Sand/grit in fresh broccoli

M

meryl

Well-known member
Lately, I've been getting broccoli that has tons of sand or some kind of grit in it. I've been buying broccoli for over 40 years, and have never seen this - The past few bunches have been inedible. And I've been buying it from the same source for the past 7 years or so.

I always scrub and rinse it thoroughly, cut into florets, then usually steam it. I'm wondering if soaking in several changes of water, so the dirt falls to the bottom would help - This is what I do with cilantro. However, cilantro or spinach etc. are flat leaves - the broccoli has tight florets - I'm not so sure the sand/dirt would come out.

Has anyone else been experiencing this?

 
Meryl, I've seen it in rainy weather and figured the broccoli got splashed with mud.

Or maybe your source changed suppliers to someone not as meticulous.

But soaking it is a basin of water like spinach should clean it.

 
I find broccoli hard to soak because it floats.

I usually try to weight it down with a plate. I haven't noticed a grit problem. I'm soaking to drown the worms so they fall off prior to cooking.

 
When pesticides are not used worms are common in local broccoli.

They are green and about just under 1 inch long. They are usually on the stem just below the florets. They are the larvae of smallish pale yellow/white butterflies.

Sorry if this is TMI and if I've alarmed people unnecessarily!

 
There is an absolutely organic spray called B.t. (Bacillus thurengensis) that is a bacterial culture

that only kills caterpillars (like cabbage worms). Most organic suppliers use it, and their broccoli is likely caterpillar-free. Home gardeners could use it too, or soak their broccoli in salt water for 30 minutes, which is just as effective.

It's sold by "Safer" brand simply as "Caterpillar Killer." I don't suppose it's any consolation that the cabbage worms are camouflaged and almost undetectable on broccoli so you'll never know you've eaten them!? No?

It's also the most effective defense against tomato worms. (Don't worry, tomato worms are HUGE and you could never accidentally eat them. But they sure can eat your tomatoes.)

 
Once when we grew broccoli, I made a pot of the most delicious

broccoli with garlic. Bub and I each ate a large helping and went back to get seconds. That was when we saw a bunch of worms with garlic in the bottom of the pot. Ugggggggggg! It took me years before I could eat broccoli again. My mom told me to soak it in salt water.

 
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