Eatable and edible both relate to food, but they are not used in exactly the same way.
Eatable means something can be eaten. It does not say the food is tasty, pleasant, or high quality. In some contexts, it can even suggest that the food is barely acceptable. For example, The stew was eatable, but it needed more salt.
Edible means something is safe or fit for people to eat. This is the word you usually want when talking about whether a plant, flower, or ingredient is suitable for human consumption. For example, Not every mushroom in the forest is edible.
A simple way to remember the difference is this:
- Eatable: possible to eat
- Edible: safe and proper to eat
In everyday English, edible is much more common. If you are talking about safety, ingredients, or food use, it is usually the better choice. Use eatable when you want to stress that something can be eaten, even if it is not especially good.
