How to Tell if Brussel Sprouts Are Bad: 7 Signs of Spoilage (2024)

FAQs

How to Tell if Brussel Sprouts Are Bad: 7 Signs of Spoilage? ›

Throw out fresh brussel sprouts that have a foul odor, yellow or wilted leaves, a mushy or slimy texture, or dark spots. Use fresh brussel sprouts within 1–2 weeks of getting them. Store the brussel sprouts in a plastic bag inside your fridge, and wash them before cooking them.

If any of the leaves have brown spots or are yellowing, it's a sign of early spoilage. If you remove the blemished leaves and the interior looks OK, you can still use the sprout. However, if the interior leaves are also showing blemishes or yellowing, it's best to toss it (or compost it, if you can).

Sprouts grow best in warm, humid conditions, which can also lead to the growth of germs; when they are eaten raw (as they often are, especially in sprouts sandwiches), it can lead to food poisoning from Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria.

Brussels sprouts are small green buds made up of many tightly formed layers: they look like tiny cabbages. The leaves are usually bright green, sometimes tinted yellow, and of slightly lighter color inside the cabbage.

When storing Brussels sprouts whole, place them loose in a bowl and cover with a food-safe plastic wrap, like Glad^® Press'n Seal^® or Glad^® ClingWrap. Poke a few holes in the wrap and place your bowl in the fridge. Doing this should mean your Brussels sprouts will last in the fridge for about five days.

Things You Should Know

Throw out fresh brussel sprouts that have a foul odor, yellow or wilted leaves, a mushy or slimy texture, or dark spots. Use fresh brussel sprouts within 1–2 weeks of getting them. Store the brussel sprouts in a plastic bag inside your fridge, and wash them before cooking them.

Whether you have purchased sprouts from the store, or grown them at home, you can reduce the chance of developing a foodborne illness from sprouts by following these guidelines: Buy/consume only fresh sprouts that are kept refrigerated. Do not buy/consume sprouts that are limp, slimy, moldy or have an off odor.

Place the sprouts in the fridge as soon as you get home and use them before the best-before date. Use within two days of purchase if they are not pre-packaged. Throw away any sprouts that are past their best-before date or that have lost their crispness, look wilted or smell musty.

Like other cruciferous veggies, Brussels sprouts have a type of carbohydrate that your body can't easily break down. This can cause you to have belly pain, gas, and either diarrhea or constipation.

If you are buying your sprouts chopped, sliced, shredded, or cut up, keep in mind, it is best to use these up the fastest. Unlike loose brussels or those on the stock, they will spoil the fastest. This is true of all prepped produce. For these, store them in an air tight container for best results.

What should my brussel sprouts look like? ›

Brussels sprouts are ready to harvest when the tiny heads are firm, green, and 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Remove sprouts by twisting them until they break away from the plant.

Even though Brussels sprouts can last up to a week in the fridge, sometimes a little longer, their taste gets stronger and less sweet with time. They are at their best when prepared within three to four days of purchase. Avoid washing Brussels sprouts until you're ready to prepare them, as the moisture can cause decay.

This common fungal disease most often attacks the cucurbit family and beans. It is most often found in mid to late summer and unlike most fungi it doesn't need a lot of moisture.

If you are one such person then we have just the answer for you. You know your sprouts are ready to eat when they are 1/2 – 2” (1.30 – 5 cm) long and the hulls/seed covers have dropped. Sprouts are ready to eat when the first pair of leaves have opened. In most cases, this is usually after 4-6 days.

Your home grown sprouts should easily keep for weeks (depending on the type of sprout) in the refrigerator.

How long can you keep Brussels sprouts on the stalk? Brussels sprout stalks will keep for up to 10 days in the refrigerator. You can also store them on the countertop or suspend them by their leaves. Without refrigeration, the sprouts and stem should stay fresh for four or five days.

Even though Brussels sprouts can last up to a week in the fridge, sometimes a little longer, their taste gets stronger and less sweet with time. They are at their best when prepared within three to four days of purchase.

Throw away any sprouts that are past their best-before date or that have lost their crispness, look wilted or smell musty.

Fungus and mould on sprouts is most likely just tiny roots.

They make the sprouts all fuzzy looking, but in closer inspection you can see the 'mould' is only formed on the roots.

You “can” eat them, as in they're not harmful (technically I suppose they'd be protein), so it won't hurt if you ingest a few — but they don't taste good.