Plus, how to freeze broccoli.
Broccoli is a notoriously difficult vegetable to store. Here’s how to make the most of your broccoli for as long as you can:
How Long Does Broccoli Last?
Broccoli Florets Getty 4/29/20
Credit: azpworldwide/Getty Images
azpworldwide/Getty Images
Properly stored, broccoli lasts about three to five days in the fridge—whether it’s cooked or raw. Raw chopped broccoli, though, will probably go bad in about two days (so eat up!).
Two Ways to Store Broccoli
You may be inclined to keep broccoli in an airtight bag in the fridge. Don’t do that. While the refrigerator is definitely the best place to store broccoli, this vegetable thrives when it can breathe. Here are two of our favorite ways to store broccoli:
The Paper Towel Method
Forgo the plastic bag and loosely wrap your broccoli in a damp paper towel before storing it in the refrigerator. This provides a healthy and moist (but breathable) environment for your broccoli. Make sure not to wash the broccoli beforehand, as too much moisture might encourage mold growth. Instead, thoroughly wash it right before you use it. Stored this way, it’ll stay fresh for three to five days.
The Bouquet Method
Treat your fresh broccoli like a beautiful bouquet of flowers: Put them in a vase!
To do this, all you need to do is fill a jar or glass with a few inches of water. Put the broccoli (stem down) into the glass, making sure the ends are submerged. The bushy head should peek out over the top. Store in the fridge for three to five days. Change the water daily.
Can You Freeze Broccoli?
Boiling Broccoli Getty 4/29/20
Credit: Linda Long / EyeEm/Getty Images
Linda Long / EyeEm/Getty Images
Yes! You can freeze broccoli for up to 12 months. Here’s how:
- Cut: Cut the broccoli head into smaller florets.
- Blanch: Boil the florets for about three minutes. Immediately transfer to an ice water bath and let them sit for another three minutes.
- Dry: Next, 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.
By Regan Burns Cafiso for Food Network Kitchen Broccoli is a great vegetable to keep on hand. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, it's a versatile veggie that can enhance most any meal. And with proper storage, a head of broccoli can last for a week or longer — so you can stock up confidently without worrying about food waste. Perfect as a
side dish or in a stir-fry, soup or
casserole, this cruciferous powerhouse will work in all kinds of meals. Look for a head of broccoli with firm, dark-green crowns of tightly-closed buds. The stalks should be green and fresh-looking with no browning or yellowing. Check out the stem end—it should look like it was cut recently
and not shriveled or dried out. At the tips, a small amount of yellow flowering is ok if the rest of the florets look vibrant, green and fresh (after all, broccoli is actually a flower!) but avoid wilted-looking florets with lots of yellowing, which is a sign that the broccoli is past its prime. Mushy spots and/or a rotten smell also indicate a less-than-fresh bunch. Broccoli is a hardy, cool-weather vegetable, so
it feels right at home in your cold refrigerator. In fact, it is usually packed on ice all the way to the market shelves. What it doesn't like, however, is excessive moisture, a tight wrapping or dry refrigerator air. Therefore, you must prep and store it correctly. Like most fruits and vegetables (notably bananas), broccoli releases ethylene gas as
it sits. If you store your broccoli in a tightly sealed bag, the ethylene will be trapped and will hasten the breakdown of the vegetable. But leaving it unwrapped exposes your broccoli to dry refrigerator air, which will quickly make it wilted and limp. So let it "breathe" by keeping it loosely wrapped in an unsealed plastic bag. If your bunch is wet from the supermarket mist, dry it off
as much as you can before storing. You can even wrap the entire head in a layer of paper towels to help wick away the excess water before bagging it. Stash the broccoli in a cold part of your refrigerator — like the crisper drawer — preferably away from fruits and that produce excessive ethylene gas like apples. If there's no room in the crisper, store it on a shelf near the back of the fridge. Properly wrapped, your broccoli can last up to a week in the fridge and maybe
even a few days longer. But if you overbought or just can't use it up in time, you can also freeze broccoli to enjoy whenever you like. This recipe for melting blanched broccoli spread is ideal for past-its-prime broccoli if you haven't freezed it in
time.How to Choose Broccoli
How to Store Broccoli Properly