How to store broccoli at home. How to store broccoli to preserve all the vitamins How to store broccoli in the freezer

Broccoli is the basis of many gourmet culinary dishes. Experienced housewives will cook something from time to time, or at least stew it with other vegetables. This crop can rarely be found in farm plots. We are mostly used to buying broccoli in supermarkets, including frozen ones.

Those who grow broccoli on their own plot should take care of its storage. Let us say right away that with the proper approach, broccoli can be preserved not only until the New Year holidays, but throughout the entire winter, right up to mid-spring.

The shelf life of broccoli is directly affected by its proper cleaning.

You can harvest broccoli until late autumn, until the temperature drops below 0 C. Carefully cut off the central head (step back 10-12 cm below it, do not cut directly under the head) with a sharp knife (in one smooth motion, try not to saw). The stem should not be damaged.

Cut cabbage heads should be consumed soon or frozen, but the stems remaining in the garden will produce side shoots within 5-7 days after cutting the main head. If you do not blanch them, they are perfectly preserved in the freezer for up to six months, without losing their taste. Place the shoots for storage in vacuum bags, closing them tightly. During the season, such an additional harvest can be obtained up to 6 times.

With the main harvest you should do this:

• Rinse the collected broccoli heads well under running water.
• Hardened parts of the stem, as well as leaves, need to be trimmed. Large heads should be disassembled into smaller parts.
• Soak the broccoli parts obtained in the previous step in salted water for 30 minutes (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water). This measure will protect cabbage from pests and diseases during storage.
• At the end of the procedure, rinse the cabbage again under running water.
• Let's move on to blanching. To do this, fill a large saucepan 2/3 with water and bring to a boil. Place the prepared cabbage in boiling water (everything should be completely covered with water) and “cook” for 3 minutes over low heat.
• Immediately after blanching is completed, the cabbage is hastily removed from the boiling water and immersed in ice water for 5-6 minutes. To cool the water more, add ice from the freezer.
• After this, take out all the cabbage in a colander and allow the water to drain from it.
• Place the broccoli in bags, release excess air and place in freezers.

In this form, cabbage can be stored for the next 12 months, practically without losing its taste.

Fresh broccoli can only be stored for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. The temperature should be within 0...+10 C, air humidity about 90-95%. Do not store fresh broccoli together with tomatoes, apples, carrots and other vegetables and fruits that emit ethylene. This element speeds up the spoilage of broccoli.

Only undamaged and healthy heads should be stored fresh. If the rest of the stem is woody, it is better to cut it off. Never wash broccoli before storing it in the refrigerator. Perform this procedure immediately before cooking. Heads prepared for storage should be placed in plastic bags that do not need to be closed (excess moisture should evaporate freely).

If you do not plan to cook broccoli in the next week, it is better to freeze it.

For many, broccoli has already become a favorite element of many dishes and reaches the level of permanent food products. And it’s not surprising, because it’s delicious and incredibly healthy. The product contains: fiber, many microelements and vitamins, along with provitamin A. You want to use this product throughout the year. And someone even began to successfully grow it, receiving a bountiful harvest. And therefore, many are interested in a completely logical question: how to store broccoli at home? Let's break this question down into sections.

Where and how to store fresh broccoli in an apartment

After carefully selecting fresh broccoli and bringing it home, we usually don't cook it all at once. Therefore, the remaining portion must be kept fresh until the next preparation. In a private house, you can use a cellar or basement for temporary storage. How to store broccoli in an apartment? After all, not everyone has a basement and it’s not entirely convenient. The only cold place that remains is the refrigerator. But such storage also has its own rules.

Interesting fact: if the journey of freshly cut cabbage to your table takes more than 7 days, then about 50% of the beneficial properties can already be considered lost.

There are several effective methods.

Method 1. Packing in bags

1. Having selected only intact, dense cabbage heads, carefully cut off any part of the stem that protrudes strongly or is slightly broken.
2. Prepare regular unused plastic bags and create good air circulation in them using several holes.
3. Place individual cabbage heads in separate bags. In this case, the broccoli heads should not be wet so that there is no condensation inside.
4. Without tying the bags, place them at the bottom of the vegetable drawer, but separately from other vegetables and fruits.

Method 2. “Improvised bouquet”

1. Choose a vessel whose diameter will allow the head of the cabbage “bouquet” to stand straight. Fill with water so that the root can easily submerge.
2. Cover the top with a plastic bag with holes and place the finished broccoli “bouquet” in the refrigerator. This method is inconvenient because the water will have to be changed daily for all 4-7 days inclusive.

Method 3. “Packaging”

Take a thick kitchen napkin, dampen it a little and wrap it not too tightly around the entire head of broccoli.

Helpful tip: Broccoli does not tolerate heat at all. Therefore, you need to place the product as soon as possible in a cool place with an air temperature of 0 to 6 degrees above zero.

Method 4. “Tight wrapping”

1. Prepare food foil and wrap it around each head separately.
2. Place it all in an empty vegetable drawer in your refrigerator.

This method can extend the storage of broccoli for a period of 1-1.5 months! If this is not enough, then let's talk about the next method.

Storing broccoli in the freezer

When storing broccoli in the freezer, use only fresh cabbage. It must not be stored in any other place before this!

So, we will need: a pan of water (for boiling), cold water, a colander with a bowl, vacuum bags for freezing and the broccoli itself.

Follow these steps:

• Divide the whole head into smaller florets.
• Rinse thoroughly with running water.
• If you are not sure that the cabbage is free of caterpillars and insects, use one of two additional actions.
• Soak in salt water (1 tablespoon/1 liter) for about 20-30 minutes. This will drive all the pests out.
• Boil water and blanch for 2-3 minutes. Afterwards you need to hold it for 2-3 minutes. in ice water. This will kill the pests, but may remain inside the cabbage.

Important: blanching and strong brine kill some of the beneficial substances of any product. Therefore, if possible, only store healthy foods.

• Wait until the water drains well.
• Pack the cabbage evenly into individual vacuum bags. Remove all excess air and place packages in the freezer.

How to preserve broccoli for the winter at home

So, we figured out how to store broccoli in the summer. What method should you choose to extend the storage of broccoli for the winter? Perhaps the best and most suitable method is storage in the freezer. The temperature should be between -15 – 22C. This freezing allows you to store cabbage for about six months.

Interesting fact: if you immediately blast freeze fresh cabbage, then most, or all, of the vitamins will be preserved for your benefit.

As we have learned, there are many effective ways to store broccoli. Perhaps you have tried others in practice? Then tell us about them and don’t forget to share our articles on social networks.

• Shelf life: 7 days
• Best before date: 10 days
• Shelf life in the refrigerator: 10 days
• Freezer life: 300 days

Broccoli began to be cultivated about 2 thousand years ago. Translated, the name of this vegetable means hand. This may be due to the similarity of cabbage to human limbs. It is generally accepted that broccoli is the ancestor of all species. People have been appreciating this ancient culture for a very long time. Even in ancient Rome, she was well known and enjoyed success. This cabbage began to be imported to Europe in the 16th century. It appeared in the USA in the 18th century.

The most common type of broccoli you can find on store shelves is calabrese. Outwardly, it looks like an umbrella with a thick stem and green inflorescences. The world is still well known for broccoli such as asparagus or Italian. The vegetable has small inflorescences and a couple of thin stems. This variety of broccoli comes in both green and purple colors. This type of cabbage has something in common with cauliflower. Unopened inflorescences are used for food.

Broccoli combines many beneficial substances for humans. It contains fats, proteins and fiber. Among the vitamins you can find: beta-carotene, C, E, K, PP and U. The vegetable contains a large amount of vitamin C. It contains even more of it than some citrus fruits. With the help of this culture you can also obtain useful minerals. Iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus will enter the human body when eating vegetables.

With the help of vitamin U you can fight diseases such as ulcers. Only has as much of this beneficial substance as broccoli. If you want to lose weight, then you should start eating this product. Cabbage has few calories; 100 grams contains only 30. If you eat broccoli, you can take care of your blood vessels. They begin to break down when the sugar content is high and atherosclerotic plaques may appear on the vessels. The vegetable contains beneficial substances that protect blood vessels from damage. Therefore, diabetics and those with a sweet tooth should pay attention to broccoli. When consumed, it can also help the heart and nervous system. With heart failure and a weak nervous system, this vegetable can help. Therefore, it is worth knowing the expiration date of broccoli.

How to cook broccoli

The vegetable is rich in many beneficial qualities, so introducing it into your diet will be the right decision. This cabbage improves skin condition. It is also beneficial for pregnant women, as broccoli contains folic acid. Thanks to it, you can maintain the normal state of the body. This cabbage is so healthy that it can only be harmful if you are hypersensitive. She has no further contraindications identified at this time.

It is important to wash the vegetable before use so that it brings the maximum amount of benefit.

In cooking, broccoli is used in a variety of dishes. It is suitable for frying, boiling and steaming. The vegetable can also be eaten raw, as it will retain many useful substances in this form. Broccoli is healthy - all its components. To eat this cabbage raw, you should add it to the salad. Broccoli can be combined with other vegetables. Can be used with or. For fish or meat, this vegetable will be a wonderful side dish. These methods of consumption are the most useful.

But if you don’t want to eat broccoli raw, you can cook it. But when treated with heat, many useful substances disappear. Therefore, it is worth putting it closer to the end of cooking. Broccoli doesn't take long to cook. This will help preserve the maximum amount of beneficial qualities of the vegetable. Stewing or steaming are most suitable in this case. If you put it in a microwave oven, then it will lose almost all its beneficial properties. Currently, you can buy fresh and frozen broccoli in the store. The shelf life of broccoli in the refrigerator is about 7 days. A container is suitable for storing it. To preserve cabbage for a longer time, you can freeze it. In this case, it needs to be washed and disassembled into inflorescences. They need to be dried and then put in a bag. The shelf life of broccoli in the freezer is 6 months.

How to choose broccoli

Properly selected broccoli is the key to long-term storage. And to choose the right broccoli, you need to know a few tricks.

1. Examine the vegetable inflorescences. They should have a rich dark green color. Yellow spots indicate overripeness of the product and further opening of the buds, which will lead the vegetable to high hardness.
2. Pay attention to the size of the buds. It is rational to give preference to broccoli with large buds on the top - such a vegetable will be tasty and not overripe. Broccoli with small florets can also be taken without fear.

Before purchasing, check the broccoli for firmness and texture. Apply a little pressure to the cabbage head. When pressed, it should not wrinkle or break. Good quality broccoli has dense heads.

How to store broccoli

To enjoy this cabbage for a long time, it is important to know how to properly store broccoli.

When storing broccoli, remember that the vegetable is very finicky and does not tolerate warm conditions, as it needs moist conditions.

Optimal conditions for storing broccoli are at temperatures from 0 to +10 degrees and relative humidity within 95%.

However, compliance with storage conditions does not guarantee long-term storage of broccoli. Fresh broccoli can be stored for 7-14 days. For longer storage, it is better to freeze cabbage.

How to store broccoli in the refrigerator

In order to store broccoli in the refrigerator, you need to know that you should not wash the cabbage before storing, as this can significantly reduce the shelf life of the broccoli. It is better to wash vegetables immediately before eating.

There are several ways to store broccoli in the refrigerator for a long time.

• Save the broccoli for 2-3 days You can use a paper napkin. To do this, you first need to slightly moisten the broccoli using a spray bottle. Wrap the cabbage loosely in paper towels and store in the refrigerator.
• You can store broccoli in a plastic bag for up to two days. To do this, several holes must be made in the bags to ensure air access.
• Longest ( up to 5-10 days) you can preserve broccoli in water. To do this, you need to pour a little water (2-3 cm) into the container, place the cabbage in the water with the inflorescence facing up, cover the container with cling film (making a few holes for ventilation) and store it in the refrigerator on the middle shelf. When storing this way, do not forget to change the water in the container daily.

How to store broccoli in the freezer

You can store broccoli in the freezer within 6-10 months.

How to Store Broccoli at Room Temperature

As you already know, broccoli is a rather capricious vegetable that cannot tolerate warm conditions. Therefore, fresh cabbage must be stored no more than 2-3 hours so that it does not have time to fade and deteriorate. Therefore, cabbage should be eaten immediately or stored in the refrigerator.

How to store broccoli?

Broccoli is an annual plant that is a predecessor of cauliflower. A distinctive feature of broccoli is that unopened inflorescences are eaten.

How to choose fresh broccoli?

The first thing worth noting is the color of the inflorescences. Fresh cabbage should be dark green. The presence of yellow inflorescences indicates its overripeness and that the product will be tough when eaten. Pay attention to the side florets of broccoli - ideally they should be slightly smaller than the florets at the top. Try applying light pressure to the inflorescences. If they are firm and elastic, then the cabbage is of high quality. However, please note that the inflorescences should be elastic, but not “stony”.

Broccoli should be stored in a cool place out of direct sunlight. It will spoil quickly in a warm environment, so the best place to store it is in the refrigerator.

How to keep broccoli fresh for 1-2 weeks

The first storage method came to us from floristry. A bouquet of broccoli must be placed in a container with water. Such a bouquet will not stay fresh for long, and it is advisable to prepare the product as quickly as possible. Be careful not to let the broccoli bloom in the water.

The next method is similar to the first in principle. The cabbage should be sprinkled generously with cold water, then wrapped in a paper towel and placed on a shelf in the refrigerator. This method will help the cabbage stay fresh for up to 3-5 days.

Broccoli will stay fresh for several days if you simply place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. There is no need to wash the cabbage before doing this. It is advisable that fast-ripening fruits, such as bananas, tangerines, and apples, are not located next to broccoli.

Long-term storage methods

To preserve broccoli for a long time, it needs to be frozen. This is the only and most effective way to store cabbage for a long time. How to properly freeze broccoli? You need to take two pans: one should contain ice water, and the second should be boiling. Cut the cabbage into small slices 3 cm wide. The stem should be the same size. Then you need to throw the resulting cabbage heads into boiling water.

Cook for about 3 minutes, as the goal is not to cook the cabbage, but only to kill the bacteria. After this, sharply lower it into ice water (prepare a container with ice in advance). Remove the cooled cabbage, dry it and pack it in sealed bags. You can use regular cellophane bags, but after packaging you need to completely remove the air from them. Put the broccoli in the freezer - it can stay in this state for a whole year.

Little tricks for storing broccoli

In order for cabbage to be stored as long as possible, it should be kept in the low-temperature section of the freezer, since periodic defrosting will destroy its beneficial properties.

Use vacuum bags and containers for storage, because the absence of air will have a positive effect on the shelf life of the product.

Cooking broccoli does not require defrosting it. Cabbage can be placed in a pot or pan immediately after removal from the freezer.

Broccoli is a hypoallergenic product that is one of the first to be introduced into complementary foods for children. There are a lot of recipes for cooking with it. It is perfect for people watching their figure. If you store broccoli correctly, the vitamins in it will not disappear and the product will retain its benefits.

Broccoli contains vitamins B, A, C, P, as well as potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, and has the necessary properties to be included in the diet of children and adults. It is not surprising that during the harvest period, many are looking for ways to preserve broccoli for the winter at home in order to eat a healthy product all winter. We invite you to familiarize yourself with proven methods for saving cabbage at home.

How to choose broccoli for storage

To maximize the potential of plants, most gardeners prefer early varieties of broccoli, although even they have a ripening period of about 90-100 days. (Late varieties ripen in 130-145 days; they can only be used effectively in the southern regions.)

The product is stored exclusively in a cold place (refrigerator or freezer), and the ripening period in this case does not matter.

Broccoli grows quickly in hot weather, so it is important not to miss the ripening period and prevent the heads from overgrowing. The crop should be harvested when the inflorescence does not exceed 15 cm in diameter, with all buds remaining completely closed. During this period, broccoli acquires a rich dark green color and is at its most delicious.

If you notice yellowed parts, it means that some of the buds have already opened. This product can be eaten, but for storage it is better to choose unopened inflorescences.

Overgrown cabbage not only stores worse, but also loses its original taste.

Immediately after cutting, broccoli should not be left in the sun, otherwise it will quickly wither. It is best to harvest in the morning or on a cloudy day. It is also not recommended to cut off the heads immediately after watering or rain: cabbage with excessive moisture content rots faster. To harvest, cut off the central head, leaving a stalk about 10-15 cm long. After 2-3 weeks, new small heads will grow on the side stems, which can be eaten or harvested.

When choosing a vegetable at the market, give preference to green cabbage (sometimes it may have a purple tint). Make sure that the heads are tight, without mechanical damage or signs of damage. It is better to purchase cabbage for harvesting directly from summer residents, rather than from large wholesalers: this way you will have a much better chance of buying a quality product suitable for storage.

Where can you store broccoli at home?

Regardless of whether you cut the vegetable in the garden with your own hands or bought it at the market, you need to put it in a cold place as quickly as possible. Unlike white cabbage or cauliflower, broccoli cannot be stored for a long time without creating the necessary conditions for it.

Fridge

The heads will remain in the refrigerator without loss of quality no more than 7-10 days. To save cabbage, you need to act in stages:

• take selected unwashed cabbage heads and cut off the inedible protruding part of the stem on each;
• place each head separately in a plastic bag, making several holes in it for ventilation;
• Without tying the bag, place the product in the refrigerator on the vegetable shelf.

Broccoli is vulnerable to the effects of ethylene, so store it separately from fruits that actively produce this gas - apples, plums, pears, bananas, peaches, kiwi. If you do not follow this recommendation, the inflorescences will ripen in the refrigerator and quickly turn yellow.

There are other ways to store broccoli in the refrigerator. Take a small container, slightly larger in diameter than the head, and fill it with 1-2 cm of water. Place the inflorescence in the prepared container with the stem down and cover it with a plastic bag with holes for air circulation. This is how broccoli is stored. about 5 days, provided that you change the water daily.

If you only need to preserve the cabbage for 3-4 days, wrap it in a damp waffle or paper towel and put it in the refrigerator.

To create good conditions for storing vegetables fresh, the usual foil. Wrap each head tightly in a piece of foil and place in the vegetable section of the refrigerator. In such packaging, the inflorescence will remain for 1-1.5 months.

Do not forget to periodically inspect the product for spoilage or yellowing so that you can use it in dishes in a timely manner.

Freezer

How to properly freeze broccoli? Follow the following sequence of actions:

1. Disassemble the head into inflorescences and rinse thoroughly under running water. If you suspect that there may be larvae or insects in the cabbage, first soak the vegetable in a salty solution (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water) for 20-30 minutes, and then rinse well.
2. Blanch the florets by immersing them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then quickly transfer the broccoli to ice water. Heat treatment will preserve the rich taste and beautiful color of the vegetable.
3. Place the cabbage on a towel and allow excess moisture to drain.
4. Pack the product in portions into bags or food containers, remove excess air from the container, close and put in the freezer.

Broccoli can also be frozen without heat treatment.

Cellar

It will be convenient for people living in a private house to store broccoli in the cellar. To do this, it must meet the following conditions:

• air temperature within 0…+6 ℃;
• air humidity is about 80-90%;
• absence of sudden temperature changes, as a result of which condensation appears, which is destructive for cabbage;
• a good ventilation system or the ability to constantly ventilate the room.

If you grow your own vegetable in the garden, do not remove the outer leaves when harvesting, which will allow the broccoli to stay fresh longer.

Before storing in the cellar, wrap the heads in thick paper and place them on shelves. Change the wrapper when it gets wet to prevent the vegetables from rotting. If the outer leaves begin to deteriorate, they must be removed and the petiole shortened slightly.

How long will broccoli last in the cellar? Subject to all conditions, from 1 to 2 months.

It is worth remembering that prolonged storage negatively affects the taste of the product. The sooner you use your supplies, the more pleasure and benefit you will get from them.

Video

If you still have questions about how to store broccoli, we suggest watching a video on the topic of the article:

He has considerable experience in gardening - from sowing seeds and seedlings to harvesting and storing the crop. Each sowing season begins with the search for new ways of growing, because cucumbers can be collected not only from the garden, but also, for example, from... a barrel and even grown on a windowsill in winter. She considers caring for plants one of the best ways to relieve stress.

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