Q&A for How to Clean Broccoli

This is a good idea if you’re concerned about pests, like broccoli worms. This is most likely to be an issue with home-grown broccoli, rather than broccoli you’d find in a grocery store.

It’s always a good idea to wash any vegetable before you eat it, even if you plan to cook it thoroughly. Washing helps get rid of not only germs, but also other possible contaminants, like dirt and pesticides.

Food safety experts agree that it's unlikely that eating unwashed broccoli once in a while will hurt you. However, there’s a slight chance you could get sick from bacteria or pesticides on the broccoli if you don’t rinse it.

It will be soft and tender. Try poking it with a fork and you should be able to tell.

No. Broccoli purchased from a reputable supermarket or green grocers will not have worms. Home grown broccoli maybe infested with any number of larvae, caterpillars or other bugs. Infested vegetables are generally not good to eat.

The coloration from the natural hue and saturation of broccoli will come out when mixed with hot water.

Spoiled broccoli will show dark discolorations, possibly mold, and be very soft when squeezed or touched.

If the veggie is cold and you use hot water, there is a temperature differential that is set up and water may move into the produce carrying microorganisms with it. If you’re going to eat the skin of a fruit or vegetable, rinse it under cold running water first. But for broccoli, use cold water.

Do the saltwater solution first, then the vinegar solution (which could kill cabbage worms in place without removing them if you did it first), then rinse it with water.

Yes, you can clean broccoli florets effectively as you would a whole head. Rinse them under cold water, optionally soak in a water-vinegar mix, rinse again, and then dry.

Clean broccoli before eating to remove dirt, pesticides, and bugs. A quick rinse under cold water is usually sufficient.

Yes. First clean the broccoli thoroughly. Then dry it as much as possible, since excess moisture can speed up spoilage. Wrap the dried broccoli in a paper towel and place it in an open plastic bag or a container with air holes to keep it fresh for a few days.

Yes, both are effective.

Cabbage worms are typically pale green, about an inch long, velvety, and caterpillar-like, sometimes with faint yellow stripes. If you found something in a cocoon-like structure, it could be a pupa, a stage some caterpillars go through before becoming moths. To avoid them, inspect your veggies carefully before buying and clean them thoroughly at home. If you keep finding them, consider informing your grocery store.

It's best to rinse broccoli after soaking it in salt water to remove any salty residue, maintain texture, and ensure cleanliness by washing away impurities or insects.