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Who can deny the amazing flavor and benefits of broccoli? This versatile nutritious vegetable is used in many international delicious recipes. So, the best thing to enjoy broccoli safely is to get to know the best methods of how to store broccoli.
Vibrant Green Broccoli
Broccoli: A Lovely Vegetable!
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a nutrient-rich vegetable that has a large dark bright green floret head, arranged in a tree-like structure branching out from a thick light green stem.
It is a powerhouse food full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Broccoli is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
Broccoli is a lovely vegetable! It is eaten around the world as a side dish, appetizer, or snack. It is also used in cooking, where it can be added to soups, stews, and casseroles.
Broccoli enhances your health in a variety of ways. It reduces the risk of cancer and inflammation, improves blood sugar control, boosts immunity, and promotes heart health.
How to Know that Broccoli is Spoiled?
Get rid of spoiled broccoli since it is not safe for consumption inedible and may cause the risk of poisoning. To know if the broccoli has gone bad, monitor the following signs:
The Color: Fresh broccoli has a bright green color. One of the most important rotting signs you can easily remark is when the color of the florets turns yellow. Another visual sign is when brown spots and mold develop on the head of the broccoli.
The Texture: Fresh broccoli has a firm stalk with no cracks or dryness. When the stalk and florets become soft and slimy, then this is a sign that your broccoli is spoiled and you have to discard the rest of it.
The Smell: The smell is also another simple sign you can notice. Food is no longer good when it gives a bad smell. When the broccoli emits a strong odor or foul smell, then for sure it is inedible.
The Taste: Fresh broccoli has a typical earthy, herbaceous flavor. If you are still unsure whether or not your broccoli is edible, then cut a small nibble and taste it. Spoiled broccoli has an unpleasant bitter taste to the point that you cannot go past this bite.
Make a Broccoli Bouquet
This can be a surprising method but an effective one to maintain the freshness of the broccoli. As the name indicates, this way is similar to keeping a flower bouquet bright and lively.
Since broccoli is considered a flower, then place it in a small vase or jar contained with cold water to keep it fresh longer. This way of storing broccoli in the water requires simple steps!
All you have to do is to place the broccoli stem down into a bowl of water at the bottom. The head of the broccoli should be sticking out of the vase. For optimal freshness, cover the head loosely with plastic wrap with a few holes allowing the air to pass through.
Make sure to change out the water each day, and the broccoli will keep fresh for about five to seven days at room temperature. You can also keep your broccoli bouquet in the fridge for a week.
Broccoli in a Plastic Bag
If you don’t have enough time to check your broccoli regularly, then this simple method of storing is for you and only needs a plastic bag.
All you have to do is to poke a few holes in the plastic bag then pop the broccoli in it, seal the bag, and send it to the refrigerator.
If you don’t want to poke holes in the bag, you can simply keep it open in order to maintain the freshness of the broccoli.
This way is not appropriate for long-term storage since steam will gradually accumulate in the plastic bag which leads to rapid decomposition of the broccoli even though the existence of holes.
Incredibly Versatile Veggie
Store Broccoli by Wrapping
Another way to store broccoli is to wrap it with a damp paper towel.
Start by preparing a spray bottle filled with cold water and a paper towel. Then, spritz the broccoli florets by spraying it with cold water.
The final step is to wrap your broccoli loosely with a paper towel and keep it in the refrigerator. Don’t forget to check the broccoli regularly.
By choosing this method, you guarantee that your broccoli florets will be kept crisp, especially if you want to use them in about three days.
How to Store Broccoli in the Freezer?
If you are planning for long-term storage even for a year, then you have to freeze the broccoli. Don’t worry freezing broccoli is not a difficult process.
Start by cutting the broccoli florets and stalks into small pieces using a sharp knife.
Then, submerge the broccoli pieces in a large bowl of saline water for 15 minutes to dislodge any dirt or debris, rinse with clean water, and drain.
After that, boil broccoli pieces to blanch them for about three 3 minutes or until soft. Don’t skip the blanching step, it is an essential step to the freezing process.
Once done, use a tong to remove the blanched broccoli pieces and transfer them to a bowl of iced water for 5 minutes.
Now, drain the broccoli pieces with a colander and pat dry them with a towel. Then, line them on a tray sheet and freeze them until solid.
Finally, transfer solid broccoli pieces to a freezer bag and freeze them. You can divide them into portions using smaller freezer bags depending on the quantity you consume.
Freeze Broccoli Florets
Tips and Tricks
When purchasing raw broccoli, look for vibrant green broccoli with a firm stem with no yellow or brown spots.
Wash broccoli before cooking it in salty water for about 30 minutes.
Both the florets and the stems of broccoli are edible not only the floret part since the broccoli stalk has lots of vital nutrients which are good for human health.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not recommended to keep fresh broccoli at room temperature for a long time since it will go bad. However, it lasts fresh on the counter for two days.
As long as the broccoli has no spoilage signs, you can still enjoy it. However, its taste and texture are slightly different from the fresh ones.
Store cooked broccoli in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
Other Efficient Storage Tips and Tricks
- How To Store Celery
- How to Store Mint
- How To Store Spinach For One Month
- How to Store Lemon and Lime for 3 Months
- Best Way To Store Salad Greens
- The Best Way to Store Lettuce
- How to Clean & Store Veggies to Stay Fresh
- How to Store Strawberries
- Store Carrots In Water For Months Ahead!
How To Store Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 Broccoli
Instructions
Make a Broccoli Bouquet
- Place the broccoli stem down into a bowl of water at the bottom. The head of the broccoli should be sticking out of the vase.
- Cover the head loosely with plastic wrap with a few holes allowing the air to pass through.
- Change out the water each day, and the broccoli will keep fresh for about five to seven days.
Broccoli in a Plastic Bag
- Poke a few holes in the plastic bag.
- Pop the broccoli in it, seal the bag, and send it to the refrigerator.
Store Broccoli by Wrapping
- Prepare a spray bottle filled with cold water and a paper towel.
- Spritz the broccoli florets by spraying it with cold water.
- Wrap your broccoli loosely with a paper towel and keep it in the refrigerator. Don’t forget to check the broccoli regularly.
Store Broccoli in the Freezer
- Cut the broccoli florets and stalks into small pieces using a sharp knife.
- Submerge the broccoli pieces in a large bowl of saline water for 15 minutes to dislodge any dirt or debris, rinse with clean water, and drain.
- Boil broccoli pieces to blanch them for about three 3 minutes or until soft. Don’t skip the blanching step, it is an essential step to the freezing process.
- Use a tong to remove the blanched broccoli pieces and transfer them to a bowl of iced water for 5 minutes.
- Drain the broccoli pieces with a colander and pat dry them with a towel. Then, line them on a tray sheet and freeze them until solid.
- Transfer solid broccoli pieces to a freezer bag and freeze them.
Notes
- When purchasing raw broccoli, look for vibrant green broccoli with a firm stem with no yellow or brown spots.
- Wash broccoli before cooking it in salty water for about 30 minutes.
- Both the florets and the stems of broccoli are edible not only the floret part since the broccoli stalk has lots of vital nutrients which are good for human health.
