Both raw and cooked broccoli will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored properly. Blanched broccoli will last between 10 and 12 months in the freezer.
How long does broccoli last in the fridge? A whole head broccoli will stay good 7-10 days in the refrigerator. If cooked the shelf life shrinks to 2-3 days.
If there's no room in the crisper, store it on a shelf near the back of the fridge. Properly wrapped, your broccoli can last up to a week in the fridge and maybe even a few days longer. But if you overbought or just can't use it up in time, you can also freeze broccoli to enjoy whenever you like.
The Paper Towel Method
Forgo the plastic bag and loosely wrap your broccoli in a damp paper towel before storing it in the refrigerator. This provides a healthy and moist (but breathable) environment for your broccoli. Make sure not to wash the broccoli beforehand, as too much moisture might encourage mold growth.
Broccoli can be stored in the fridge or freezer, whole or cut into florets and can last anywhere from 3 to 5 days.
Both raw and cooked broccoli will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored properly. Blanched broccoli will last between 10 and 12 months in the freezer.
Broccoli and Cauliflower: Can be washed and cut into florets 2 to 3 days in advance. Store in a sealed bag or container with an airtight lid in the refrigerator.
Consume fresh broccoli as soon as you can as it will not keep long. To store, mist the unwashed heads, wrap loosely in damp paper towels, and refrigerate. Use within 2 to 3 days. Do not store broccoli in a sealed container or plastic bag.
Fresh broccoli should be stored in a loosely closed or perforated plastic bag. Broccoli needs air circulation to stay fresh, so avoid sealing or knotting the bag.
It was advised in this study to allow your freshly chopped broccoli to sit for at least 90 minutes before cooking it. If you're strapped for time, 40 minutes should give the same benefits, according to Dr. Ayesha Sherzai, co-director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Program at Loma Linda University in California.
Yellow broccoli is okay to eat, but usually tastes bitter, and in most cases, you'd want to throw it out. If only some florets started to turn yellow, cut them out, and use the rest. Raw broccoli lasts 7 to 14 days in the fridge.
BROCCOLI - FRESH, RAW
To maximize the shelf life of raw broccoli, refrigerate in a plastic bag; do not wash until ready to use. Properly stored, broccoli will usually keep well for about 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
A: No, you do not need to wash ready-to-eat produce. In fact, rewashing can increase your risk of getting sick because your produce may become contaminated with bacteria from your sink, countertop, cutting boards or other kitchen surfaces.
Fill a glass or small pitcher with ice water and place the entire stalk of broccoli in the water. There's no need to cover it—broccoli requires air circulation so that it can breathe, so let it all hang out. The other way to store broccoli is by loosely wrapping the broccoli stems in damp paper towels.
Once the vegetables are chopped to the desired size and shape, store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator. With the exception of a few vegetables, I don't wash the vegetables until I'm ready to cook with them. The extra moisture on the vegetables may cause them to go bad faster.
Broccoli. Once cut, broccoli will maintain its moisture if you store it between lightly moistened paper towels and store in the refrigerator. Do not put it in an airtight container, as it needs to breathe to maintain freshness. To freeze, blanch broccoli, drain thoroughly, and store in freezer bags for up to a year.
Leafy greens stay fresh longer if they're rinsed, wrapped in a paper towel or tea towel, and refrigerated in a container or sealed plastic bag. You can do this with lettuce greens, bok choy, Swiss chard, kale and spinach.
Frozen Vegetables
Like fresh berries and other types of fruit, fresh vegetables tend to spoil quickly, even when properly stored. For this reason, stocking up on frozen vegetables like spinach, broccoli and butternut squash is a good idea, as most can be stored in the freezer for up to eight months.
In general, you can expect raw broccoli to be fine for around one to two weeks if you put it in the refrigerator. It's not an awfully long time, so you'll need to find some other form of storage if you aren't likely to eat the broccoli fast. What is this? Something like cauliflower is likely to last much longer.
You don't have to refrigerate broccoli, but it'll last only 2 to 3 days at room temperature. If you place it in the fridge, it'll keep for up to a week without much quality loss, which makes refrigeration a much better option.
It might look limp, discolored or wrinkled, all signs that broccoli is going bad. You don't want to see off colors, either. Broccoli should be green, so it's a bad sign if the florets turn yellow or brown. If there are any visible mold spots, or if the broccoli looks mushy, it's definitely time to toss the bunch.