How Long Does Chopped Broccoli Last?

Chopped raw broccoli holds up in the fridge for about 3-5 days, and yellowing florets — where broccoli's normal deep green fades toward yellow — are usually the first visible sign it's declining, well before the stems show any comparable change.

A strong sulfurous smell, considerably sharper than broccoli's normal mild, faintly grassy scent, along with sliminess on the cut stems and softened, mushy florets, are the clearer signs of actual spoilage rather than simple staleness. Because broccoli's stems and florets age at different rates, separating them before storage — keeping the denser stems, which last a bit longer, apart from the more delicate florets — can stretch a bit more usable life out of a bunch than storing them mixed together.

Broccoli stored with a bit of extra room in its container or bag, rather than tightly packed, holds up better than broccoli crammed in, since the ethylene gas broccoli itself releases as it ages can accelerate its own decline in a sealed, crowded space more than it would with slightly more airflow around each piece.

Broccoli florets separated from their stems before storage decline slightly faster than the sturdier stems do, so a container of pre-separated florets is worth using a bit sooner than one where the stems are still attached and offering some structural support.

A stalk that's been trimmed of its very base, the toughest and most fibrous part, before storage tends to hold up marginally better than one stored with that woody end still attached, since that portion is the first to dry out and discolor.

See Chopped Broccoli's full storage & shelf-life guide (with spoilage signs) →