How long does Broccoli last?
Broccoli lasts 3–5 days in the fridge, 1 year (blanched) in the freezer. Spoilage signs to check, storage tips, and cited food-safety sources.
Quick answer
Can I still eat it?
Use this as a conservative screen before you rely on the storage window. If anything seems unsafe, discard it.
Use whole days since it was opened, cooked, or bought.
Sealed / unopened: N/A
Signs Broccoli has gone bad
- Black mushy spots, slimy stems, sulfurous strong smell.
Still good if
- Yellow florets — past peak but still safe to eat; trim off the yellowed parts and cook the rest.
Discard immediately if
- Slimy texture even after rinsing
- Sour smell
- Black or fuzzy mold spreading from a single spot
Why guidance varies
Fresh produce ripening depends on ethylene-gas exposure, storage temperature, humidity, and time since harvest — duration estimates assume typical home conditions, not optimal commercial storage.
Get a heads-up before it expires. Search the full database instead.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Broccoli last?
In the fridge: 3–5 days. In the freezer: 1 year (blanched). Sealed / unopened: N/A. Yellow florets mean it's past peak but still edible. Black spots mean discard.
How can you tell if Broccoli has gone bad?
Signs that Broccoli has gone bad: Black mushy spots, slimy stems, sulfurous strong smell. Still good if: Yellow florets — past peak but still safe to eat; trim off the yellowed parts and cook the rest.
What does the date label on Broccoli mean?
Broccoli usually doesn't carry a printed date label — judge by storage time and the spoilage signs above.
Sources for this answer
- A USDA FSIS FoodKeeper data — Storage windows and refrigeration guidance for this category.
- A FDA — Are You Storing Food Safely? — Date-label interpretation and food-safety baseline.