For many children, “eat your broccoli” sounds more like a threat than an invitation. But for a growing number of adults — at least, if we can take advantage of the growing access to broccoli recipes in the archives — it’s a real treat to take this familiar advice seriously.
Whenever or how you get your hands on this delicious, versatile cruciferous vegetable, it’s best to start with fresh, green broccoli (instead of the pathetic, wilted broccoli you might find in a crisper, but it’s a week late). To help you maximize the shelf life of your broccoli, we asked our test kitchen to share their secrets on how to store broccoli.
How to Pick Broccoli
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica) is a winter vegetable of United States. The peak season for broccoli is from October to April, although most supermarkets have whole bunches of broccoli and bagged chilled or frozen broccoli all year round. Many grocery stores now also have broccoli rice for sale, which can be eaten like cauliflower rice.
Broccoli belongs to the cruciferous vegetable family and belongs to the same family as cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and roman cauliflower. Broccoli is very similar to the latter two, and like cauliflower and roman cauliflower, broccoli is edible in both stems and flower bulbs.
When choosing fresh broccoli, look for broccoli with hard stems, tight buds, and dark green color.
How to Store Broccoli
When considering how to store broccoli, it’s helpful to remember that you have several options. You can keep it in the freezer, freeze it as the vegetable itself, or add it to a recipe to freeze. Once you think you might not be able to finish your fresh broccoli when it’s at its best, consider following the freezing instructions below as soon as possible. (Every day you procrastinate will reduce the quality and nutrition of your vegetables.) ）
How to Store Broccoli in the Refrigerator
Place fresh broccoli in a package or container for air circulation and keep it in the refrigerator. Produce bags from the original store are fine, as long as they are not tightly tied or sealed.
Broccoli is one of several agricultural products that are sensitive to ethylene gas, which is naturally released by some fruits and vegetables, including apples, avocados, pears, and peppers, and can speed up the ripening process of any sensitive produce in the vicinity. Given this situation, it’s best to store broccoli in a crisper drawer, away from other fruits and vegetables.
If you buy broccoli florets, place them in a sales bag (if the bag is sealed) or transfer them to a loosely covered food storage container. Keep an eye on the florets, as they tend to decay a little faster than the whole flower bulb.
If stored properly, fresh broccoli can last for about 5 to 7 days in the fridge (depending on how long you take it home).
How to Store Broccoli in the Freezer
If you don’t believe you can eat all the cauliflower in a week, keep it on ice.
Broccoli tastes great when frozen and can be used in casseroles, stir-fries, quiches and omelettes, Italy pasta, soups and stews, or even eaten straight after cooking.
Frozen broccoli:
- Using a chef’s knife, trim about 1 inch from the base of the stem. Discard or compost the portion as it is usually dry. Remove the leaves or crust from the stem, then cut the top of the stem to separate the flower bulbs. Cut the stems into 1-inch pieces (or the size and shape you want) and cut the broccoli heads into individual flower bulbs.
- Place the chopped broccoli in a colander and rinse under cold water. Gently stir the broccoli with your hands, making sure each piece is rinsed well.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, then boil the cleaned broccoli for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, pour two-thirds of the ice water into a large bowl.
- Use a colander to transfer the broccoli to a bowl of ice water and allow it to cool completely.
- Dry the broccoli slices thoroughly with a paper towel or salad dehydrator.
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper, spread a layer of blanched broccoli.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours or until completely frozen, then transfer the frozen broccoli to a zippered freezer storage bag. Squeeze out as much excess air as possible, seal it, and label it with the name and date.
- Freezer for 6 to 8 months.
If you choose frozen broccoli, you don’t need to thaw it before use. You can take the broccoli straight from the freezer and add it to your cooked broccoli recipe. Avoid using frozen broccoli in raw food recipes, such as salads or platters of raw vegetables.
How to Tell if Broccoli Has Gone Bad
Frozen broccoli doesn’t actually go bad, but after 8 to 12 months, it will be more prone to ice crystals and frostbite.
The following characteristics indicate that fresh broccoli is beginning to spoil:
- stench
- Soft stems or florets
- Dark peduncle or florets
- Too much moisture
- The stems are wrinkled
- Dried cauliflower
If you notice any potential signs of spoilage, discard or compost the remainders.