What has a heart that does not beat?

How to think about it

1. Figurative hearts show up in many places: the heart of a city, the heart of a story, the heart of a vegetable.
2. The hint says it is a vegetable, which narrows the search a lot.
3. Think of a vegetable whose edible center is sold on its own in jars and on pizzas.
4. An artichoke has a tender heart that never beats.

Why “an artichoke” is the answer

The soft center of an artichoke, left after the leaves and fuzzy choke are removed, is called the artichoke heart. It is a core, not an organ, so it never beats. The riddle depends on the kitchen meaning of “heart”, and a lettuce heart or a head of celery would follow the same logic.

Common wrong answers

• A lettuce. A lettuce also has a heart, so this is a fair alternative; the hint about a vegetable usually leads people to the artichoke.
• A statue. A statue has no heart at all, beating or otherwise.