How To Tell If Brussel Sprouts Are Bad?

Bratini Lawrence

1 year ago

Being rich in antioxidants, Brussels sprouts have a dense texture and give a taste of classical fall cooking to the food. They are basically cabbage heads of miniature size. Thus there is a possibility that Brussels sprouts can go bad.

Thus, before buying Brussels sprouts, the buyer must be attentive enough to check their freshness. And to do that, one must aware of the signs that can highlight the expiration of the brussel sprout. Having mentioned that, let’s dig into the details!

Some Points To Tell Brussel Sprouts Are Bad

How to know if Brussel sprouts are bad is a matter of being vigilant enough about its colour, texture, smell etc. Let’s see how it works!

Change In colour: It is always advised to buy vegetables that appear more greenish and avoid the yellow ones with strange spots. Check if the veggie is firm and smells fresh.

Inspect the Presence of Insects: It is obvious for anyone to tell that a brussel sprout has gone bad if he/she notices insects hidden between the leaves. It is difficult to spot them easily and hence it is always suggested to wash the cabbage heads properly before cooking them.
Smell Issues: If the Brussels sprout you just bought emits an odd smell, you should know that it is not safe for you to consume it. The odd smell might include the smell of an old cabbage or maybe even a harsher one.
Texture Changes: Always keep in your mind that fresh Brussel sprouts will always be firm and appear to be greenish. If you notice that your vegetable has lost its firmness and is slowly gaining a soft or squishy texture, then the Brussel sprout has gone bad.
Check For Black Spots: If you notice any black spots on Brussel sprouts, it is for your safety to discard them immediately. Also, if you find Brussel sprouts yellow inside, then they will no longer have any taste, and throwing them away is the way to go.

With the above points mentioned, if you find any of the above signs on your vegetable, it is always advisable to discard them and buy fresh ones. Remember, practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help you prevent suffering from any foodborne illness.

What Is The Shelf-life Of Brussel Sprouts?

The shelf-life of Brussel sprouts depends on two factors: when they are bought and How they are stored. If you have just bought the Brussel sprouts and planning to cook them tomorrow, then this miniature cabbage can rest overnight on the counter without getting rotten.

However, to know how long Brussels sprouts last in the fridge, we have enlisted the following points giving details on that note:

If it is stored in the fridge as a whole, then the vegetable will last about 5 days.
If it is stored in the fridge in a sliced form, then this vegetable will last about 3 days.
However, if the vegetable is kept in the freezer, then it will last up to 12 months approximately.
To make sure your Brussel sprouts last as long as possible, you need to choose fresh and firm ones before buying them.

Now that we have shared the basic information about how long do fresh Brussel sprouts last, let us move on to the next section on how to if Brussel sprouts are bad. Now let us help you find out how can you store the sprouts properly to save them from getting spoiled.

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How To Store Brussel Sprouts Properly?

Storing Brussel sprouts properly is the key to tell if brussel sprouts have gone bad or are still fresh enough to consume. So here is a way:

First this first! You should know that the stem of the miniature cabbage should be sliced out and thrown off. Now that you have already cut the stem, you can finally consider the following points for storing your vegetable.
The key to storing this veggie for a longer duration is refrigerating. And, f you are wondering ‘do Brussel sprouts need to be refrigerated? then the answer is yes!
’Put the Brussel sprouts in a ventilated plastic bag and store them in the vegetable drawer of the fridge. It is best not to wash the sprouts until you are ready to cook them.
You can put a damp towel in the bag so that the little cabbage heads won’t dry out and remain fresh.
If you only buy prepackaged Brussel sprouts then try to pick out the spoiled ones with black spots or ones with a soft texture.
When it comes to storing cooked Brussel sprouts, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
If you want to store them for a longer period of time, then freezing them is the only option.

With all the points mentioned above, we hope you will be able to store the Brussel sprouts properly and maintain appropriate food hygiene. Always try to throw away the rotten ones as they might turn the fresh ones spoiled as well. Now let us focus on How To Tell If Brussel Sprouts Are Bad to keep them for a longer duration.

Best Way Of Freezing Brussel Sprouts

Refrigerating can be done if you wish to keep the Brussel sprouts for a week or two. However, for someone who wishes to keep the Brussel sprouts for a longer duration, this section will back you up with all the relevant information about freezing Brussel sprouts.

Let us have a look at the steps you need to follow to freeze them!

At first, you have to begin slicing to get rid of the coarse outer leaves and make sure there are no insects hidden inside the Brussel sprouts. Then wash the heads properly, and finally sort them according to their size.
Now start boiling a pot of water and plunge the heads into that water. Remember that the small heads require 3 minutes, medium ones 4 minutes, and large ones 5 minutes. After the cabbage heads have been boiled for that duration, transfer the veggies into a pot of cold water with some ice cubes, to stop the cooking process.
Now you have to leave them on a kitchen towel for 15-20 minutes and make sure there aren’t any water drops on the heads. The Brussel sprouts should be dry before it has should be prepared for freezing.
Now transfer the cabbage heads into freezer bags or airtight containers. You may label the bags as per your requirement.
Now you may put them into the freezer and then use the Brussel sprouts as per your convenience.

With all the aforementioned information, How To Tell If Brussel Sprouts Are Bad we believe that now you will be able to use this veggie to its best condition and cook mouth-watering meals of Costco frozen Brussel sprouts with bacon and add a new flavor to your meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can still eat it even if you feel it is old. You just need to peel off the outer leaves and start cooking them. Try to consume it before it gets even worse and then leads to any severe illness.

Q1. Is It OK To Eat Old Brussel Sprouts?

Ans. It is not advisable to eat old Brussel Sprouts even if they are refrigerated. Because even after 5 days of refrigeration it starts showing sings of expiry.

Q2. What Does The Inside Of A Bad Brussel Sprout Look Like?

Ans. If a Brussel sprout has gone bad, then the inside of it might look yellow or black or even brown. You may even find certain insects hidden inside it. It is always considered best to throw them away to avoid any foodborne illness and practice food safety techniques.

Q3. Are Brussel Sprouts Supposed To Smell?

Ans. If the brussel sprout is fresh and firm, it is not supposed to smell. However, if you have kept your veggie in the refrigerator for a longer duration of time, you might feel an odd smell from it. This indicates that the veggie has become spoiled and throwing it away is the way to go.

Q4. What Happens If You Eat Bad Brussel Sprouts?

Ans. The aftereffects of eating spoiled Brussel sprouts can be dangerous. You may suffer from several illnesses or foodborne diseases and even worse. It is never an option to eat any rotten vegetable. Maintaining proper food hygiene should always be the priority.

Q5. How Long Do Cook Brussel Sprouts Last In Fridge?

Ans. Cooked Brussel sprouts, when stored in airtight containers in the refrigerators, do not last more than 2-3 days. It is advisable not to consume any cooked refrigerated meal after the passage of 3 days. Eating freshly cooked meals is the way to go.

Final Verdict:

Brussel sprouts have a dense flavor and add to unique taste to your meal. It is filled with antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C. How To Tell If Brussel Sprouts Are Bad Now that you have read this article, we are sure that it has solved all your doubts regarding the longevity and shelf-life of this veggie.

You can now easily differentiate between a fresh one and a spoiled one. Hope you had a great time reading this article. Good luck!