One of the vegetables that kids dread more than broccoli – Brussels sprouts. However, they are full of nutritional goodness, such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Adding them to your diet is a good health choice.
Who knows? You may even come to love the taste!
Imagine: you’ve decided to be more health-conscious and bought a bunch of Brussels sprouts. However, you never really got around to cooking them. Now after a few weeks, you’re asking yourself: Have my Brussels sprouts gone bad? How long do they last?
In summary: Brussels sprouts do not have a long shelf life. They only last 7-10 days if stored in the fridge. This is often as long as they can last.
How To Tell If Brussels Sprouts Have Spoiled
You’ll want to be wary of the smell, taste, and appearance of your Brussels sprouts if you think they may have gone bad.
Look out for the browning of the edges of the leaves and the lightening of their green color. This may indicate that the Brussels sprouts have started to go bad. You can remove the browned edges and cook the remaining parts but do so as quickly as possible.
If you notice a slimy surface on your Brussels sprouts, use them immediately or discard them. Another sign to look out for on the surface is any discoloration or fuzzy mold on your Brussels sprouts. Make certain that you get rid of these without much thought.
A spoiled Brussels sprout will smell harsh and moldy and lose its fresh and earthy smell. As it ages, the smell gets stronger.
This is a similar case with taste. Rotten Brussels sprouts will begin to lose any sweetness and taste sour. This also increases with age.
Similar to cabbage, if the leaves are wilting, soggy, moldy, and shriveled, do not use them.
Storing Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be found attached to the stem or off the stem. The latter is the most common form of Brussels sprouts bought. However, if you have Brussels sprouts with stems attached, simply remove the stalks and toss them out.
When storing your Brussels sprouts, keep them in the fridge in a container that allows some airflow. Bonus points if you keep your sprouts in a damp towel to prevent them from drying out too quickly.
Opting to keep your Brussels sprouts at room temperature will make them degrade in quality faster. So for longer-lasting results, the fridge is your best storage option.
How To Freeze Brussels Sprouts
If you’d like to keep them for an even longer period, freezing your Brussels sprouts is the way to go.
The first thing you want to do is prepare your Brussels sprouts by removing the outer leaves, washing them thoroughly, and sorting them by size.
Next is the blanching process. Put a pot of water on the stove. Once it starts boiling, place your Brussels Sprouts into the water. Keep the small heads in for 3 minutes, the medium ones for 4 minutes, and the larger ones for 5. Then plunge the Brussels Sprouts into a pot of cold water, maybe with some ice cubes. This will halt the cooking process.
Now you want to drain the heads on a kitchen towel for 15-20 minutes. Make sure they are completely dry before moving on to the next step.
Place the dried Brussels sprouts into airtight containers or freezer bags. Finally, put the Brussels Sprouts in the freezer.
How Long Do Brussels Sprouts Last?
When stored at room temperature, Brussels sprouts, unfortunately, last a day or two. However, storing them in the fridge knocks the shelf-life to a week, maybe even a few days longer.
The Verdict
Have you ever wondered where Brussels sprouts get their name from? Well, this is because they were originally cultivated in Belgium in the 16th Century. Thankfully, Brussels sprouts are easy to grow almost anywhere. So it’s convenient to receive all the nutrients you can get from them.
In a nutshell, Brussels sprouts have a short lifespan. They only last for 7-10 days in the fridge, which is the best way to store them.
Alternatively, you can freeze your Brussels sprouts to keep them fresh even longer.
