How to Prevent Cauliflower From Browning

Some people need to acquire a taste for cauliflower.

Although cauliflower is white, a color often associated with low vitamin content and nutritional value, the plant packs a lot of valuable vitamins and minerals. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1/2 cup of cooked cauliflower contains 27 grams of vitamin C and folate, a vitamin that promotes cell generation and regeneration. The same amount of cauliflower contains 88 grams of potassium, an essential mineral for heart and muscle function. Eating cauliflower soon after purchasing it or harvesting it from the garden ensures that you are getting the most out of the cauliflower, since vitamin levels decrease as fresh fruit and vegetables sit in storage. In the case of cauliflower, brown spots develop on cauliflower when it is stored too long.

Things You'll Need

• Produce storage bags

Instructions

1. Place the cauliflower in a perforated plastic bag or use a bag especially designed for vegetable storage. These bags, available in grocery stores and big box stores, allow some airflow, preventing the internal moisture from building inside a regular plastic bag. If the cauliflower came wrapped in plastic, remove the plastic, discard and put the head of cauliflower in a breathable plastic bag.

2. Store the cauliflower with the stem side up in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator. Do not wash or rinse the cauliflower before you store it, which adds moisture, leading to premature spoilage. If the head of cauliflower came with the top protective leaves covering it, do not remove them.

3. Cook the cauliflower within five days of purchasing it. If you don't think you will eat all the cauliflower within a few days, freeze the remaining uneaten portion. Cauliflower is one of the easiest vegetables to freeze, and the process does not change the flavor or texture.

Tips & Warnings

• If you notice a few brown spots on the cauliflower, just remove them with a paring knife, and cook or roast as you normally would as soon as possible.

References

• Canticle Farm: Cauliflower
• Ocean Mist: Cauliflower: Preparation & Handling
• Office of Dietary Supplements: Folate
• University of Maryland Medical Center: Potassium