• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Table Full Of Joy

Delicious food for everyone!

  • Summer Recipes
  • Popular Desserts
  • All Recipes
  • About & Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Summer Recipes
  • Popular Desserts
  • All Recipes
  • About & Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Article

    How to tell if brussel sprouts are bad?

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Brussel sprouts are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal, but sometimes you might just wonder how to tell if brussel sprouts are bad?

    moldy half of brussel sprout
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Make sure to eat your brussel sprouts before they go bad!

    Whether you just got them from the store or they’ve been sitting in your fridge for a while, it’s important to know the signs of good and bad brussel sprouts!

    I have eaten my fair share of brussel sprouts and have come across enough bad batches from the store to know what to stay away from. I hope this article will teach you everything you need to know about brussel sprouts!

    brussel sprouts in bowl
    What's your favorite way to eat brussel sprouts?

    What are brussel sprouts?

    Brussel sprouts are a form of cabbage that is known for its edible buds/sprouts. They are in the cruciferous family and got their name for being cultivated in Brussels Germany.

    How to tell if brussel sprouts are bad?

    Bad brussel sprouts can have a bad smell, similar to old cabbage. They might be a lighter green color, have brown edges, are moldy, or even slimy.

    really yellow old brussel sprout
    Even pulling back a few leaves this sprout was still yellow and was starting to get soft.

    If the stem of the brussel sprout is black or brown, or there are black spots on the leaves, it is starting to go bad or has gone bad. Sometimes you can remove a bad outer leaf, similar to cabbage, and still eat the inside, if there are no other signs of decay.

    old leaves on brussel srout
    good sprout with leaves pulled back
    If you pull back a few leaves you can still eat the good, firm, inside.

    What does a good brussel sprout look like?

    Fresh brussel sprouts are firm with tight leaves. They smell earthy and not like cabbage.

    bottom of an okay sprout
    good sprout
    Cut off the end and remove loose leaves before cooking!

    How to tell if cooked brussel sprouts are bad?

    There will usually be a sour odor and the brussel sprouts might be extra liquidly, mushy, and there could be mold. Cooked brussel sprouts should typically be eaten within 2-3 days once cooked.

    Overcooked brussel sprouts will release a sulfurous smell, especially when boiled. This is where a lot of the hate for these tasty sprouts come from!

    Brussel Sprouts in a Cast Iron
    Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts is my favorite way to eat brussel sprouts!

    If you want to try my favorite ways to eat brussel sprouts check out my roasted sprouts, and this maple bacon brussel sprout dish! We eat these all the time here!

    How to tell if raw brussel sprouts are bad?

    Raw sprouts are bad if there is mold present, all their leaves are loose, the leaves are turning yellow/brown, or if the sprout is soft and squishy.

    Pro Tip


    If you can reveal a green, firm, brussel sprout center you can typically still eat the sprout. Just remove any leaves that are loose or show signs of decay, cut off the stems to reveal a fresh firm stem.

    Cut the sprout in half and see what the center looks like. Use your best judgement on whether to eat or not.

    If you are really unsure, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry, and you should toss or return your produce.

    Bugs in raw brussel sprouts?

    Sometimes when you are removing the outer loose leaves, or even when you cut the sprout in half, you will see evidence of where a worm ate its way through the sprout. 

    If there are only a few sprouts that show this I will just cut those pieces off (or toss the entire sprout) and cook the rest.  If the entire bag/bunch of sprouts has evidence of being eaten by worms I will often return the produce to the store and not eat it.

    evidence of worm eating outside of sprout
    brussel sprout with evidence of worm
    evidenced of worm poop and dirt inside leaves of brussel sprout
    Above you can see evidence of a worm eating the outside leaves (top left), evidence of worm eating inside of brussel sprout (top right), and leftover worm poop and some dirt inside the leaves of the brussel sprout (bottom).

    Can you freeze brussel sprouts?

    Yes! They need to be blanched first but will freeze anywhere from 12-16 months.

    The method for blanching and freezing brussel sprouts is the same as broccoli, so check out how to do that here!

    fresh cut brussel sprout half
    fresh cut stem of brussel sprout
    full sprout and sprout with end cut
    sprout cut in half with loose leaves and sprout with loose leaves removed
    To prep sprouts cut off the base/stem and remove loose leaves.

    How long do brussel sprouts last?

    Raw on the counter, they will last 3-4 days, raw in the refrigerator, they will last 1-2 weeks. Cooked brussel sprouts will keep 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

    What are brussel sprouts good for?

    Brussel sprouts are high in fiber, potassium, Vitamins A, C, and K. They even have 3 grams of protein for every cup!

    Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts with lime juice being squeezed onto them
    Crispy Brussel Sprouts are super tasty!

    What do brussel sprouts taste like?

    Brussel sprouts have a milder cabbage flavor and are much denser.  The smaller the sprout the sweeter the flavor, whereas the larger sprouts will taste a bit more like cabbage. 

    large verse small brussel sprout
    Left shows a larger brussel sprout that was sold precut from the store, right shows a store bough brussel sprout that was whole.

    Tips for long lasting brussel sprouts:

    • Don’t wash brussel sprouts before you are ready to cook the,
    • Remove any loose leaves

    Should you refrigerate brussel sprouts?

    Yes. Uncooked/raw brussel sprouts will las 1-2 weeks when refrigerated.

    If you like this post make sure to check out how to tell if potatoes, sweet potatoes, buttermilk, smoked salmon, and broccoli are bad!

    How to tell if brussel sprouts are bad pinterest pin
    Don't forget to pin this article!
    How to tell if brussel sprouts are bad featured image
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    How to tell if brussel sprouts are bad?

    Brussel sprouts are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal, but sometimes you might just wonder how to tell if brussel sprouts are bad?
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine how to tell if brussel sprouts are bad
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Servings 2
    Author Lisa

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb Brussel Sprouts

    Instructions

    • Bad brussel sprouts can have a bad smell, similar to old cabbage. They might be a lighter green/yellow color, have brown edges, are moldy, or even slimy.
      1 lb Brussel Sprouts
      really yellow old brussel sprout
    • If the stem of the brussel sprout is black or brown, or there are black spots on the leaves, it is going bad. Sometime you can remove a bad outer leaf, similar to cabbage, and still eat the inside, if there are no signs of decay.
      old leaves on brussel srout
    • Raw sprouts are bad if there is mold present, all their leaves are loose, the leaves are turning yellow/brown, or if sprout is soft and squishy.
      moldy half of brussel sprout
    • Sometimes when you are removing the outer loose leaves, or even when you cut the sprout in half, you will see evidence of where a worm ate its way through the sprout. If there are only a few sprouts that show this I will just cut those pieces off (or toss the entire sprout) and cook the rest. If the entire bag/bunch of sprouts has evidence of being eaten by worms I will often return the produce and not eat it.
      evidenced of worm poop and dirt inside leaves of brussel sprout

    Notes

    Tips and Tricks
    • Raw on the counter they will last 3-4 days, raw in the refrigerator they will last 1-2 weeks.
    • Cooked brussel sprouts will keep 2-3 days I the refrigerator.

    More Article

    • How to tell if a sweet potato is bad?
    • How to tell if broccoli is bad?
    • How long does smoked salmon last?
    • How to tell if buttermilk is bad?

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Here you will find easy and delicious recipes! From cookies and cakes to grilled burgers and smoked chicken- I give you the best tips and tricks to make the perfect dish!

    Trending Recipes

    • Smoked Ribeye
    • Lemon Meringue Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • Best Crispy Chicken Tenders
    • Buttermilk Chocolate Cake

    Summer Recipes

    • Lemon Bars from Scratch
    • Lemon Cake Cookies
    • Homemade Limeade Recipe - easy and refreshing!
    • Cucumber Avocado Salad

    Featured On

    AS seen on Parade, Hearthstone, Yummly, Sam's Club, Congra, Red Tricycle, Chefling App. Foodgawker, Karo

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright Information

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates- coming soon!

    Contact

    • About Me and Contact Info

    As an Amazon Associate, ThermoWorks Affiliate, and a Berkey Water Filtration Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 A Table Full of Joy

    Copyright © 2022 ·ATableFullofJoy.com ·

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT