Exact Answer: 3 To 5 Days
Broccoli is classified in the Italica cultivar group of the species Brassica oleracea and belongs to the family of cabbage. The origin of broccoli is in Italy and its cultivator group is Italica. Broccoli can be either eaten raw as a part of a salad or diet food, or it can be cooked to make meals.
There are many varieties of broccoli. However, broccoli has 3 major varieties that are, Calabrese broccoli, sprouting broccoli, and purple cauliflower or violet cauliflower.
How Long Does Broccoli Last In The Fridge?
Taking a rough estimation of how long does broccoli lasts in the fridge, the time can range between 3 to 5 days. However, apart from the fact of keeping broccoli in the fridge, there could be many other factors that determine how long does broccoli last in the fridge. These factors can either increase the time or decrease the time as well.
Among many factors, there is one major factor that is, the storage conditions of keeping broccoli in the fridge. The storage conditions for storing broccoli can determine how long will the broccoli last in the fridge by a drastic rate. If you wrap the broccoli in a sealed plastic bag and store it in a cool and dry place, most likely the fridge, then it can also last for about a week.
The reason behind that is because when the broccoli is packed in a sealed plastic bag then there are no chances for the broccoli to get exposed to the atmospheric bacteria and air. As a result, the bacteria are prevented from reacting with the broccoli and contaminating it. Therefore, storing the broccoli in a sealed plastic bag. Moreover, keeping the broccoli in a dry place is extremely important. The reason behind that is because the contact of broccoli with water makes it decompose and thus get rotten.
Here is a quick summary of how long will the broccoli last in the fridge depending upon the storage conditions:
| Storage Conditions | Time |
| Sealed air-tight plastic bag | 5 to 7 days |
| Unpacked | 3 to 5 days |
Why Does Broccoli Last That Long In The Fridge?
Broccoli can easily last in the fridge from a minimum of 2 days to a maximum of 5 days. However, there are certain cases when broccoli can last for as long as a complete week in the fridge.
Moreover, there are many cases when you can increase the shelf life of the broccoli while kept in the fridge by just following a few steps. These few steps include the temperature of the fridge, storage conditions for the broccoli, and the outside weather as well.
The major factor among all is the storage conditions. However, talking about the other factor, that is, the outside temperature is also a factor to be considered. Broccoli would last the longest inside the fridge when the outside temperature is cold and dry as well.
Whereas, if the temperature is hot and humid and the broccoli would not last longer than just 3 or 4 days inside the fridge. The reason behind that is because high-temperature results in the breaking of the molecular components of the broccoli. As a result, it leads to the rotting of broccoli and thus making it unfit for consumption. Moreover, high humidity means more moisture in the air which triggers the rotting of broccoli.
Therefore, it becomes really important to buy broccoli in the season it is available and the season it would last for a longer duration of time. Moreover, it is interesting to know that when broccoli is kept in regular freezers it can increase its shelf life from a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 6 months as well. While on the other hand, when broccoli is stored in industrial freezers then it can last for as long as one complete year.
Conclusion
With great advantages and health benefits, broccoli makes a great vegetable to be eaten as a part of diet food. Broccoli has great nutritious value and is rich in vitamin C and vitamin K.
However, if you have brought broccolis to your home then make sure you store them in a tight air-sealed plastic bag in a cool and dry place. Moreover, make sure to consume it before a maximum of 5 days or it might go bad.
References
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11101-008-9106-4
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0731708506003116
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