How long is my window of freshness for brussel sprouts?!
Answers: If I buy them on the stem are they going to stay fresher longer? How late can I use them after they have been cooked to avoid that "feet" taste? Are frozen sprouts any better? Help
I am a former chef and now a vegetarian, and if you cut them off the stalk and keep them dry, in a sealed container or plastic bag, they will keep a week or a fortnight.
I like frozen for spoups or in a melange as they cook faster, but fresh are best, I like them steamed and then sauted with roasted chestnuts and bit of vinegar, even with a few carrot slices or batons.
Just make sure not to over cook them even a bit crisp is better then all stoggy and mushy, I find is you split them the cook better and faster, even just cook them slightly and redo them in a pan, just a bit of marg salt and pepper, slightly brown a crispy, you also can use them in a bubble and squeak the next day, I like it this way over cabbage.
I like to buy them and use them within a few days for the freshest flavor. I'm sure they will probably last 4 or 5 days but they are best when freshest.
On the stem doesn't mean fresher. It looks interesting but it's not worth the extra cost that they charge for them.
Frozen sprouts tend to be a lot mushier, so I would only use them as a last resort. If you are using fresh, and they come on their stems, you want to cut the stems off as soon as possible or the stems will start sucking the moisture out of your sprouts. Ideally, use your sprouts within a couple of days, and make sure you clean them well before cooking. Once they are cooked, you want to eat them immediately - the next day at most, otherwise they start to break down a bit, and aren't as fresh tasting. I hope that helps! I love Brussels sprouts, and even grow my own some years!
On the stalk in a cool place - two weeks, often longer but I only take them off the stalk as I need them. Baby cabbage.
Off the stalk 7 days.
Ater cooking 3 days - then saute them to bring up the flavour.
Frozen sprouts are always fresh when defrosted but mostly I use them for soups and stews or roasting.
brussel sprouts yummmmmmmmmmmmmm
Storage
Do not wash or trim sprouts before storing them, but yellow or wilted outer leaves may be remove. If you have purchased sprouts that have been packaged in a cellophane-covered container, take off wrapping, examine them, remove any that are in bad condition, return them to container, re-cover with cellophane, and refrigerate. If the sprouts are not fresh, return them to the store. Place loose sprouts in perforated plastic bag. Fresh sprouts will keep for 3–5 days