✔ Updated · shelf life, signs of spoilage + mold
Broccoli does go bad, usually within a week in the fridge. Here is how long it lasts, how to tell when it has spoiled, and what to do about yellow florets or black spots.
Yes. Fresh raw broccoli keeps about 3 to 5 days in the fridge for best quality, sometimes up to a week, and cooked broccoli 3 to 4 days. It has gone bad when it turns limp or slimy, smells sour or strongly sulfurous, or grows fuzzy mold. Yellow florets are past their best but still safe to cook.
- Raw, in the fridge: 3 to 5 days (up to about 7 if very fresh).
- Cooked, in the fridge: 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
- Blanched and frozen: 10 to 12 months for best quality.
- On the counter: no more than about a day.
How Long Does Broccoli Last?
Fridge times are for best quality. Broccoli is highly perishable because it keeps "breathing" after harvest, so the fresher it is when you buy it, the longer it lasts.
| Broccoli | Counter | Fridge (40°F or below) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole raw head | About 1 day | 3 to 5 days, up to about 7 | Not recommended raw; blanch first |
| Cut raw florets | A few hours | 3 to 5 days | 10 to 12 months, blanched |
| Bagged precut florets | Not recommended | By the use-by date, then check | 10 to 12 months, blanched |
| Cooked broccoli | 2 hours max | 3 to 4 days | 10 to 12 months |
| Store-bought frozen broccoli | Cook from frozen | 3 to 4 days once cooked | 8 to 12 months for best quality |
How to Tell if Broccoli Is Bad
- Limp or rubbery stems: fresh stalks snap; old ones bend. Slightly limp broccoli is still fine to cook.
- Yellow florets: a sign of age, not spoilage. It tastes more bitter but is safe to cook.
- Slimy or mushy spots: bad. Throw away soft, slimy or watery parts.
- A sour or rotten smell: a strong sulfur or rotten-cabbage smell from raw broccoli means it has spoiled.
- Fuzzy mold: white, gray or black fuzz on the florets or stem means it is going bad.
Black Spots and Mold on Broccoli
Tiny black or brown dots on the florets are usually early mold or a surface fungus, often from moisture. Fuzzy white or gray growth is mold too.
Broccoli is a firm vegetable, so if mold is limited to a few small spots, USDA guidance allows cutting away at least 1 inch around and below the spot and cooking the rest. If mold covers much of the head, or the broccoli is also slimy or smells bad, throw it out. Don't sniff moldy food closely.
Is It Safe to Eat Yellow Broccoli?
Yes, if it is firm and smells normal. Yellowing happens as chlorophyll breaks down with age. The broccoli tastes more bitter and has lost some nutrients, so it's best cooked in soups, stir-fries or casseroles rather than eaten raw.
How to Store Broccoli So It Lasts
- Buy it fresh: choose firm stalks, tight dark green florets and a head that feels heavy for its size.
- Refrigerate right away, unwashed, in the crisper drawer. Wash it just before cooking, since moisture speeds up mold.
- Let it breathe: loosely wrap the head in a damp paper towel or keep it in a perforated or open bag, not sealed airtight.
- Or treat it like flowers: stand the stalk in a jar with an inch of water, cover the florets loosely with a bag and change the water daily.
- Keep it away from ethylene-producing fruit like apples, bananas and pears, which speed up yellowing.
- Cooked leftovers: refrigerate within 2 hours in an airtight container and eat within 3 to 4 days.
How to Freeze Broccoli
Blanch broccoli before freezing. Raw frozen broccoli turns bitter, gray and limp, because blanching is what stops the enzymes that break it down.
- Cut the broccoli into 1 1/2-inch florets and slice the stems.
- Boil in a large pot of water for 3 minutes (or steam for 5 minutes).
- Plunge into ice water for 3 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- Spread on a sheet pan and freeze until firm, then transfer to freezer bags, pressing out the air.
- Use within 10 to 12 months for best quality, cooking straight from frozen.
Common Mistakes
Wondering about other kitchen staples? See does hummus go bad, does tofu go bad and can you freeze cabbage.
- Washing broccoli before storing it.
- Sealing it in an airtight bag, which traps moisture and speeds up mold.
- Freezing it raw without blanching.
- Throwing out yellowing but firm broccoli that is still fine to cook.
- Keeping cooked broccoli for a week or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does broccoli last in the fridge?
Fresh raw broccoli lasts about 3 to 5 days in the fridge for best quality, and sometimes up to a week if it was very fresh when bought. Cooked broccoli keeps 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. Blanched and frozen broccoli lasts 10 to 12 months.
What does bad broccoli look like?
Bad broccoli has limp, rubbery stems, slimy or mushy patches, fuzzy white, gray or black mold, and often a sour or rotten smell. Yellowing florets alone mean the broccoli is old and more bitter, but it is still safe to cook if it is firm and smells normal.
Is black mold on broccoli dangerous?
Small black spots are usually mold or a surface fungus. Because broccoli is firm, you can cut away at least 1 inch around a few small spots and cook the rest. If mold covers much of the head, or the broccoli is also slimy or smells bad, throw it away.
Can you eat broccoli after the expiration date?
Fresh broccoli rarely has an expiration date; bagged florets have a use-by date. Judge by its condition: firm, green and fresh-smelling broccoli is fine to eat. Throw it out if it is slimy, moldy or smells sour, whatever the date says.
What happens if you eat bad broccoli?
Eating spoiled or moldy broccoli can cause stomach upset such as nausea, cramps, vomiting or diarrhea. Old broccoli also tastes bitter and unpleasant. If broccoli is slimy, smells off or is moldy throughout, don't risk it, and throw it away.
