How do you know it's time to throw away broccoli?

Question

I want to cook with it, but I don't know how long it can be kept in the fridge.

Answer 1

If the whole fridge smells like rotten garbage, get rid of it!

But on the serious side:

Broccoli should be left unwashed when storing. Store in the refrigerator in a plastic bag, leaving the bag open or use a perforated plastic bag. This will avoid excess moisture, which causes mold to grow. Store up to 5 days. Broccoli can be blanched and then frozen and kept in the freezer for up to a year. Broccoli is very sensitive to ethylene, which is a gas given off by some fruits and vegetables. The gas speeds up the ripening process so broccoli should not be stored with ethylene producing fruits and vegetables, such as, apples, apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwifruit, mango, peaches, pears, tomato, and white sapote.

Answer 2

Since broccoli grows best in cool weather, your garden plan should produce a fall and spring harvest. The large central head is the spring harvest and smaller side shoots will be ready in the fall. Harvest when the head is large and firm, with a compact cluster of small flower buds with none open enough to show bright yellow flowers. Look for bright green or purplish-green heads. Yellow flowers and enlarged buds are signs of over-maturity.

Store the broccoli, unwashed, in loose or perforated plastic bags in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator. Broccoli left unrefrigerated quickly becomes fibrous and woody. Wet broccoli quickly becomes limp and moldy in the refrigerator—so wash it just before using. Store fresh broccoli in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Old broccoli may look fine, but it develops strong undesirable flavors. It tastes best and is highest in nutritional value when storage time is brief.

Answer 3

If it's been in the fridge long enough that it has started turning yellow, throw it away. It's lost is nutrients anyway. As long as it's still green and not dry looking, it should be okay.

Answer 4

This is kind of tricky as broccoli and cauliflower emit gasses that make you think it has gone bad, but hasn't. If the broccoli is slimey or rubbery or the florets have turned yellow then it's too old.

Answer 5

when you buy it itll be a nice green colour, after its starting to go bad, the green will start to fade to yellow. Its still ok to cook with at this point, it just wont taste as fresh.

Answer 6

Once the bright green crowns begin to turn brown...toss them. Light green is OK but they will quickly turn to brown.

Answer 7

I wouldn't keep it longer than a week in the vegetable bin of the refrigerator.

Answer 8

If the florets have turned from green to yellow, it is time to toss it.

Answer 9

When it moves by itself, then it's time to go..