Can You Freeze Broccoli Sprouts?

Can You Freeze Broccoli Sprouts?

Broccoli sprouts might be tiny, but they can be surprisingly expensive to buy. Whether you’ve picked up a pack from the supermarket or grown your own at home, it can be frustrating when you have more than you can use before they start to spoil.

The good news is that broccoli sprouts can be frozen. While they’re best eaten fresh, freezing is a handy way to reduce food waste and save money if you have leftovers.

Can You Freeze Broccoli Sprouts?

Yes, broccoli sprouts can be frozen.

Unlike some other sprouts, broccoli sprouts generally freeze quite well, although they may lose a little of their crisp texture once thawed.

If you mainly use them in smoothies, soups or cooked dishes, freezing works particularly well.

What Are Broccoli Sprouts?

Broccoli sprouts are the young seedlings of the broccoli plant, harvested when they’re usually around three to five days old.

They have a mild peppery flavour that’s similar to radishes and are commonly added to:

You can buy broccoli sprouts from some supermarkets and health food shops, or grow them yourself at home.

Can You Freeze Fresh Broccoli Sprouts?

Yes.

The fresher the broccoli sprouts are when frozen, the better the quality will be once thawed.

If they’ve already started looking limp or slimy, it’s better to discard them rather than freeze them.

How To Freeze Broccoli Sprouts

I like to flash freeze broccoli sprouts as it makes it much easier to remove just what you need later, rather than ending up with one frozen lump.

  1. Rinse the broccoli sprouts gently under cold water.
  2. Pat them dry with kitchen towel.
  3. Spread them out on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.
  4. Freeze for around 30-60 minutes until frozen.
  5. Transfer to a freezer bag or airtight freezer-safe container.
  6. Label and date before returning them to the freezer.

How Long Do Broccoli Sprouts Last In The Freezer?

For the best quality, use frozen broccoli sprouts within 2-3 weeks.

They’ll still be safe to eat after this if they’ve remained frozen, but because they’re such delicate sprouts, the flavour and texture can deteriorate fairly quickly.

How To Defrost Broccoli Sprouts

Because they’re so small, broccoli sprouts thaw very quickly.

You can:

  • defrost them in the fridge
  • leave them for an hour or so at room temperature if using immediately
  • add them straight to smoothies without thawing

Once thawed, they should be eaten within 24 hours.

Are Raw Broccoli Sprouts Safe?

Like other sprouts, broccoli sprouts can carry bacteria because of the warm, damp conditions they’re grown in.

People who are pregnant, elderly, very young or have weakened immune systems are generally advised to avoid eating raw sprouts and should cook them thoroughly instead.

Always buy fresh sprouts from a reputable supplier and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.

Related Articles

If you’re freezing other salad ingredients, you might also find these guides useful:

Looking for more freezing advice?

Take a look at our Freezing Food Hub, where you’ll find hundreds of guides covering vegetables, fruit, herbs, leftovers, meat, dairy products and much more.

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