How Long Do Brussel Sprouts Last? Can They Go Bad?

As kids, we had to endure the “horror” of being forced to eat our vegetables when we would have been munching on pizza or taking our favorite ice cream. Then, we didn’t understand the importance of vegetables, especially Brussel sprouts. Now that we are older, they’ve become a significant part of our recipes. If you would love to know how long Brussel sprouts last and if they can go bad, we will be answering all your questions.

How Long Do Brussel sprouts Last?

When stored at room temperature, Brussel sprouts can remain good enough to consume for a day or two.

This vegetable, which belongs to the same species as cabbage, has hundreds of uses. It works in different recipes, either in its raw or cooked form. It’s no wonder that we were forced to eat our veggies as kids to benefit from its high vitamin C and K content.

However, Brussel sprouts are also temperature-dependent. When frozen, they can have a life span of about 3 weeks.

If the outer leaves are intact and stored at room temperature, Brussel sprouts could last for about 4 days.

If you would love to use your Brussel sprouts after a long time, it is always best to keep them frozen. Loose Brussel sprouts can be frozen for as long as 10 months, while cooked ones can only be refrigerated for 4 days. However, it is essential to note that quality diminishes as you keep Brussel sprouts for a longer time. The taste of fresh Brussel sprouts is completely different from one that has been kept for several weeks. You can get the best nutrients and taste when consumed fresh from the store or garden.

Can Brussel sprouts Go Bad?

We know for a fact that vegetables have no expiration date. You can only calculate how long you have had them in your pantry or refrigerator by remembering the exact date you bought them or picked them from your garden. So, can Brussel sprouts go bad? Brussel sprouts have a shelf life that depends on several factors. Like many other vegetables, they are influenced by the time they were picked and the method of storage. However, Brussel sprouts can go bad and in a short time too. A raw fresh bunch of Brussel sprouts can stay suitable for consumption within two days when kept at room temperature. However, after 48 hours, they start to rot and become stale. To stop them from going bad, you can keep Brussel sprouts in the refrigerator. However, this will only lengthen their lifespan for as little as two weeks while it could be several months when kept in a freezer. When this vegetable is picked with the stem, they have a higher chance of surviving much longer than Brussel sprouts that are picked individually. 

How Can You Tell If Brussel sprouts Have Gone Bad?

You should keep it in mind that it is perfectly normal for your Brussel sprouts to have coarse outer leaves. You can find this in lettuce and cabbages too. The only time you should remove them is when you are prepping your veggies for a recipe. Brussel sprouts also have outermost leaves with brown edges. You should treat these the same way you would do to the coarse outer leaves. How can you tell if Brussel sprouts have gone bad?

The first red flag is its rancid smell. Therefore, when your Brussel sprouts start to look brown, rusty, or wilted, then you have to get rid of them completely. Alternatively, you can remove these bad bits only.

Check for insects between the leaves. These insects are usually tiny and difficult to spot. Still, you can get rid of most of them by washing the heads thoroughly before cooking.

Another sign that tells you that your Brussel sprouts have gone bad is texture. Fresh Brussel sprouts have firm heads. Bad vegetables will have a soft or squishy texture instead. They lose their firmness with time, and this doesn’t feel nice. Finally, look out for black spots or mold. This is one of the most obvious signs, and no one would want to use moldy Brussel sprouts in their recipe.

How to Store Brussel sprouts

The longer you keep vegetables, the more they lose their natural nutrients. Therefore, it is always best to consume them fresh. However, if you have to store your Brussel sprouts for any reason, here are some tips to pay attention to. Brussel sprouts can come off the stem or attached to the steam. It is more common to buy the ones that are off the stem. Before going ahead with storage, the sprouts must be removed from the stalk. Therefore, be sure to remove and discard the stalk if you bought them alongside your Brussel sprouts. 

An essential tip to note here is that you should never wash or remove the outer leaves on your Brussel sprouts until you’re ready to consume them. Washing the Brussel sprouts will only make them rot quickly as they trap water. Therefore, if you plan on keeping them for more than a few days, don’t give in to the temptation to wash them. You can store your Brussel sprouts in the fridge using a ventilated plastic bag. You need a container that would permit airflow as the Brussel sprouts thrive in a well-aerated environment. To keep them from drying out quickly, include a damp towel in the container or plastic bag. 

Alternatively, you can leave your Brussel sprouts out in the pantry or on the counter. However, this will lose its color and taste in as little as two days. This simply means that you should never store Brussel sprouts at room temperature, except you plan on using them the same day or a day after. 

Can You Refrigerate or Freeze Brussel sprouts?

Yes, you can refrigerate or freeze Brussel sprouts. We know this because it’s quite common to see frozen Brussel sprouts at your local grocery stores and supermarkets. Freezing your Brussel sprouts lengthens their lifespan by at least two weeks. However, you have to go about this the right way to ensure that they don’t get bad before you’re ready to use them. Start by inspecting for insects and removing all coarse outer leaves. Next up is washing the heads thoroughly before sorting them into different groups based on sizes. Now that you have washed your vegetables place the heads in a pot of boiling water with the bigger ones staying in for about five minutes. Transfer the Brussel sprouts to a pot of cold water as soon as the cooking time elapses. The water has to remain cold, so change them out when it isn’t cold anymore. 

Place the drained heads on a kitchen towel for about twenty minutes to ensure that it is entirely free from water. This is important as you must put a very dry Brussels sprout in your freezer. Package the vegetable in a container or bag, and label as preferred. Finally, you can place them in your freezer, where the Brussel sprouts will remain intact for a few weeks. Thawing your veggies can be done overnight or by transferring them to a dish directly. This works for a few recipes, so the better option is thawing it overnight. 

Related Questions

How can I thaw Brussel Sprouts?

You can opt to add frozen Brussel sprouts directly into your dishes. It’s okay to use them without going through the defrosting process. However, if you prefer to thaw your Brussel sprouts, you can transfer them to the fridge, where they will sit for several hours. This will help you get rid of any ice crystal in your Brussel sprouts.

How can you know good Brussel Sprouts when shopping?

To make sure that you pick the best Brussel sprouts when shopping, go for the ones that are bright green and firm. They should be fixed to their stem and not loose. The loose ones are a sign of Brussel sprouts that are going bad. Avoid vegetables that have a touch of yellow or brown, or leaves that are falling off. You may not be able to tell if the Brussel sprouts are moldy by checking its outer parts, but look out for pits or cracks in it. These are signs that there may be molds in them. Smaller Brussel sprouts are usually sweeter, so pick the ones that are chilled and not so big. 

You can get the best of Brussel sprouts by making sure that your Brussel sprouts do not smell like cabbage. This means that they have been on the shelf for a long time. Stay away from puffy and soft vegetables, and you will be enjoying your dishes.