fat0.4 g
≈ 2% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
04 · Highest-impact checks
The three levers most worth resolving first
For “Bitter melon, cooked,” the first-pass checks follow the evidence actually published: its named weights, the FDC 2710004 alternative, and its source-formulation identity.
- 01
Listed portion span: 1 whole to 1 cup
USDA assigns those measures 120 g and 130 g. At this record’s fixed composition, scaled energy moves from 49 kcal to 53 kcal.
- 02
Record choice: compare with FDC 2710004
At an equal 100 g, this record has 0.9 g more dietary fiber than “Winter melon, cooked.” That is a record-level contrast; it does not identify which ingredient caused the difference.
- 03
Formulation anchor: Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
The source formulation has 3 input rows; Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt supplies 96.8% of listed input weight. Those are standardized formulation inputs, not final plated percentages.
05 · Exact-record choice
Select by literal evidence, not the shortest name
Keep this record when “cooked” fits. Inspect FDC 2710004 when “cooked” is the more literal description of the food and preparation.
Keep this profile when these fields fit
Bitter melon, cooked
- Exact source wording
- “Bitter melon, cooked”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2709878 · FNDDS 75208310
- Named qualifiers
- cooked
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
Inspect this alternative when its fields fit better
Winter melon, cooked
- Exact source wording
- “Winter melon, cooked”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2710004 · FNDDS 75235750
- Named qualifiers
- cooked
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Waxgourd, (chinese preserving melon), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
Choose the closest description
Which USDA record fits your meal?
Treat the long description as data. The phrases doing the most work here are “cooked”. Match those details first; then compare the database weight with the amount you mean.
On smaller screens, focus a nutrition table and scroll horizontally to read every column.
| Exact record | Source serving | Calories / 100 g | Protein / 100 g | Fat / 100 g | Fiber / 100 g | Sodium / 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This recordBitter melon, cooked | 65 g27 kcal | 41 kcal | 0.8 g | 2.7 g | 1.9 g | 127 mg |
| Winter melon, cooked | 88 g32 kcal | 36 kcal | 0.4 g | 2.7 g | 1 g | 225 mg |
| Bamboo shoots, cooked | 78 g32 kcal | 41 kcal | 1.7 g | 2.9 g | 1.4 g | 15 mg |
| Asparagus, fresh, cooked with butter or margarine | 93 g39 kcal | 42 kcal | 2.3 g | 2.5 g | 2.2 g | 141 mg |
How to compare FDC 2709878: its source amount is 65 g; every 100-gram column removes portion size from the record-to-record comparison. Neither denominator determines your plate’s weight or recipe.
Household measures
Compare listed portions
For FDC 2709878, the 2 displayed measures scale the same source composition by gram weight; rounding changes presentation, not the underlying ratio.
1 cup
53 kcal
130 g
1 whole
49 kcal
120 g
At a glance
Nutrient signals in the source amount
For FDC 2709878, Vitamin C is the largest displayed non-protein Daily Value signal. Read the set as label context—not a personalized score.
Vitamin C
20.7 mg≈ 23% Daily ValueDietary fiber
1.2 g≈ 4% Daily ValuePotassium
200.9 mg≈ 4% Daily ValueThe percentages above apply to FDC 2709878’s 65 g reference amount. FDA Daily Values are general label references, not individualized energy or medical targets. Read the FDA explanation ↗
Nutrition facts
Compare the source serving with 100 grams
Values are rounded for readability. The source serving is 65 g.
| Nutrient | Amount | Approx. % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 27 kcal 41 kcal | Not established Not established |
| Protein | 0.5 g 0.8 g | Not shown Not shown |
| Carbohydrate | 2.7 g 4.2 g | 1% 2% |
| Total fat | 1.8 g 2.7 g | 2% 3% |
| Dietary fiber | 1.2 g 1.9 g | 4% 7% |
| Sugars | 1.2 g 1.9 g | Not established Not established |
| Sodium | 82.6 mg 127 mg | 4% 6% |
| Saturated fat | 0.4 g 0.7 g | 2% 3% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.6 g 0.9 g | Not established Not established |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5 g 0.8 g | Not established Not established |
| Cholesterol | 1.3 mg 2 mg | 0% 1% |
| Potassium | 200.9 mg 309 mg | 4% 7% |
| Calcium | 5.9 mg 9 mg | 0% 1% |
| Iron | 0.2 mg 0.4 mg | 1% 2% |
| Magnesium | 10.4 mg 16 mg | 2% 4% |
| Vitamin C | 20.7 mg 31.9 mg | 23% 35% |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg 0 µg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin A | 11.1 µg 17 µg | 1% 2% |
| Caffeine | 0 mg 0 mg | Not established Not established |
| Alcohol | 0 g 0 g | Not established Not established |
| Water | 59.3 g 91.3 g | Not established Not established |
For FDC 2709878, approximate percentages divide the displayed 65 g amount by FDA label Daily Values; they are not personalized targets. “Not established” means FDA sets no Daily Value for that row. Protein %DV remains unshown because adult-label use depends on regulatory context.
Inside the source record
Source formulation behind this USDA record
USDA links FDC 2709878 to 3 source inputs totaling 103.3 g in its standardized formulation. Publishing that exact provenance makes “Bitter melon, cooked” inspectable beside similarly named records.
How to read this
3 listed components
The largest listed inputs by source weight are Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, Oil or table fat, NFS, Salt, table. The order and weights below come from the standardized USDA formulation, so they offer context for this exact database entry.
103.3 g total listed input weight across the formulation.
| # | USDA input | Listed amount | Input weight | Share of listed input weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without saltUSDA ingredient 11025 | 100 GM | 100 g | 96.8% |
| 2 | Oil or table fat, NFSUSDA ingredient 81200100 · encyclopedia page available | 3 GM | 3 g | 2.9% |
| 3 | Salt, tableUSDA ingredient 2047 · encyclopedia page available | 0.3 GM | 0.3 g | 0.3% |
USDA shorthand in this evidence
- NFS means “not further specified.” The record intentionally leaves the exact subtype, size, or preparation unresolved.
Exact-record context
What makes this USDA record distinct?
For FDC 2709878, the close-record rule searches the USDA “Other vegetables and combinations” category for shared description terms or source inputs. Any surviving pair is compared per 100 grams, so unlike source-serving sizes cannot manufacture the nutrient difference.
This record
Bitter melon, cooked
- USDA category
- Other vegetables and combinations
- FDC ID
- 2709878
- FNDDS code
- 75208310
Closest inspectable record
Winter melon, cooked
- USDA category
- Other vegetables and combinations
- FDC ID
- 2710004
- FNDDS code
- 75235750
| Nutrient | This record | Comparison record | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 41 kcal | 36 kcal | +5 kcal |
| Protein | 0.8 g | 0.4 g | +0.4 g |
| Carbohydrate | 4.2 g | 3 g | +1.2 g |
| Total fat | 2.7 g | 2.7 g | −0 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1.9 g | 1 g | +0.9 g |
| Sodium | 127 mg | 225 mg | −98 mg |
Plain-English read
At the fixed 100-gram basis, this record lists 0.9 g more dietary fiber and 98 mg less sodium than “Winter melon, cooked.”
Only this record lists Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt. Only the comparison record lists Waxgourd, (chinese preserving melon), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt. Those formulation rows identify different source records; they do not prove which input caused a nutrient difference.
2 of the six displayed differences clear the documented materiality screen. It is a reading aid, not a health rating.
Formulation evidence
The listed formulations differ
The formulation rows differ, but the source data do not isolate which component caused any nutrient difference. Input weights describe the standardized formulation—not final plated proportions.
Shared listed inputs: Oil or table fat, NFS; Salt, table.
Listed only in this record: Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
Listed only in the comparison: Waxgourd, (chinese preserving melon), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
Portion evidence
The listed portion sets differ
This record’s reference amount is 65 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (130 g).
The comparison record’s reference amount is 88 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (175 g).
Use the 100-gram row to compare FDC 2709878 with FDC 2710004 at equal mass; use their 65 g and 88 g source amounts only for portion matching.
Evidence boundary: FDC 2709878 versus FDC 2710004 is a comparison of standardized source records—not a measurement of your meal, an overall food-quality rank, or proof that one input caused a difference.
Review the full other vegetables and combinations source category → Read the calculation and selection methodology →
From record to familiar meal
Guides that use this exact USDA record
These 1 guide place “Bitter melon, cooked” beside explicitly linked source records; use them to compare preparations without turning FDC 2709878 into a universal recipe.
Uncertainty, made actionable
What can change this estimate?
This is a standardized USDA survey-food profile, not a measurement of every preparation. Actual nutrition can change with portion size, raw versus cooked weight, cooking method, added fat or sauce.
For “Bitter melon, cooked,” resolve portion size first, then move through the remaining 3 published levers. Unknowns should remain visible rather than expanding every assumption at once.
- 01
portion size
When composition is held constant, nutrient totals scale directly with grams. A 20% weight correction produces the same 20% correction to the scaled totals.
- 02
raw versus cooked weight
Match the food state before matching the number. Cooking, draining, or added liquid can change grams and concentration even when the food name barely changes.
- 03
cooking method
Match the method named by the source—such as baked, fried, boiled, or grilled—before scaling. Preparation can change both water content and the ingredients retained in the finished food.
- 04
added fat or sauce
Match the named cooking-fat state when possible. Fat used, retained, or left behind is preparation information that a dish name alone cannot recover.
How we estimated this
The arithmetic is simple; the provenance is the point
FDC 2709878 comes from FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS). Its 41 kcal per 100 g becomes 27 kcal at 65 g through nutrient per portion = nutrient per 100 g × portion grams ÷ 100; this page adds no second nutrition estimate.
About the serving label: USDA describes the underlying survey portion as “Quantity not specified.” We display it as a USDA reference amount because it is a database comparison point—not a suggested portion or a claim about what most people should eat.
Data cycle: 2021–2023, published October 31, 2024
FoodData Central ID: 2709878
FNDDS food code: 75208310
The scaling for FDC 2709878 can be exact while the match to “Bitter melon, cooked” is wrong. That is why this profile keeps its 65 g weight, 3-row source formulation, and selection uncertainty beside the arithmetic.
Source release October 31, 2024. Review USDA’s data-type documentation ↗ · Read Feast’s full nutrition methodology.