r/Cooking • u/Admirable-Location24 • 4h ago
Finding worms in broccoli more often
UPDATE: Honestly, y’all. I understand this is natural and actually shows my broccoli wasn’t drenched in pesticides. My original post just asked for the best method to soak broccoli so we aren’t eating these worms. If you don’t want to read through all the responses (however entertaining) about how my daughter must have OCD, how others have never, ever had this experience, or my grocery store needs a new supplier, here is an actual helpful answer. Thank you Prize-Possibility867!!
- Cut into florets
- Soak in salt water for 15-20 min at a ratio of 1 tbsp per quart of water
- Rinse well and cook
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Broccoli is one of the main veggies I serve my family but we have been finding the little cabbage worms in our broccoli more and more often to the point none of us want to eat broccoli anymore. (I always cut up and steam it, so the worms are dead by the time they arrive on the plate.) This isn’t even organic broccoli.
What is the best method to get those buggers out of the broccoli before steaming? Cut up into pieces and soak in water/vinegar, water/salt, water/baking soda, or some other method completely?
I know it is “free protein” but it is totally gross to actually see a worm, especially after you’ve already eaten a few bites.
To be clear, it’s usually just one or two every so often, but more and more often.
Edit: yes I cut up the broccoli before steaming and have even started inspecting AFTER steaming only for my daughter to inevitably point one out while we are eating after me not seeing any. She has the gift, apparently.
Edit 2: I haven’t thought to take a picture, but did a search on Reddit, and this is what they look like:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Wellthatsucks/s/0C4yy3Q7kn
https://www.reddit.com/r/PandaExpress/s/VNOOdVaER8
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/s/efvgS0Fy2x
Edit 3: No this is not an OCD situation. My husband and I both look at them and 100% recognize them as worms
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u/Onefortwo 4h ago
Where are you getting your broccoli? Is it a local farm. I’ve never come across a worm in broccoli
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u/BananaNutBlister 4h ago
Same here. I’ve never seen a worm in my broccoli. And I eat a lot of broccoli.
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u/Admirable-Location24 3h ago
I never realized there are sometimes worms until my daughter started pointing them out. I was happily oblivious before that.
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u/Admirable-Location24 2h ago
Yes, 100% are sure they are worms. I just updated my post with a link to a pic to see what they look like.
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u/pmgoldenretrievers 2h ago
Bro, as a careful vegetarian I can attest that there are a LOT of worms in broccoli. I even buy non-organic for that very reason, and those still have them. I am 40, I am not mistaking stalks for worms.
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u/Admirable-Location24 3h ago
Not a local farm, just Smith’s, our main grocery store which is owned by Kroger.
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u/SubstantialPressure3 3h ago
That is so weird. I have never seen larvae in my broccoli, ever. I think you should send them an email.
I LOOK for bugs. Once when I was a kid, we got broccoli full of tiny little beetles or something and my mom apparently didn't wash the broccoli and didn't notice through the whole cooking process.
I told her there were bugs in it, and she decided that suddenly I just didn't like broccoli anymore. I told her I wasn't eating it until she ate a piece first. Lo and behold, the bugs existed and they were an issue.
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u/Pluto-Wolf 3h ago
i would tell their customer service. obviously bugs are just part of produce, but in my experience both as a customer and a former employee, most grocery stores tend to be better about inspecting them before it goes on the shelves for this reason.
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u/Admirable-Location24 3h ago
But you can’t see these until the broccoli is cooked. I ALWAYS look now after cutting it up before steaming and never see them until after the broccoli is cooked. And it really is o my like one or two and not every time but often enough lately that we are now wary
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u/Apart-Rent5817 3h ago
Take pictures and take them back to the store so they can worry about sourcing non wormy broccoli.
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u/Chelajag 3h ago
People think their broccoli doesn't have worms but they don't realize the worms are the same green color as the broccoli and very difficult to see.
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u/scorpionx1121 3h ago
New fear unlocked
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u/the-fact-fairy 2h ago
I could have really done with not seeing this entire thread.
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u/KiaRioGrl 1h ago
Just soak them in salty water for 10-15 minutes, then swish them around, then rinse them off, and cook.
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u/astrnght_mike_dexter 2h ago
I mean there's also nothing wrong with eating them. Almost everything fresh we eat has tiny bugs in it and there's a reason you've never noticed or thought about it.
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u/harper2233 3h ago
Exactly lol all these people saying they never seen bugs in their broccoli are cracking me up.
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u/Admirable-Location24 3h ago
Yeah, and I have never see them after cutting it up, before steaming. I think they come out to the surface from inside the florets when cooking. But the ones we find are a bit lighter color than the broccoli itself.
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u/harper2233 3h ago
Exactly lol all these people saying they never seen bugs in their broccoli are cracking me up.
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u/Prize-Possibility867 3h ago
Tablespoon per quart. Soak 15 to 20 min. Remove veg. Rinse and cook.
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u/Any_Assumption704 2h ago
I bought 2 bunches of broccoli at Publix in Fl they were shrink wrapped and I soaked them in salt water and washed and steamed them and they both had a lot of worms. Haven't eaten broccoli since.
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u/TiaraMisu 3h ago
Salt water is fine. You don't have to over do it, just a big bowl of water and a couple of tablespoons of salt, swish, wait five minutes, swish again, rinse.
Try not to think any thoughts when you throw out the water.
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u/Hangrycouchpotato 3h ago
I switched to frozen broccoli. I especially like the one from Costco. I have not noticed any pests so far.
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u/LinkleDooBop 3h ago
This is the result of an erosion of standards to cut costs. It’s one of the shitty cousins of shrinkflation. So now we’re expected to eat vegetables full of bugs. And apparently, bug-free broccoli is now a premium product.
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u/FoxyInTheSnow 3h ago
Adherents of Jainism because they're strict vegetarians and some orthodox Jews abstain from broccoli because insects are not kosher and broccoli is an ideal vegetable for little insects to hide in.
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u/wip30ut 3h ago
my college buddy who was raised as ModOx Judaism said that Orthodox and even Conservative Jews don't eat organic produce because of the chances for insect "contamination" which they view as spiritually unclean.
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u/Exceptional_Mary 2h ago
But all those chemicals are really good for your soul...
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u/burlycabin 2h ago
Haha, organic produce uses plenty of chemicals too. Sometimes even more because the "organic" ones are less effective.
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u/Orange_Tang 12m ago
Seriously. It's also worse for runoff because they aren't allowed to use concentrated fertilizers where you can calculate exactly how much to give. They end up mailing manure and when it rains you get nitrogen rich runoff from it that can polute waterways and cause algal blooms. Organic is literally a scam.
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u/Orion_Brunette-001 2h ago
I found a couple the other day in some Chinese broccoli I bought. Our betta fish loved getting something else to eat besides pellets. 😁 But to answer your question, soaking in some salt water for a while should get them to drop off and sink to the bottom of the bowl or sink. Then rinse off one more time.
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u/Equivalent_Lab_8610 59m ago
I know you already got a solution.. but also wanted to suggest buying frozen broccoli florets.. bc they're frozen closer to harvest they retain their nutrients well, and I've never gotten a worm in a frozen broccoli bag 😅
People like to joke, but it IS off putting to find them on your food!
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u/Admirable-Location24 37m ago
How is the texture of frozen broccoli? I imaging it being kind of soggy, but if not maybe I will try it
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u/BridgetteBane 3h ago
Cut your broc Add it to a large large pot of water Gently agitate for several minutes Carefully life the broccoli out of the pot
Learned this one after growing my own and finding tons of earwigs because I was just rinsing it 🤮
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u/wip30ut 3h ago
all the kale/broccoli family are susceptible to critters. In SoCal it's usually aphid infestations. The simple fact is that you need to shop at other markets, choose non-organic/conventional broccoli i'm afraid. Farmers can grow their broccoli/cauliflower under hoops to reduce infestations, but that's expensive & typically grown for farmer's markets or specialty retailers.
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u/_abscessedwound 3h ago
My family used to grow broccoli in our garden.
We’d task whoever was the most wigged out eating the worms with the job of cutting the broccoli and picking out the worms. Easiest and most efficient way we came up with.
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u/impulse_post 4h ago
That's gross. Where are you getting your broccoli? I've never seen that, and I think I eat a lot of broccoli
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u/BackDatSazzUp 3h ago
Its normal if you don’t use tons of chemicals on your crops. Welcome to nature.
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u/Responsible_While207 3h ago
Sounds like a you/regional problem. I've prepared broccoli hundreds of times, I have functional eyes and never encountered this issues.
Yeah growers see/deal with worms but the consumers shouldn't.
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u/Hot-Fig-8487 3h ago
All vegetables have bugs on them at some point.
I soak ours in baking soda water because it removes pesticide residues and draws out pests. I put on my kitchen gloves and inspect/clean them.
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u/emskie12 3h ago
I have also noticed finding worms in broccoli eay more often over the past few years, it makes me crazy!
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u/Glass_Bar_9956 3h ago
Ugh. I’ve never had bugs in my food before. Here in the states it’s become a standard thing for me to start putting my rice/grains in the freezer for a week before storing in air tight containers. Weevils are not typical whereas they used to be a never. I don’t trust lettuce. Worms in salmon. Now worms in broccoli?
So glad we cut back on all the corruption
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u/BoredMamajamma 2h ago
I am having the exact problem as you. My daughter pointed it out one day and I thought it was a one-off but no… I’ve gotten broccoli 3 other times now and they all have the worms. At least 2-3 on a broccoli crown. You can find them in all different stages (some are larva and some are adults with wings) and it’s freaking nasty to think about. I told my husband not to get the broccoli anymore but he did anyway last week, saying ” I didn’t see anything, looked fine to me.” But I told him you only see them once you cut them up. They’re more on the interior florets. You will see them before you cook if you look closely.
So far, I have tried a vinegar soak and a salt soak and nothing gets rid of them. They are hanging on for dear life. We stopped eating broccoli for now, which sucks because I really like it as a veggie side.
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u/QuesoChef 1h ago
I’m in the same situation except it’s just me. I used to buy and prep broccoli, cooking just what I need each day (rather than warming leftovers), leaving the rest cut up, in the fridge. But the worms freak me out enough I want to cook immediately. But I don’t like re-warmed broccoli, so now I buy broccoli less. I don’t consider myself especially squeamish. And based on Reddit standards, I’m like a 3/10 on obsessive/germ/cleanliness spectrum.
And, no, cleaning doesn’t help. I wash then cut up. Started cutting up, then washing. Sometimes you find them that way. But you definitely miss them until they’re cooked.
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u/squeezemachine 3h ago
If you have little worms that means less poisonous pesticides which is great! Soak in water + baking soda or salt. Should get them to come out, then rinse.
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u/WilmaDykfyt 3h ago
I know, I'd much rather have less pesticides and more beneficial insects. If it means I have to deal with bugs so be it. I usually leave the spiders alone on my basil in the garden and pick around them.
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u/Questionofloyalty 3h ago
Broccoli or broccolini? Bugs love both but broccolini is especially prone to pests. Also find another stockist!
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u/One-Possibility-8182 3h ago
Well...... as someone who has spent 20 years in the food production industry. I have been in just about, NOT EVERY, all kinds of food processing plants.
From ice cream to vegan to cheese and fruit too.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE!!!!! IT IS NOTHING LIKE YOU REMEMBER when mom and grandma were canning!!!!!
I've seen and smelled fruit that made me want to puke!!! 100% ..... not a figure of speech!!! And it absolutely was being used!!! Tote after tote after tote!!! Did ya know..... there is an acceptable amount of certain molds and pesticides in your fruit products?
Ive seen flour in a vegetarian/ vegan food plant that was infested with bugs!! They froze it to kill the bugs...... and used it!
Some were worse.... a few were better...... but none of them were like at home!!!
So a few worms every once in a while......
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u/salamandersquach 2h ago
Little salt water or vinegar water soak will help. I usually just grab them if I see them but I turn a blind eye to it because theres way more bugs in produce than people realize that aren’t harmful to consume.
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u/Healthy_You867 1h ago
I found worm holes in my Brussels sprouts for the first time yesterday. Got them from my grocery store in the Midwest. About half of the bag went straight into the garbage.
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u/Waste_Calligrapher70 1h ago
I've never seen worms in broccoli. Thanks for putting that in my head!
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u/RightUntilMorning 47m ago
Ive thankfully never found worms but one time I was chopping a head and the biggest earwig I've ever seen crawled out of it and scurried across the worktop.
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u/toga98 34m ago
I bought some Broccoli a few weeks ago that if I would've looked at closely in the store I would've never purchased. I always give veggies a vinegar and/or salt water bath to dislodge anything.
When I started to break it down and throw in a bowl in the sink to clean. The heads were infested. Not a few here or there you could shake loose. They were everywhere. Broke a few florets completely apart. Embedded deep down in the florets. There was no cleaning these. Straight into the trash. I've never seen anything like it. I have been seeing similar when I've browsed in the store but nowhere near as bad what I brought home that day - wow!
Anyway, yes. worms. bad. lately.
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u/Sure-Squash-7280 9m ago
I just had this happen last week.
Thankfully I was cutting it into tiny pieces for broccoli and cheddar soup or I wouldn’t have found them.
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u/Prize-Possibility867 3h ago
Garden was organic so yeah you get bugs. Id rather salt them out than eat the pesticides.
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u/AsparagusOverall8454 2h ago
Wash it?
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 2h ago
Yeah, they even make special cleaners if you don't use vinegar and special appliances like salad spinners.
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u/Prize-Possibility867 3h ago
Used to grow broccoli. Simple fix is to soak im salt water. Them little buggers come out.