Can You Eat Broccoli That Has Turned Yellow?

Is broccoli that turns yellow just another color or it is something you want to avoid? Is it still safe to eat? Why does it turn yellow in the first place?

You came to this blog looking for answers.

Is that broccoli I forgot about that turned yellow still ok to eat.

You got questions, I hope I have answers.

We love to answer your food related questions here at Eat Like No One Else.

Feel free to ask another one in the comments section when you are done reading the answer to this question.

🥦 Can You Eat Yellow Broccoli?

Answer: Well yes you can eat it.

Wait. wait, wait.

Don't hit that back button yet!

Broccoli that has turned yellow is not poisonous. It could be considered "safe to eat", however....do you really want to eat it?

Probably not.

You see when broccoli turns yellow it becomes very bitter. Or if you are growing broccoli in your garden and it flowers, it will be very bitter.

🔥 What Happens When You Cook Broccoli That is Yellow?

If you thought it looked bad before you cook, it looks even worse.

And through my own personal tasting - which I don't recommend now as I bite the bullet for you - the bitter taste gets even worse when you cook it.

❓ Can You Eat Raw Yellow Broccoli?

So if you really don't want to waste it, you could eat it raw. If there is only a little bit of yellow, you might be able to cut the yellow parts off and use the rest.

Let your tongue make the final decision. If it tastes too bitter than do not eat it or add it to something sweet that will counteract the bitterness

🟩 What About the Stalks?

We have been talking about the florets turning yellow but can you eat the stalks when the florets have turned yellow?

Depends on the condition of the stalks. If they seem soft, they won't be good.

You can try removing the stalk and cut them in half to see if they are look ok. Sometimes they still are and you could give the stalks a try.

👶 What About Broccolini?

If we are talking about broccolini or baby broccoli, it often has a bit of yellow on the buds. This type of broccoli is sweeter to start with, so it's better balances out any bitterness.

🗑️ Not Comfortable? Toss It!

Always do what you are comfortable with doing. If you don't feel comfortable eating the even the stalks once the florets turn yellow, then toss them or throw them into your compost - as long the broccoli isn't full of mold.

🟡 Why Does Broccoli Turn Yellow?

As broccoli ages the florets turn yellow due to the break down of chlorophyll - the pigment that gives broccoli and other plants their green color. Same thing happens every fall when the leaves in the trees begin changing color.

Some vegetables will rot before the chlorophyll breaks down. I have never seen asparagus go bad by turning yellow. Salad greens for sure turn yellow.

👃 Bag of Broccoli Smells

Do you like to buy the big bags of broccoli florets from stores like Costco? Another thing you might be wondering about is that if you open up a bag of broccoli florets and it smells. If it's not yellow yet, is it still good to eat? When broccoli is stuck inside a bag, the natural odor will be confined to the bag. If it was just sitting out like whole broccoli often is, then that odor won't be pronounced unless the broccoli is actually bad.

When you open the bag, keep it open for a few minutes. The smell should dissipate. If it's so strong it hits your nose the moment you open, then I would toss it.

🎧 Podcast Episode - How to Make the Most of Broccoli

Listen to me show you how to always make the most of the broccoli you have and how I roast broccoli, by clicking the play button below.

Listen to more episodes of the Eat Shop Waste Not podcast right here.

🧊 How to Freeze Fresh Broccoli

What if you had planned broccoli for a meal one night and then you ended up eating out instead? You are concerned that your broccoli is going to go bad now because it no longer fits into your immediate meal plans. Or did you buy one of those big bags of broccoli at Costco for the cheap price but can't eat it before it goes bad? One thing you can do to save yourself from wasting broccoli is to simply freeze it.

What I do is a cut the broccoli into bite size pieces. If you are just buying broccoli crowns, then you will just have the florets. If you buy the whole broccoli you will need to cut the stems into bite sized pieces. No reason to waste them, they have flavor too! Already cut florets are ready to go.

Now you can either put them into a plastic freezer bag. Make sure to put the date on the bag with a Sharpie so you can remember when you froze them.

If you are worried about freezer burn, then there are two things you could do:

• Wrap the broccoli in heavy duty foil before you put it into the freezer bag
• Vacuum seal the broccoli

If you own a vacuum sealer I think that is going to be your best bet. Arrange the broccoli into a single layer in the bag so that it will lay flatter in your freezer. Make sure you put the date on the bag as well.

Now when you are ready to use this broccoli I have a great idea for you.

🌬️ Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

For an easy side dish on a busy weekday, try taking the frozen broccoli out of the freezer and place it right into the air fryer. No need to thaw whatsoever. How simple is that?

Instructions - I spray the broccoli with some cooking oil, then season with salt, garlic powder, and freshly ground black pepper. Cook at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. I would check on the broccoli half way through to see how it's cooking. If the florets are getting too dark too fast, just reduce the heat to 350 degrees until the stems are tender.

I have made broccoli in the air fryer several times from fresh broccoli but you know hat it actually turned out better using the frozen. The freezing process ended up softening the stems, so that they actually cooked quicker. From now on I prefer to use frozen broccoli in the air fryer over the fresh.

I also have a recipe on the blog for using frozen veggies to make Sous Vide Broccoli and Cauliflower medley.

🙋 What other types of broccoli recipes would you like to see? Leave me a comment below and share what should be the next broccoli recipe I create.