Broccoli is a vegetable widely used in the kitchen and is its favorite one all the time. It is among the cabbage family.
Broccoli having large heads, and hence while cooking it, we don’t use heads. They are such a big one while cooking. There are always leftovers.
If you are a fitness freak, then you are very well familiar with broccoli,
Well, broccoli belongs to the cabbage family with large flower heads with green color. Broccoli was originated in Italy about 2000 years ago. Well, according to USDA Database entry.
How long does broccoli last?
Broccoli can last about three to five days in the fridge, no matter if it is cooked or raw. If you chop up one head of broccoli and store them all together then make sure that within two days they will be bad. so try to finish it up in two days.
As I mentioned in several articles, if there is food or vegetables, it will spoil one day. Still, some questions arise about broccoli, like if it needs to be refrigerated, How to store it after cooking, etc.
The good thing is that we will cover all this in the article, and if you are looking for the same, come one go ahead!
As usual, broccoli is a vegetable, so it contains 90% of water. So it will spoil if you keep it outside the fridge,
Also, Broccoli life will depend on the different factors such as whether it is cooked or uncooked, then it is whole or chopped, and where it is being stored. That’s the reason you have to be careful about its temperature and have to keep it in the fridge to retain its freshness.
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Fresh Whole Brocolli
Fresh whole broccoli will last up to a week in the fridge. However, its life may extend up to two weeks if it’s new and its condition. The reason for this is there’s no label with an expiration date on the broccoli as we can not predict when the broccoli has been harvested and when it’s kept in the vegetable store.
Cut Raw Brocolli
Cut raw broccoli will last for few hours if you keep them at room temperature. If you plan to use broccoli to prepare a meal, it’s best to chop them a day forehand.
Thus, if the room temperature is warm, you can see chopped raw broccoli last no longer than an hour.
Cooked Brocolli
Cooked broccoli will last in the fridge for 7 to 9 days. However, the cooked broccoli will last at room temperature for few hours.
Compared to other broccoli, cooked ones degrade fast whether you keep them in the fridge or at room temperature.
If you’re storing cooked broccoli at room temperature, you’ll want to consume it for an hour or so.
Any leftover should be stored in an airtight container or resealable bag and put in the fridge right away.
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How long does broccoli last in the fridge?
Broccoli will last till 7- 10 days in the fridge, considering it was fresh when we bought it from the vegetable store.
However, if you keep cut broccoli in the fridge, if there are leftover Broccolis from your cooking dish, it will last till 3 to 5 days.
Whereas it’s different from the above, if you keep cooked Broccolis in the fridge, it will last in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
There are different things you can prepare or cook from Broccolis like smoothies, Salads, or Dip. It would be best if you kept the Broccolis in the fridge. To avoid deterioration.
Also, if you have bought canned broccoli, check the expiry date on the can given by the manufacturer. It will be at least three months from the date of packaging.
Moreover, if there is broccoli with the whole head, it can last in the fridge from 7 to 8 days. It still depends on its condition before purchase. Whereas if you cut its florets, it will shorten the period to about three to five days.
If you have planned not to cook broccoli immediately, it would be safe in the fridge for 7 to 10 days. It would be best if you never kept it at room temperature for more than an hour or two because pathogenic bacteria can develop in it.
How to store broccoli?
You will find broccoli at the Grocery store or vegetable store always stored in the refrigerated area, which means it is essential to keep it in the refrigerator. Fresh broccoli you should always keep in the fridge. However, if you are going to cook broccoli immediately within an hour, it’s okay to keep them at room temperature. Or in the kitchen. Otherwise, you can keep them in the fridge till you use them.
Whereas when it is a matter of cooked broccoli, it should be stored in the fridge only. Before keeping them in the refrigerator, you should be careful that the curry should be cooled. It would be best if you put it in an airtight container or resealable bag. This way, if you keep them in the fridge, it will be away from the odor of other food from the refrigerator. If you are planning to cook, you take broccoli only the amount you need.
For frozen broccoli, it should always be stored in the freezer till you eat it. Frozen broccoli can degrade in quality if it’s frozen multiple times, so take out only the amount you need to use for cooking.
Can You Freeze Broccoli?
Yes, you can Freeze broccoli. If you follow the standard storing procedure mentioned in the above para and keep them in the freezer, they will last for up to 1 year. (amazing).
there are specific steps you should follow:-
- Cut: you should cut the broccoli first into florets.
- Blanch: you should Boil the florets for about three minutes. Immediately transfer to an ice water bath and let them sit for another three minutes.
- Dry: Next what you do thoroughly drain and dry the blanched broccoli. Remove all excess moisture with a paper towel.
- Store: Store broccoli in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 12 months.
Does broccoli go bad
As with other foods, broccoli to go wrong. to identify whether the broccoli has gone bad, you should check the following things:
- Color– When broccoli goes terrible, the first thing you’ll notice is the color. Good broccoli will be dark green, but bad broccoli will be bright green and yellow.
- Yellow broccoli is not a bad one; however, it changes its taste. And it is on the way to spoil. Therefore, you’ll want to throw them out once the florets are yellow.
- Smell- another is to check is the smell of the broccoli. Fresh broccoli will not have any scent. However, the bad will have a foul odor, so it’s best to throw the aroma out if you feel the smell is terrible.
- Texture– the last thing you should check is the texture of the broccoli. When broccoli goes bad, the stalks will become limp and soft.
Final thoughts-
There are many ways to keep your broccoli fresher for longer, but the best way is to store it properly. We’ve put together some tips that will help you get more use out of your broccoli. The best way to store broccoli is by keeping it in a plastic bag or container inside your refrigerator. If possible, try not to wash the broccoli until you are ready to use it.
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