How to Store Cauliflower | McCormick (2024)

FAQs

How to Store Cauliflower | McCormick? ›

Store fresh cauliflower heads in a loosely closed or perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator. Cauliflower needs air circulation, so don't seal or knot the bag closed. (If you bought a plastic-wrapped head of cauliflower from the grocery store, just loosen up the knot.)

Store in the refrigerator: When storing cauliflower in the fridge, keep it as moisture-free as possible. Wrap the whole head of cauliflower in a perforated plastic bag, and put it in the crisper drawer to allow air exchange. Placing the cauliflower stem-up will help avoid condensation on the head.

Once you get the cauliflower home, all you have to do is put the head of cauliflower in a perforated or open plastic bag and pop it in the crisper drawer of your fridge. (If the cauliflower came already wrapped in plastic, you can put that in the fridge without unwrapping.)

The best way to get the longest shelf life out of cauliflower is to refrigerate it. This slows down the spoiling process and gives you more days of freshness. You can store it on the counter, but it's not recommended.

At home, place whole broccoli heads in a microperforated plastic bag and put it in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator, says Lyon. You can also store it in a container with a bit of water at the bottom, with the heads sticking out, and loosely wrap the container in plastic wrap, notes Weintraub.

Moisture can lead to discoloration or decay of the cauliflower. You should also skip washing your cauliflower before storing it, but you should wash it once you're ready to use it. When properly stored, cauliflower can last up to three to five days in the fridge.

You can also place a whole head of cauliflower in a ventilated plastic bag or a loosely wrapped plastic bag. Choose whatever method works for you, and make sure to always store the cauliflower stem-side up in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.

The same goes for salt: Soaking vegetables like cauliflower in salt water removes pesticides and insecticides and destroys harmful bugs and bacteria.

Discoloration or purple tinged cauliflower (in white varieties) is often caused by exposure to sunlight. To prevent this clip outer leaves together with a clothespin when the head is visible and about 2 inches wide to keep out of sunlight. This process is called blanching.

But recently, I found out those spots aren't mold at all. They're the result of oxidation. “The spots that you see on cauliflower are typically areas where the vegetable has started to age and oxidize, which can occur due to exposure to air and light,” explained Norah Clark, a chef and registered dietitian.

Where is the best place to store cauliflower? ›

In the Refrigerator

After giving it some space for air circulation, store the veggie stem-up in the fridge. If you can, try to avoid washing your cauliflower before storage to prevent moisture retention. This can lead to browning and decrease the usual shelf life of three to five days.

Refrigeration is best for cauliflower storage, particularly the crisper drawer which usually stays consistently cold, says Stewart. Cauliflower should be stored in the refrigerator in its original packaging or a loose plastic bag, according to Stewart.

Freezing cauliflower is a great way to avoid waste. It will also make the cooking time quicker when you come to cook it from frozen. Like most vegetables, if frozen raw, the texture, taste, colour and nutritional value deteriorates, so make sure you blanch it to preserve these elements.

Broccoli & Cauliflower – Broccoli and cauliflower are best kept in separate refrigerator drawers away from other produce.

The USDA recommends washing produce just before using it to slow spoilage. 3 If you need to rinse your broccoli a day or more in advance, give it a whirl through the salad spinner or dry it thoroughly with a clean towel before storing it in your refrigerator.

Leave the cauliflower in the water for a few minutes, so the produce can last longer in storage. Once the vegetable has soaked, drain the pot over the sink to get rid of any excess water.

I personally love how the flavor and texture transforms when cooked in different ways, from simply roasting cauliflower with spices or blending it into cauliflower rice. But if you have a head of cauliflower, either fresh from your garden or sitting in your fridge, you can easily freeze it for future use.

Always use cauliflower that's fresh, too. If you don't want to blanch it ahead of freezing, dice or chop the florets finely, freeze on a tray until solid, then transfer to a labelled resealable freezer bag, expelling any excess air.