How to know if broccoli is bad - The definitive guide

Broccoli is a healthy and nutritious vegetable that is part of the cruciferous, or cabbage, family. As nutritious and healthy as broccoli is, it is a perishable food and should be eaten while it is fresh.

To make sure you get the most out of your broccoli and don’t eat it when it’s bad, you need to be able to tell when it’s past its expiration date.

How to know if broccoli is bad?  The best way to tell if broccoli is bad is to look for signs of spoilage. It could be a discoloration of the broccoli, a wilting or even mold. You can also test to see if you detect any unpleasant odors, which is another sign that the broccoli has gone bad.

Read on to find out more about how to tell if broccoli is bad, how long broccoli usually lasts, and some practical tips for keeping it.

Signs that broccoli is bad

There are a few signs that may indicate that your broccoli has gone bad. The broccoli may be starting to go bad and may only show some signs of spoilage, so it’s worth looking for all of them to be sure.

Here’s what to look for to know if your broccoli has gone bad:

Firmness

One of the first signs that broccoli has gone bad is if the broccoli stem is soft. The broccoli stem, when fresh, is firm and strong.

If it starts to soften, it indicates that the broccoli is starting to go bad, or has already done so.

Color

Fresh broccoli has beautiful dark green florets with a bright, light green stem that holds it all together. This dark green color, along with the bright green stem, shows that the broccoli is fresh and edible.

However, when the broccoli begins to go bad, these colors change. The tips of the broccoli florets, which should be dark green, are beginning to turn yellow or light brown.

If you notice this, your broccoli has or has already gone bad, depending on the intensity of the discoloration.

signs of mold

If you see any signs of mold on your broccoli, that’s a sure sign that it’s gone bad. Take a good look around the broccoli to make sure there is no hidden mold.

Mold will present as fuzzy white spots on broccoli florets, or black spots along the bright green stem.

Some people choose to cut off a few small mold spots and continue eating the broccoli if the mold hasn’t spread too far, but this is up to you.

It’s safest to avoid eating broccoli if it’s moldy, as it could be hiding among the florets.

Smell

The broccoli should smell fresh, with a little earth. If you notice that the broccoli gives off an unpleasant or bitter smell, it is better not to eat it, as it is a sign that it has gone bad.

Although broccoli doesn’t always smell the best, it will still smell fresh when it’s ready to eat, and you should be able to tell if the smell is bad because the broccoli is starting to go bad.

If you can’t use the scent on its own, look for some of the other signs mentioned above.

Why you shouldn’t eat broccoli that has gone bad

It is never advisable to eat food that has gone bad, or that has begun to go bad. It is always better to eat fresh food, especially when it comes to vegetables.

When broccoli starts to go bad, it loses many of its health benefits. In broccoli there are incredible vitamins, minerals, folic acid and fiber.

The more broccoli spoils, the more these wonderful health benefits are lost, and for most of us, the health benefits are what make broccoli so appealing!

The other problem with eating food that goes bad is that you risk getting poisoned or sick from the broccoli bacteria.

As the broccoli spoils, there will be more growth of bacteria, and consuming these bacteria could lead to foodborne illness.

Mold on spoiled broccoli can also make you considerably sick , so it’s best to check for it before you eat the broccoli.

Broccoli that has gone bad also doesn’t taste appetizing, so there’s no reason to munch on broccoli that’s past its expiration date.

How to preserve broccoli

Broccoli keeps well and stays fresh longer if stored properly.

Knowing how to properly store broccoli will ensure that you get the most out of it before it starts to go bad, or hopefully doesn’t even start to go bad before you can use it!

It is best to store broccoli in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.

You should avoid cutting the florets or washing the head of the broccoli before putting it in the fridge to store it. This should only be done when you are going to cook or eat the broccoli.

Broccoli is one of the few vegetables that can do with a bit of moisture.

If you wrap the broccoli head in a damp paper towel and leave it in an open plastic bag (in the fridge with some circulation), it should keep a little longer.

Avoid leaving the broccoli out at room temperature, as it will go bad much faster.

If you have bought broccoli already prepared and cut into florets, you can leave it in the container, or in a resealable plastic bag, and keep it in the fridge for up to three days.

Once the broccoli is cooked, it can be left in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Can broccoli be frozen?

For when you know you won’t be using the broccoli you bought in the short term, you can freeze it to keep it longer.

Broccoli should be blanched before being frozen , as this stops enzymatic processes that could ruin the nutrients or the broccoli’s flavor or texture.

If you don’t blanch the broccoli before freezing it, it will likely be quite soft when thawed and not taste as expected.

To blanch the broccoli, you must cut it into individual florets and place them in boiling water for 5 minutes.

After the 5 minutes are up, remove the broccoli from the boiling water, drain immediately, and place in an ice bath . This prevents the broccoli from further cooking.

Broccoli will keep its beautiful green color, stay crisp, and retain its amazing nutrients while frozen.

Make sure the broccoli is dry before placing it in a plastic freezer container and squeezing out as much air as possible before sealing and labeling.

Be sure to label the container with the freeze date, as broccoli is best used within 6 months of freezing. After that time, it will be edible, but the nutrient content, flavor, and texture will begin to diminish.

How to choose fresh broccoli in the store?

Choosing the freshest broccoli in the store helps ensure you get broccoli that lasts longer before going bad.

Look for a broccoli that has a head with tightly packed florets that is bluish-green to dark green in color. Do not choose a broccoli that has sparse heads or separate clumps, and leaves that are yellowed or dry.

The broccoli stems and peduncle should be firm and bright green , not limp or mushy. Nor should there be bad odors from the broccoli.

The fresher the broccoli, the better.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to tell if broccoli has gone bad or not, let’s look at some related questions!

Can you eat broccoli that has turned yellow?

Broccoli that has turned slightly yellow can be eaten . It’s a sign that he’s on his way to getting sick, not that he already is.

You just have to check that the broccoli stem is still firm and that there is no mold on the stem or florets . It is also convenient to check that the broccoli does not have a bad smell.

Be sure to wash the broccoli well before using it, and you can even cut off some of the yellow parts of the broccoli if there are still any dark green parts left.

What does it mean when broccoli turns purple?

You may be surprised that your previously green head of broccoli has turned bluish-purple.

This is actually completely fine and is due to the release of anthocyanin , which is a natural bluish-purple pigment.

You can eat broccoli that has started to turn purple, as long as there are no signs that it has gone bad.