budget
vegetables

Good Question: Do You Eat Broccoli Stalks?

Faith Durand
Faith DurandSVP of Content
Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and Editor-in-Chief of Kitchn, and the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.
Follow
updated Jun 4, 2019
pinterest
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Here’s a question and a tip from reader angorian:

I’m curious to know how many people cook and eat the stalks of broccoli.

I grew up with “broccoli stars” and always peel, slice, and cook my broccoli stalks, but I’ve discovered that no one else I know does this. They all just throw the stalks out. Is this really the norm?

I’m wondering if people just don’t realise that if you use a paring knife to peel off the tough outer layer, the inner portion of a broccoli stalk is delicious and not to be wasted. In view of all the recent discussion about food prices on the rise, it seems to me that curbing unnecessary food waste is one good tactic for making your grocery dollar go farther.

(To All Good Questions)

Angorian, we eat the stalks too! Well-cooked broccoli stalks are juicy and more satisfying than the frilly tops.

What about the rest of you – how do you cook your broccoli stalks, and are there other vegetables like this where you use the whole thing and not just the most easily edible part?

Next question?

(Image credit: Department of Health, South Dakota)