In general, any vegetable is considered to be the rich with various amounts of nutrients packed inside. And every single veggie comes with the long list of benefits that you can gain when consuming them. Of course, nothing is different with the broccoli. This fantastic green vegetable comes with the distinctive taste and a load of nutrient power – vitamins B, C, E, K, folic acid, iron, calcium and so on. In other words, no matter if you are on a diet or eating regularly - no dish could be without the broccoli – you really can mix it with everything. But, for how long does the broccoli last – well, about that we are going to talk about today.
Brief info about the broccoli
Blooming broccoli in the garden
First off, the broccoli is rich in vitamin C, and the main benefit that you will get is that your body will gain enough calcium so that the organism could fight with the common cold. Also, it prevents developing of the eye problems which would be the cataract for example. And if you don’t like or don’t eat the dairy products, the broccoli makes up the amount of calcium that your body needs.
Further, there is desirable and needed the amount of folic acid in the broccoli which is essential for pregnant women. The folic acid is necessary for the proper development of the fetus and protects it from getting health issues before and after birth. Therefore the conclusion is that the pregnant women must eat the broccoli on a regular basis.
Also, the broccoli is famous for its body detoxifying ability since it has the selenium. The selenium is there to boost the development of the carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes which means that the broccoli couldn’t heal cancer, but it can surely do everything it can to prevent it from appearing. Also, the broccoli is also rich in phytonutrients (glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin, and glucobrassicin) which are doing the same thing as the selenium.
For how long does broccoli last
Raw broccoli
But, usually, there are two questions that we always repeat when we go to the local grocery store to buy any vegetable. Those two queries are - is the broccoli fresh, and for how long will it remain fresh. Although you can eat the broccoli while being raw, lightly steamed or fully cooked, this green veggie is known to have a short life once you collect it from the garden or the grocery store.
So, naturally you must wonder about what can you do to prolong the freshness of the broccoli and what can you do to store it just a bit longer. We are getting towards it, but there are also some things to know and consider.
When buying or having some broccoli at your home, it is good to look for some signs on the fruit which can tell you if the broccoli is spoiled or if you can use it and make some dish.
What you can do first is to check the smell of the broccoli. Usually, this kind of method represents the common and the secure way to tell if the vegetable is rotten or still fresh. So, take the broccoli in your hand and smell the surface. If there is an unusual scent, you must throw away the broccoli because it is spoiled or rotten.
Further, the second secure way to check the freshness of the broccoli is to touch or squeeze the stalk of the plant. If the broccoli stalk is firm, that is the sign that it is still edible.
Also, if you notice any change in color from green to yellow or brown, that is a sign that the broccoli is not suitable for eating.
But, the overall lifetime of the broccoli isn’t long unless you put it in the fridge. The fresh broccoli could last from 7 to 14 days, but it must be in the refrigerator. On the other side, if you cook this veggie and put it in the fridge it can serve you from 7 to 9 days. The best solution that counts for every vegetable is that you do eat it while it is still fresh.
How can you extend the life of the broccoli
Now, after determining for how long does broccoli last, we can move forward and look into what sort of things you can do to prolong the life and freshness of the broccoli.
Wash your broccoli
Like with any other vegetable that you bring into your home, the first thing that you must do either before consuming or storing is to wash it thoroughly. Therefore, you must rinse the broccoli and remove any dust or debris that can attach to the fruit. After washing, wait for it to become thoroughly dry because you don’t want to live it with moisture since it can trigger mold to develop.
Also, you can use the white vinegar with water when washing the broccoli to be sure that the veggie is clean and that there is no dirt or debris on the plant. So, cut the broccoli into smaller pieces. Now, prepare the solution by mixing the 2/3 of water with 1/3 of white vinegar. After that, put the broccoli into the solution and wash it thoroughly. The vinegar contains acetic acid which will clean any dust or bacteria. Finally, rinse the broccoli with the fresh water.
Get the plastic bag for the broccoli
Ok, you are ready for the next step. Find the plastic bag, preferably with zip-lock large enough that can fit the broccoli and put it inside. Also, cut the small holes in the bag to allow airflow through the container which will preserve the broccoli to stay fresh.
And if you want to go further and preserve the broccoli by freezing it, you can do this very quickly and extend the lifetime of the veggie for up to few months. So, watch this video and discover how to freeze the broccoli.
Conclusion
We hope that you will find some useful info in this article regarding the broccoli and that we give an answer concerning the ways which you can use to extend the lifetime of the broccoli. Although this task is rather simple, always try to get smaller amounts of this veggie if you want to prepare the dish as soon as possible and avoid dragging within the bags.