What Are Those Brown Spots on My Cauliflower? (2024)

FAQs

What Are Those Brown Spots on My Cauliflower? ›

The culprit for this discoloration is oxidation, which happens naturally the longer cauliflower is stored. Oxidation is simply the natural change in the vegetable's color due to prolonged exposure to light and air.

Most people don't exactly feel enthusiastic when they think about the brown spots that pop up on apple slices, but that doesn't mean they won't eat them. You can think about cauliflower spots in a similar way. And yes, it's perfectly safe to eat cauliflower with a handful of unattractive spots on it.

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

Seal in GladWare^® food protection containers. Place whole cauliflower heads inside Glad^® ClingWrap (loosely) or Glad^® Zipper Bags. Add air holes for circulation. Wrap whole cauliflower heads in Glad^® ClingWrap (loosely) or place in Glad^® Zipper Bags.

Avoid those with brown spots or loose, spread-out sections. Buy a head of cauliflower and separate it into its sections or florets. Or for convenience, purchase a tub of washed, precut florets. Cauliflower wrapped in a cellophane bag can trap moisture and speed up spoiling.

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.

Some mycologists consider other species in the Sparassis genus to exist, but this is of little interest for the forager as none are poisonous.

Chromoblastomycosis: This infection affects the tissue below the skin and the skin itself. It can cause warty patches of skin and lesions that look like cauliflower. The infection more commonly affects people who work on farms and is more common in tropical areas.

Most mushroom recipes call for sautéing, but deep-frying can be an excellent option. To fry cauliflower mushrooms, make sure they are very dry before tossing them in flour, dipping them in a beaten egg, and rolling them in breadcrumbs. Fry cauliflower mushrooms in 400-degree oil until crisp and golden brown.

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.

Why is my cauliflower growing brown? ›

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.

Spots develop concentric rings. Finally the spots coalesce leading to blighting of leaves. The fungus is seed borne and cause shriveling of seeds and poor germination. Linear spots also appear on petioles, stems, pods & seeds.

WILTED. A quick soak in ice water for 5 to 10 minutes is often enough to reinvigorate wilted veggies.

Although cauliflower plants love the sun, you should know that in most cases customers prefer white heads instead of slightly yellow ones. Thus, many farmers tie some outer leaves on the curds to prevent them from turning yellow.

Moisture can lead to discoloration or decay of the cauliflower. You should also skip washing your cauliflower before storing it, but you should wash it once you're ready to use it. When properly stored, cauliflower can last up to three to five days in the fridge.

As The Kitchn notes, cauliflower does see oxidative brown spots naturally, but it's not time to toss the cauliflower until the color turns from light brown to dark brown or black. That's the point of no return. Other telltale signs of spoilage for cauliflower include mold, off-smells, slimy texture, or soft spots.

First, check the color of the florets. They should be a bright, uniform green. If they have any yellow or brown spots, that's a sign your broccoli is starting to spoil. If you notice fuzzy white or black patches growing on the florets or the stem, that tells you that mold is starting to form, and it's time to toss it.

Moisture can lead to discoloration or decay of the cauliflower. You should also skip washing your cauliflower before storing it, but you should wash it once you're ready to use it. When properly stored, cauliflower can last up to three to five days in the fridge.