Q: Has anyone had issues storing cooked broccoli? I pack mine in an airtight container, but find that this gives the broccoli an unpleasant odor and texture.
Usually I lightly boil my broccoli for two minutes and then cool them before storing. Do you have any suggestions on how I can properly cook and store broccoli to prevent this from happening?
Sent by Olivia
Editor: Definitely make sure your broccoli is completely cool before snapping on that lid and putting the container in the fridge. If the broccoli is still warm at all, it will continue to steam in the container and this might result in the weird odor and texture you mention.
Take a look at our broccoli tutorial and see if there might be some new tricks you can try:
• How to Cook Broccoli
Readers, what other suggestions do you have?
Related: Two-Hour Broccoli Confit: So Much Better Than Overcooked Broccoli
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i think broc just smells funny in general after being stored. broccoli soup always smells funny if you get it to-go and take the top off.
It's the brassica curse. (cabbage, kale, broccoli, turnips...) They all smell kinda funny when you cook them. One secret is not to overcook them - the longer they cook the worse the odor is. And they're nicer bright and green and a little crunchy, anyway. And they don't make great leftovers! So eat them all at once. I'd also say it might be a good idea to cover the dish lightly, so that air can get in and out. Don't store it in tupperware, but in a bowl with a bit of tin foil loosely covering it.
I just made this unbelievably simple broccoli dish that my sons begged me to make again the next night. There's never any left!
Yeah, overcooked brassicas are not the most fragrant of vegetables. I agree with the editor's suggestion to let the broccoli cool completely before packing it up. But some of it I think is just how broccoli smells after it's been cooked.
i think moisture is a key culprit in the broccoli and cabbage conundrum and find that a little ventilation goes along way in keeping them tasting and smelling fresh. our house invested in rubbermaid produce saver containers when we first started doing CSA and my broccoli keeps really, really well in that. If I MUST wash before putting in fridge (sometimes the aphids can invade) I make sure that i get it all super-duper dry before storing.