How to Refresh Cauliflower With Brown Spots (2024)

FAQs

How to Refresh Cauliflower With Brown Spots? ›

If left in the refrigerator for too long, cauliflower can start to develop brown spots on the outside — but that doesn't mean the whole head is a lost cause. If this happens, just use a vegetable peeler to "peel" the spots off, and your cauliflower is good as new and ready to eat.

How to Remove Brown Spots from Cauliflower. While they aren't harmful to eat, if you want to scrape away the largest or most prominent brown spots, this is easy to do. The easiest way to remove the brown spots is with a knife.

If your once-crisp cauliflower has gone rubbery due to poor storage, there may be a way back. Try immersing it in cold water for about 30 minutes to help revive it—or incorporate it as an ingredient.

It is okay to cut mold off of hard cheeses and hard fruits or vegetables like apples, potatoes, onions or cauliflower. Just be sure to cut away at least 1 inch as surface mold is more than what you see. It actually has hyphae or roots which can penetrate deeper into the food.

Browning occurs when the heads develop patches or a covering that's brown, yellow or red. This is often caused by a deficiency of the micronutrient boron, which may also cause yellowing in new leaves.

To treat, you can use a garden fungicide. Just make sure you are choosing one that is organic and meant for edible plants, as you will be eating this plant and don't want to use any harsh chemicals. Always follow all directions on the bottle.

Boron deficiency causes browning in cauliflower. In general, the signs of boron deficiency are evident externally on plants after curd formation.

Oxidized cauliflower is completely edible, although brown or black spots may not have the best taste, especially when they are large. Carefully scrape off black spots with a sharp knife, or cut off any large areas. However, oxidation is the beginning of decay.

If you bought your cauliflower whole and unwrapped, store it loosely covered or in a perforated bag with the stem side facing upwards. Storing it with the stem up and florets down prevents moisture from collecting on the florets, accelerating spoilage.

For the longest shelf life, raw cauliflower should be stored in the refrigerator. A whole head of cauliflower can last 1-2 weeks in the fridge, while precut florets may last up to 4 days. If you need to store cauliflower for an extended period, it can be frozen for up to 10-12 months after blanching.

What is the brown rot on my cauliflower? ›

Browning or brown rot

This is caused by Boron deficiency. It appears as water soaked areas and later changes into rusty brown. Spray one kg of Borax in 500 lit of water 30 days after planting.

Plant Care

In summer, hot sun can cause white cauliflower heads to turn yellow – to protect them, fold the leaves over the curd. In winter, protect the developing head from hard frosts in a similar way.

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.