Q&A for How to Cook Fresh Cauliflower

Yes, it is possible to freeze cauliflower in florets. The best results will come from blanching it first. For instructions on freezing cauliflower, check out the wikiHow: How to Freeze Cauliflower .

A good cauliflower will have a firm head with tightly bunched florets. It should be fairly clean but dirt can be washed off. If the cauliflower is limp or soft, it is only good for soup, so make sure it is a cheap buy if you do get it like that. If sliced and packaged, the cauliflower must be firm or it isn't fresh.

Most cheeses will suit cauliflower because it's a very adaptable and rather bland flavor that cheese improves. Whether it's Cheddar, Parmesan, blue cheese or any other preferred cheese, it will work well when making cauliflower cheese. Try a cheese you like the most to see if you like it and if not, try another one until you find the one that works best for you.

A cauliflower will keep well in a refrigerated environment for 1 to 2 weeks. It will depend on how old the cauliflower was at the time of purchase; if bought from the bargain bin, use it within 2 to 3 days. Florets will last up to 1 week when stored in a bag in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.

Use boiling water. The longer the cauliflower can be in the boiling water and on the stove, the better. This is not something you want to rush. For slight flavor add salt and pepper at the end, just before serving. Be careful not to overcook or burn the cauliflower.

Boil for twenty minutes on the stove, drain, and add butter, salt, and pepper for flavoring.

Yes, it is fine to eat darker or tan cauliflower.

It has a bitter flavor, like the stump on a cabbage, but yes, you can boil the whole cauliflower with the stump attached if you'd rather not separate it into florets and eat it that way.

On white varieties of cauliflower, discoloration is an indication that the cauliflower has been on the shelf too long. However, white varieties of cauliflower do not usually turn purple. On purple, green, or orange varieties of cauliflower, browning on the leaves and base of the curd indicates that the cauliflower is no longer fresh. However, florets on a purple cauliflower are meant to be purple, so they are fine.

Yes. One tasty way of cooking cauliflower whole is to roast it in the oven. You can find many different recipes online.

Cauliflower goes well with broccoli, kale, bell peppers, carrots and potatoes. Slice it thinly for a stir-fry and use fresh ginger, soy and sesame oil as well as the veggies. Cauliflower is good with most spices, so add any spice mixture you most like.