What Are These Mysterious Brown Spots On Broccoli?

Broccoli has always been considered as a nutritional powerhouse by nutritionists. It’s loaded with a variety of vitamins. Like potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin C. But have ever you noticed brown spots on broccoli?

Yes! You might have missed it, but I tell you that there are mysterious brown pigments in your green meal! But what the heck is it? Does it mean that the broccoli that you’re eating has some sort of disease? Or is it because of something else?

To answer that question we’ve searched far and wide to find you a solution. And so far, these are the possible answers that we’ve found. We’ll break it down for you so that you’ll be able to understand the situation. And the reason behind the brown spots on your broccoli. 

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First Things First

Whether you like your broccoli roasted, steamed, or raw. It's an important habit to clean and inspect your vegetable before cooking it. A healthy broccoli will do wonders for your health and a good addition to your diet. The first thing that you need to consider is the type of broccoli that you have.

You’ll need to know that there is a difference between a brown spot and a brown broccoli. This is because there are different variations of broccoli. That is being grown worldwide. And yes, there are varieties of broccoli that are color brown.

So, what we will be discussing here is the brown spot on green broccoli. And to make thing a little more interesting, we will also be discussing black spots as well. Now then, here are the things that you need to know about the brown spots on broccoli.

It’s a Type of Fungus

You read that right! It’s a type of fungus. But don’t be alarmed, this is because this kind of fungus is not harmful to the body. This kind of fungus is edible. However, the taste of the broccoli might change or differ from your fresh broccoli.

Be on the lookout for strange patterns on your broccoli. What you think might be a simple fungus could be a dangerous mold. Check and clean carefully your vegetables before you cook them. This way you would be able to distinguish mold from fungus.

If you feel uneasy eating the fungus you can always scrape it or cut it with a knife. This way you will still be able to eat it without the brown fungus. Your health will always come first before your curiosity. So, eat smart and just avoid eating the brown fungus.

Not So Fresh

Broccoli can last up to several days if you refrigerate it after you buy it from the grocery or market. But in some instances, you might have bought some that are already a week old. This happens if you don’t pay attention when picking your vegetables.

The brown pigment or spot might be a sign of old age. Vegetables especially broccoli are prone to contamination when you don’t preserve it. The spots represent the decay process of the plant has already begun.

So when this happens is it still edible? The answer is yes. It can still be eaten; however, there are some things that you need to consider before you start eating it. The things that you need to look out for are its smell, the amount of brown spots present and color.

Frostbite 

Another reason for the spots to appear is because of frostbite. The spots on your favorite vegetable. Could probably be the result of long exposures in cold temperatures. Frostbite causes the skin of the broccoli to discolor and as a result turns into brown spots.

Broccoli is a versatile vegetable that it is can be grown all year round. Some regions might grow broccoli in cold weather. That’s why some broccoli might get frostbite. The brown spots created by the frostbite is still edible so don’t worry.

And, if you’re still not satisfied or not sure what it is. You can always remove it with a knife or just scrape it. Don’t be afraid to dispose of your broccoli if you feel that the brown spot is not for you. Health and safety come first before curiosity.

Old Mold

From all of the reasons above, this might be the most dangerous one. Mold forms when the decaying process of foods reaches its peak. The brown spots on your broccoli might be mold, and this kind of mold is not edible.

This kind of mold could appear as a brown or black spot on your broccoli. Either way, this kind of mold is dangerous to consume so be careful when cooking your meals. If you’re not convinced that it is mold, you can always inspect it by cleaning it.

The appearance of molds is a sign that the broccoli is no longer suitable for consumption. Removing the spots with a knife is also not advisable. This is because the vegetable is already starting to rot. You don’t need to eat it when it enters this stage because of health and safety reasons.


Conclution

There are numerous reasons why brown spots appear on your broccoli. What’s important is that you know what it is and what to do with it afterward. It pays to be cautious about the food that you eat because you don’t want to feel sick eating vegetables.

Whether it is a fungus, mold, or frostbite, you always need to be careful when buying vegetable in the market. Buy only what is fresh and clean, and don’t hesitate to ask your local dealer about it. Your health is always important, remember that. 

To sum it all up, the brown spots on broccoli could possibly be:

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    A type of fungus that grows on vegetables.
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    It could be because of frostbite.
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    It could be a type of mold.
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    It’s a normal process of decay. 

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Ella Wilson
 

Hi! This is Ella Wilson, the founder of tinyplantation.com. Being a devotee with plants and gardens, you will find numerous things with me. I have developed enough interest regarding plants that these things do not bore me anymore; instead this has become my passion.