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How To Store Broccolini – 3 Common Ways

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Broccolini, also known as aspiration or baby broccoli, is a cross-breed of broccoli and Chinese broccoli/Chinese kale. Chinese broccoli is a fresh green vegetable referred to as gai lan in Cantonese or Jie lan in Mandarin. 

Broccolini is similar to broccoli, but its florets are smaller while stalks are thin and longer than broccoli. It is common for people to ask how to store broccolini.

This little and cute vegetable comes in tiny bunches, and it shouldn’t be confused with broccoli rabe or rapini. It belongs to the brassica family, unlike broccoli rape which is a part of the turnip family.

Broccolini is a vegetable, so you should store it properly without compromising its taste and nutritious value. In this article, you will find all about how to store broccolini, so read with us!

Fresh Broccolini How To Store Broccolini
Fresh Broccolini via world.openfoodfacts.org

All About Broccolini

Broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and gai lan, a Chinese vegetable. Sakata Seed Company, Japan, developed this vegetable eight years ago and has a similar structure to sprouting-type broccoli.

This fresh green leafy vegetable grows to 80 centimeters. This variety of broccoli has been cultivated for its delicate, green florets and slender stem.

The stem is elongated and can grow up to 15–30 centimeters. This annual or biennial, glaucous, and herbaceous vegetable was first developed in Australia in 1999.

The trademark name of Broccolini is an aspiration. Due to its edible stem and florets, it was given this name comparable to asparagus.

Broccolini is closely related to broccoli and Chinese broccoli in its taste. It would not be wrong to say that its taste is the mixture of the two.

The mellow and less bitter taste comes from the broccoli, while it inherited mild sweetness from the Chinese broccoli. The texture and look of the vegetable are so tempting that you can’t resist eating it raw. You can consume it either way, raw or cooked.

Can Broccolini Go Bad?

Broccolini is a vegetable that is often used in salads and other dishes. You can find it in many grocery stores and, like many fresh veggies, without an expiry date.

Often people buy too many vegetables and will have the leftovers. Therefore, it is important to understand how long Broccolini lasts to avoid throwing away food!

Before answering how to store Broccolini, we must mention that vegetables are most delicious and nutritious when they are fresh, so you should eat them as soon as possible after purchase.

Broccolini has a shelf life of about one in the fridge when properly stored. It can last for up to two weeks if stored properly. It can go bad if not stored properly or kept for too long.

How To Store Broccolini?

Broccolini is a vegetable that is known for its taste and crunchiness. One of the most important steps to preserving fresh vegetables is to store them correctly

 For the vegetables to stay fresh and crisp, they need to be stored at a proper temperature. Here are some important points you should know to store Broccolini properly:

  • Do not wash or cut the vegetable until ready to use.
  • Store in a plastic bag with the air pushed out of it and placed in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
  • If you cannot eat all of the Broccolini, place any leftovers in an airtight container or bag with some ice packs to keep fresh for another day.
  • It is important to know what vegetables are best stored in dry or refrigerated conditions.
  • Broccolini should not be left outside on the counter after being frozen.

Signs Of Fresh Broccolini

Please read the below-mentioned points carefully as they will help you with broccolini storage. Consider the following things when you are selecting Broccolini from the grocery store or vegetable shop.

  • Check the color of the florets and make sure they are bright, uniform green. Never buy Broccolini with yellow or brown florets as it is a sign of spoiled broccoli. 
  • The broccoli crowns should smell fresh and vegetal.
  • The stem and stalk of Broccolini should be firm and fresh. The dry or cracked stalk is a sign that the vegetable is not fresh.

If you pass broccoli with all three of these checks, it’s time to take it home!

3 Ways To Store Broccolini

Broccolini does not have a great water content, so it does not need to be refrigerated or dried out to preserve its freshness for months at a time.

It means its storage is quite easy compared to other vegetables with higher water content. Low water quantity means this vegetable can stay fresh at room temperature for a long time.

Still, proper storage of Broccolini is needed if you intend to keep it for a long time, whether for home use or commercial purpose.

You might be having a party next month and dealing with all the vegetables beforehand. Seeing your needs, we have compiled the 5 best ways to store Broccolini for a long-time consumption without compromising its taste.

1.     Store In Pantry

When storing your broccoli, please keep it on a dry surface to not rot. The place should not be humid either, and there must not be any moisture near it in the pantry. You can store it with other dried veggies like onions, but keep it in a spare box to avoid the odors mixing up.

It is recommended not to wash Broccolini after buying it. Rather store it straight into the pantry after purchase and rinse just before you are about to cook it. This leafy green little vegetable will start to go limply in the pantry, so make sure you don’t store a pile.

Just keep a short stalk and buy fresh from the market if you want more. A rule of thumb is to store vegetables away from fruits, especially pears, apples, and bananas. These fruits contain ethylene, which speeds up the spoilage process.

2.     Store In Fridge

Broccolini can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks if it’s fresh and hasn’t been cut or washed. The best way to store Broccolini is to place it in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. The bag should not be tightly sealed so that air can get inside. It will prevent spoilage.

Furthermore, you can wrap your Broccolini in a damp paper towel and place it in the vegetable section.

Another way to store Broccolini in the fridge is to submerge its stalks in a jar of water and place that jar on the fridge shelf. You can also refrigerate cooked Broccolini, but it should be in an airtight container.

3.     Store In Freezer

Uncooked Broccolini can stay up to a month in the freezer and be cooked for around two months. However, this vegetable’s fresh green color, crispiness, and taste will not be the same when it is thawed after being frozen.

You can blanch the florets or freeze them directly. But make sure to store it in the freezer bag or other plastic bag with an airtight seal on it.


Conclusion

The article is all about how to store Broccolini to remain fresh for a long time. Try these methods and let us know in the comment section if they were helpful. Our time will welcome any suggestions and queries from your side!