How To Clean Broccoli With These Easy Methods

I hope you prefer clean broccoli florets to ones covered in dirt, pesticides, bacteria, and even bugs.

Here are some simple methods for washing broccoli properly:

(1) Using water to wash broccoli

(2) Using a vinegar solution to soak broccoli

(3) Using salt water and vinegar to remove cabbage worms and caterpillars from broccoli

(4) Soaking broccoli in baking soda water

Clean Broccoli With Water

Place the broccoli florets in a colander and place the colander under running water to wash them with water.

After that, pick up each floret and rub it gently to remove dirt or insects.

Clean Broccoli With a Vinegar Soaking Method

The FDA suggests that produce should be cleaned with plain water but, in some cases, water isn’t enough. So, you may need to clean your broccoli or any other produce more thoroughly. You may be able to solve the problem with vinegar soaking.

You can clean any fruit or vegetable with vinegar by submerging them in a bowl containing 3-parts water and 1-part vinegar.

Let everything soak for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it with cool water.

How To Clean Broccoli With Baking Soda

According to armandhammer.com, baking soda, and water can also be used to clean produce. The best way to clean broccoli with baking soda is to add three or four tablespoons to a sinkful of water (or one teaspoon to every two cups of water). Next, mix the baking soda into the water by swishing it around. Furthermore, the broccoli should be submerged in water for 15 minutes. Then, rub the produce gently with a soft-bristled vegetable brush or your fingers to remove dirt and wax. Lastly, rinse the produce with cool water and dry it on a towel.

Using Salt Water To Remove Cabbage Worms From Broccoli

You do not want to eat bugs with your broccoli (unless you really want the extra protein).

By using salt water, you can remove any bugs that may be hiding in the crevices of your broccoli florets.

In a large bowl of warm water, mix 1/4 cup salt with 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar. Next, for at least 20 minutes, soak your broccoli in the bowl of salt water solution until it is completely submerged. Then, to dislodge stubborn worms and bugs, vigorously swish the broccoli around. Finally, under running water, rinse away anything that has been purged from the broccoli.

Do You Need To Wash Bagged Broccoli?

When broccoli is packaged in a sealed bag with a pre-washed label, it does not need to be re-washed.

Pre-washed broccoli is safe to eat unless the label instructs you to wash it first.

However, it wouldn’t hurt to re-wash any produce that you have not cleaned yourself if you are still skeptical about eating it.

Does Frozen Broccoli Have Worms?

In several bags of ShopRite’s Steam-In-Bag frozen broccoli florets, two customers found dead caterpillars, according to patch.com.

As disgusting as this sounds, according to the FDA, frozen broccoli containing less than 59 bugs per 100 grams is not considered a health hazard.

The FDA views aphids, thrips, and mites as “aesthetic concerns” that are only “offensive to the senses.” In light of this, I recommend that consumers purchase fresh broccoli so that they can thoroughly wash it before eating it.

In Conclusion

Like any other fresh fruit or vegetable, broccoli should be washed before eating to remove any impurities and prevent food-borne illnesses like E.coli. As for the cleaning method, it is completely up to you and your preferences. In conclusion, it is safe to eat broccoli after cleaning it properly with any of the cleaning methods mentioned above.