How Long Does Broccoli Last?

Bonsu tip: You can also trim at least ½ inch from bottoms of a fresh head of broccoli and keep it in a shallow cup of cold water in your fridge, almost like a bouquet of flowers.

Cover the cup and head loosely with cling film so it can breathe (this keeps it from drying out) and stand it up in an out of the way area in the fridge. This can keep broc fresh for an additional 3 days.

1. The color indicates the freshness of broccoli. The typical broccoli color is green, but when the florets adopt a yellowish hue, then it is permanently stale. At its best, broccoli maintains a dark green color.
2. Mold is a common reason for spoiled broccoli. Examine the broccoli carefully and look for signs of mold, like yellow or gray patches of soft leaves or stems). If your broccoli has mold in it, throw it away.
3. If the broccoli is white or has a slimy texture, then it is going through the process of decay. Make sure no one eats it and dispose of it.
4. Good broccoli is distinguishable by smell. Really old, inedible broccoli usually gives off a truly offensive odor.
5. Check the stem of your broccoli. Fresh broccoli is supposed to have a stiff stem or trunk. I’ve cooked and eaten plenty of rubbery broccoli, but it wasn’t good raw. It discolors to a yellow when it’s too far gone.
6. Here are more produce safety tips from the CDC.

1. Find broccoli with bright green heads. (The head of the broccoli is also called a curd. Bet you didn’t know that!)
2. Select the broccoli florets that have tightly compact clusters.
3. Choose broccoli with firm stalks and stems.
4. If the stem feels woody, then avoid it.
5. As explained before, a yellow color means broccoli is on its way out.
6. If you find flowered broccoli, then you can still use it in.
7. Put your broccoli in an dry plastic bag or produce keeper and store it in the refrigerator.
8. BONUS: What about bags of broccoli in the cold case of my store’s produce section? Buying pre-cut, bagged fresh broccoli has become very popular. It’s a time-saver for sure, but cut broccoli has been processed even more than the big heads, so more time has passed since it was harvested. You can’t really give it a sniff test, but here’s our suggestion. Always look at the use-by date, of course, but sometimes you have give the bag a good squeeze. Do you see a lot of off-color, oozy moisture surrounding the florets inside the bag? Are the florets separating so that the little heads don’t look compact anymore? Too much moisture, gray patches, and too many very pale green to yellow florets are a sign to look for a fresher bag. I spend a lot of time picking and choosing produce, especially because markets aren’t watching for expiration dates as well as they used to. It’s now to-each-his-own out there, and buyer beware.