How to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower

If you’ve never tried dehydrating broccoli and cauliflower, you’re missing out on a healthy snack and a great way to extend the shelf life of these vegetables.

But how to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower?  There are a few dehydration methods that you can use. You can dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower in a food dehydrator, in the oven, and in the sun. In addition to drying broccoli and cauliflower florets, you can also dehydrate the stems of these vegetables. 

Read on to learn why you should dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower and how to do it right. You will also learn how to store dried bouquets and how to use them.

The benefits of eating broccoli and cauliflower

Broccoli and cauliflower are two of the most popular cruciferous vegetables. They are often compared to each other based on how similar they look. Both have clustered florets, although those of the broccoli are spreading.

Broccoli and cauliflower belong to the same Brassica family. And although they belong to different crop groups, these cruciferous vegetables have similar health benefits.

• Both are rich in fiber. Low in calories, broccoli and cauliflower are great sources of fiber. Incorporating them into your diet helps control blood sugar levels and promotes heart health. 
• Broccoli and cauliflower contain vitamins C, K, B1, B2, B6, and B9. Although broccoli is richer in all of these vitamins than cauliflower, especially when it comes to vitamin C and K, both are rich sources of these healthy organic compounds.
• These cruciferous vegetables are packed with various minerals. Among them, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and copper. 
• Broccoli and cauliflower are rich in antioxidants. The high antioxidant content of these vegetables makes them beneficial in reducing inflammation in the body, protecting cells, and protecting against certain types of cancer. 

Why should you dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower?

There is a common misconception that dried fruits and vegetables are not as healthy as their fresh counterparts.

The truth is that the only thing that fruits and vegetables lose during the dehydration process is water.  Dehydrated foods contain the same amount of nutrients as fresh ones.

And what is better, it preserves them for much longer, unlike fresh products, which deteriorate and reduce their nutrient content after a few days of refrigeration.

Broccoli and cauliflower do not have a long shelf life.  Fresh broccoli lasts 3-5 days and cauliflower up to a week in the fridge.

You can make them last longer by storing the bouquets in the freezer. But you don’t always have space in the cold room.

That’s why dehydrating broccoli and cauliflower is a great idea. You get the best of both worlds: a longer shelf life and the same amounts of nutrients as fresh produce.

How to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower

There are a few methods you can use to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower. Choose the dehydration method that suits you best based on the time you have and the effort you are willing to put into the process.

in the dehydrator

Dehydrating broccoli and cauliflower in the dehydrator is easy. Although it takes several hours, the process does not require assistance. You just have to spend time preparing the vegetables. The dehydrator will do the rest for you.

1. Start by washing the broccoli and cauliflower. Wash them under running water. You may need to scrub the cauliflower with a vegetable brush if it is very dirty. 
2. Cut out the corsages. Make sure you get even bunches of both vegetables. This will ensure even dehydration. 
3. As an additional preparation step, you can submerge the florets in salt water for 5-10 minutes. This will eliminate eggs and unwanted protein sources that may be hiding in the florets. Rinse the florets when you remove them from the salt water.
4. The next step is to blanch the vegetable. You can skip the blanching of the broccoli. But we recommend that you do, as it makes the green florets brighter and more brittle when dehydrated. Blanch the broccoli and cauliflower florets in boiling water for 5 minutes. 
5. After 5 minutes, remove the florets from the boiling water and immediately plunge them into cold water to stop the cooking process. 
6. Let the florets dry on kitchen paper. 
7. Once dry, place the broccoli florets on one dehydrator tray and the cauliflower florets on another. Don’t mix them, as these two vegetables may require slightly different dehydration times. Make sure the bouquets don’t overlap. 
8. Set the dehydrator to 140°F. Leave the broccoli and cauliflower florets in the dehydrator for 8-12 hours. Check the bouquets every four hours. Be sure to check one floret of broccoli and one floret of cauliflower at a time. 
9. Remove the florets from the dehydrator when they are dry and crisp like a potato chip. 

In the oven

You don’t need a dehydrator to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower. A normal oven is just as good for doing it. Here we explain how to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower in the oven.

1. Wash broccoli and cauliflower as described above and cut into even florets. 
2. Blanch the broccoli and cauliflower florets in boiling water for 5 minutes and cool instantly in a bowl filled with ice water. 
3. Let the florets dry on kitchen paper. 
4. Arrange the florets on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
5. Set oven to 140-150°F or Warm setting, if equipped. 
6. Leave the oven door open halfway to allow air to circulate. 
7. Allow the corsages to dry for about 12 hours, or until completely dry. If the pieces are larger, turn them halfway through the dehydration time.
8. Check the broccoli and cauliflower florets every 4 hours or more often, removing them when there is no moisture left on the florets. 

To the sun

If you don’t have a dehydrator and you don’t want to keep the oven busy for so many hours, there is another great option to dehydrate these healthy vegetables. You can dry them in the sun! And here’s how.

1. Wash the heads of broccoli and cauliflower and cut into uniform florets. 
2. Blanch the florets for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, transfer them to ice water to stop the cooking process. 
3. Let the florets dry on kitchen paper. 
4. Once dry, place the broccoli and cauliflower florets on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. You can also use a drying tray lined with a clean, dry cloth. Make sure the corsages are not crowded and there is space between them. 
5. Place the tray outside, in direct sunlight. Broccoli and cauliflower florets can take up to 5 days to dry out completely. Bring the trays inside at night or when it rains. 
6. Turn the florets from time to time to ensure they dry evenly. 
7. Collect and store dried bouquets in airtight containers when they are completely dry and no moisture remains on them. 

How to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower stems

Now you know how to dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower florets with different methods. But what should you do with the stems? Dehydrate them too!

Both broccoli and cauliflower stems are just as healthy and nutritious as florets . But because they are thicker and fatter, they don’t dehydrate well next to the delicate bouquets.

To dehydrate broccoli and cauliflower florets, first wash and blanch them. Next, cut them into bite-sized pieces and place them on the dehydrator tray. Dehydrate at 125°F for 8-12 hours or until stems are completely dry and crisp. 

Once completely dry, allow the dehydrated stems to cool before storing.

How long do dried broccoli and cauliflower keep?

As we have mentioned earlier in this article, the shelf life of fresh broccoli and cauliflower is only a few days.

Once dehydrated, these vegetables can last anywhere from 12 to 24 months. But this is so if you store them properly. 

Dried broccoli and cauliflower should be stored in airtight containers, making sure to tightly close the lid after each use. Store containers in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations.

The texture and flavor of dried vegetables will begin to deteriorate over time. But you have more than a year until that happens.

How to use dried broccoli and cauliflower

You can eat dried broccoli and cauliflower as is as part of your meal.  They’re also a great low-calorie, high-fiber snack for when you need something to keep you going until the next meal of the day. 

Dried broccoli and cauliflower can go straight into soups, stews, and casseroles. Contact with liquids will rehydrate dry florets and bring them back to life.