Here’s all you need to know about the shelf life and spoilage of broccoli. Learn how long broccoli lasts, how to store it, and how to tell if one is spoiled. Show
Broccoli heads are large, and we often don’t use a whole head for a single meal. Or even when we cook the whole thing, there are leftovers. That inevitably brings out the question: how long is broccoli good for? Or maybe your broccoli has been sitting in storage for a few days already, and you want to make sure you can safely eat it. That’s when you ask: when is broccoli bad? In this article, we cover all of that and more. Let’s jump right in. Broccoli florets, right before cookingTable of Contents
How Long Does Broccoli Last?
Fresh broccoli lasts 4 to 7 days in the fridge. If you cut it into florets, you can store them in an airtight container or freezer bag in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Cooked broccoli lasts 3 to 4 days as well. If those periods aren’t long enough, you can always freeze broccoli. (I cover freezing below.) The storage period for a whole broccoli head is only a rough estimate. There are a lot of factors involved, like how and for how long it was stored before you bought it. Plus, its overall quality matters too. For the broccoli to last the longest, choose the best one at the grocery store. Go for broccoli with firm, fresh-looking stems, and a deep green head. After CookingCooked broccoli lasts 3 to 4 days in an airtight container or a lidded pot in the fridge. Let it cool to about room temperature before storage, but keep the cooling period to two hours for safety purposes. That means cooking broccoli for the whole week ahead as a part of meal prep isn’t that great of an idea. To stay safe, you should freeze about half of your broccoli or split the cooking into two sessions. That said, freezing cooked broccoli works quite well, and the veggie itself doesn’t need any extra setup once it’s cooked. You can place it in an airtight container or freezer bag and chuck it in the freezer. Broccoli soupHow to Tell if Broccoli Is Bad?Discard broccoli if:
As always, the list above isn’t complete by any means. So if you notice anything odd about your broccoli head, err on the side of caution and discard it. Better safe than sorry. Broccoli cut into floretsTypically, what’s going to happen to a whole broccoli head stored for too long is that it will turn yellow or brown. And even though it’s still okay to eat at that point, I suggest you toss it because of the poor quality. Other spoilage options don’t occur nearly as often and depend highly on the circumstances. Does Broccoli Need to Be Refrigerated?Broccoli doesn’t require refrigeration, but without it, it’ll only last 2 to 3 days at room temperature before it turns all yellow. If you store it in the fridge, however, it will keep for 4 to 7 days. In other words, refrigeration extends the storage time for broccoli twofold, and that makes it a much better storage option than leaving it on the counter. (The same is true for cauliflower.) Whole broccoliHow to Store BroccoliThe best way to store fresh broccoli is to keep it chilled in the refrigerator. Once you get back from the grocery store, throw it into the fridge, and you’re good to go. Don’t wash the broccoli before storage. The extra moisture will promote mold growth, which you don’t want. Instead, wash it only when you are ready to use it. Cut broccoli belongs in the fridge too. Transfer the cut florets and stalks into an airtight container or freezer bag and then to the refrigerator. Please remember that cut broccoli ages faster than a whole head. That means the best option is to prepare the veggie in the morning or the night before, not three days before cooking. Finally, cooked broccoli. Cooked broccoli requires refrigeration, too. After cooking, let it cool for at least 15 – 20 minutes, so it’s not hot anymore. Ideally, you’d allow it to cool to about room temperature. Once it’s nice and cold, you can transfer the vegetable into an airtight container and then into the fridge. If you want to store the broccoli (no matter the form) for the long term, freeze it. Can You Freeze Broccoli?You can freeze both cooked and raw broccoli, depending on your needs. If you want to have some broccoli for soup or another cooked dish, freezing raw broccoli is the way to go. If you’d rather reheat the broccoli to eat it as a side dish, cook it before freezing it. Freezing Raw BroccoliYou can freeze raw broccoli by following these steps:
As you can see, freezing raw broccoli might be quite a hassle. Freezing Cooked BroccoliFreezing cooked one takes less time and doesn’t require any additional steps. You can do it this way:
That’s it. As you can see, the process is straightforward and doesn’t take much time at all. Pile of broccoli floretsDefrosting Frozen BroccoliHere’s how you defrost frozen broccoli?
Broccoli Shelf Life and Spoilage SummaryThank you for reading this guide on broccoli. Let’s briefly recap what we’ve covered above:
Can broccoli last 2 weeks?In general, you can expect raw broccoli to be fine for around one to two weeks if you put it in the refrigerator. It's not an awfully long time, so you'll need to find some other form of storage if you aren't likely to eat the broccoli fast. What is this? Something like cauliflower is likely to last much longer.
How long can you keep raw broccoli in the fridge?Both raw and cooked broccoli will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored properly. Blanched broccoli will last between 10 and 12 months in the freezer.
Can you eat broccoli after 7 days?A whole broccoli head can stay in the fridge from 7 to 10 days, depending on its condition before purchase. Cutting the florets will shorten this period to about three to five days. If you decide to cook broccoli and not use it all immediately, it is safe to store it in a fridge for 2 to 3 days.
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