If you found your way here because you want to know how long do cooked Brussels sprouts last, then take a quick look at my post below!
Do Cooked Brussels Sprouts Go Bad?
Yes, Brussels sprouts will go bad after a certain period, as will all fresh fruits. After buying from the market, people tend to store trimmed or unwashed Brussels sprouts in a plastic bag to extend their shelf life.
Normally, it would be best if you separated them from the vegetable shelf in the fridge. Fresh Brussels sprouts can be stored for a few days, while cooked Brussels sprouts have less time than that.
How Long Do Cooked Brussels Sprouts Last?
Normally, perishable food like tuna salad and Brussels sprouts can be refrigerated for a few days. Frozen Brussels sprouts will last longer, but you need to blanch them for 3 to 5 minutes.
But how long are cooked Brussels sprouts good for, exactly? In case you don’t know, let’s find out how long you can keep them, below!
How Long Do Cooked Brussels Sprouts Last At Room Temperature?
So how long can a cooked Brussels sprout be kept? Do you have to wait until the next dinner to continue enjoying the Brussels sprouts dish overnight? The answer depends on how you store it. Similar to hot dogs, when you place cooked Brussels sprouts at room temperature (68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit), it might not last to your next meal.
There is a two-hour rule of thumb for how long our food can stay fresh. According to the USDA, any perishable food at room temperature should be thrown away after 2 hours.
In tropical climates, where the temperature tends to rise to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you can only leave the food out for one hour. Food like cooked Brussels sprouts can become dangerous and toxic to humans in such a short time.
The reason leading to short duration is due to the activity of bacteria, like Bacillus cereus, E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella enteritidis, and other bacteria that exist in our food.
When they are still a small population, they are harmless. Once it is more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, in only 20 minutes, the size of these bacteria can be double their original size. Thus, the USDA also calls this temperature zone a danger zone.
How Long Do Cooked Brussels Sprouts Last In The Fridge?
When stored properly, you can refrigerate Brussels sprouts for 3-4 days. If the dish is exposed to the air inside the fridge or on the same shelf with raw meat, there is a high chance of cross-contamination, which will ruin your dish in just a few hours.
How Long Do Cooked Brussels Sprouts Last In The Freezer?
Suppose you plan to freeze them for a while; how long can cooked Brussels sprouts last in the freezer?
After cooling the Brussels sprouts, you can separate them into smaller portions. Thereafter, use plastic bags to contain them and store them in the freezer for one year.
How Long Are Brussels Sprouts Good For?
Brussels sprouts shelf life can vary depending on the condition’s temperature. Then, how long do Brussel sprouts last?
Like eggplants, when leaving fresh Brussels sprouts at 0 degrees, they can last up to 5 weeks. Those with intact leaves can be stored for around 4 days at room temperature.
Suppose they become shriveled; they should be kept in the freezer. Fresh Brussels sprouts can be kept frozen from 10 months to one year. Boiled Brussels sprouts can last in the fridge for up to 4 days. However, it would be best if you ate them fresh to enjoy the flavor and nutrition.
How To Tell If Cooked Brussels Sprouts Are Bad?
When looking at bad Brussels sprouts, you shouldn’t worry about the leaves outside. They may have brown edges, a wilted appearance, or black spots, but you can pick them out without affecting the quality of the sprouts. Here are some indications of spoiled Brussels sprouts.
Insect Appearances
Brussels sprouts are easily infected by insects. As they are very small, you need to spot them while washing the sprouts carefully. If there is a moderate number of insects, it is best to throw them away.
Bad Smell
If you find your Brussels sprouts smelly, with a foul odor like dried and old cabbage, it is time to buy a new one as it has deteriorated.
Texture Change
Normal Brussels sprouts should have a firm texture. If they become soft or mushy, it means the spoilage process has already started. Maybe you found white or black spots on the Brussels sprouts; it indicates mold infestation, which you need to discard right away.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Brussel Sprouts?
The answer is yes. If you eat spoiled Brussels sprouts that are mushy, soggy, or moldy, you can get food poisoning from them.
No matter how much you cook them, these moldy sprouts will still be too toxic as the fungi’s toxins are durable in high heat. Once you have digested them inside, you can have several symptoms from nausea, vomiting, stomach ache to headache and diarrhea.
How To Store Brussels Sprouts
As we have learned that these healthy and tasty Brussels sprouts generally have a short shelf life, it is best to learn where to store Brussel sprouts and how to store fresh Brussel sprouts so you can enjoy them longer than one meal.
How To Store Brussel Sprouts On The Stalk
You can store the whole Brussels sprouts to keep them fresh longer. Do Brussel sprouts need to be refrigerated?
Yes, this is the best way to store Brussel sprouts for your next meal. You should use a plastic bag to cover the sprouts and store them in the vegetable compartment. Although the outer leaves may become wilted, the important parts are still edible, so you can remove them after storing them for a few weeks.
Another method for storing Brussels sprouts on the stalk is treating them as living plants. This means you can just keep the stalk in a bowl of water in the fridge. And they will be saved for at least a week.
Can You Freeze Cooked Brussels Sprouts?
Freezing Brussels sprouts is a great method to keep them stored for a significantly longer time. Before freezing Brussels sprouts, you need to blanch them first to keep their color, flavor, texture, and nutrition.
To blanch them, you have to prepare a pot filled with water. Then, bring it to a boil and remain for 4 to 5 minutes with big sprout heads. Once they are blanched thoroughly, you can put them in an ice bath. When the sprouts are cool down, you can use a kitchen towel to dry them.
Thereafter, it is time for freezing preparation. Use a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container to keep your sprouts inside. Put some labels on these containers for the next time you need to thaw them, and leave them in the freezers for up to 10 months.
