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How to Clean Brussels Sprouts
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How to Clean Brussels Sprouts

There are many delicious Brussels sprouts recipes to enjoy coleslaw has Crushed and crispy Brussels sprouts. Whether you plan to eat your sprouts raw or cooked, it’s important to understand how to prepare them, which includes knowing how to clean Brussels sprouts.

Caitlin Bensell; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


The first step in cleaning Brussels sprouts

The Brussels sprouts should be soaked in cold water for a few minutes to start the cleaning process.

Edwards notes that all produce – even organic produce – should be washed before consumption to remove dirt, debris, insects and pesticide residue.

“To remove insects from Brussels sprouts, you will need to soak and scrub them by hand, then rinse them again after cutting them to remove insects hiding in the deeper leaves,” she says.

According to The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)“Wash water should not be colder than the product by more than 10 degrees to prevent entry of microorganisms into the stem or flower end of the product.”

How to Clean Brussels Sprouts

  1. Wash: After washing your Brussels sprouts, it’s time to prepare them for cooking.
  2. Trim: Edwards says to cut off a small amount from the bottom, trimming them as necessary for the recipe you’re making.
  3. Rinse again. To remove debris from between the leaves, rinse them again.

Should you scrub Brussels sprouts?

No, it’s necessary. Seeing visible dirt on Brussels sprouts — which look like tiny heads of cabbage — may prompt scrubbing the leaves, but it’s not necessary, Edwards says.

“You don’t necessarily need to scrub the Brussels sprouts, but you should work them with your hands to help remove any stubborn dirt,” she says.

Should you wash Brussels sprouts with vinegar?

Edwards says Brussels sprouts can be washed with a mixture of water and vinegar, but it’s not necessary. Brussels sprouts – or any other produce – should never be washed with detergent or any other type of bleach.

NIFA adds: “Many types of fresh produce are porous and could absorb these chemicals, changing their safety and taste. »