Brussels sprouts are divinely delicious, no matter if they’re shredded, steamed, roasted, or fried. They’re also packed with nutritional benefits since they are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—plus, they’re known to decrease inflammation and strengthen your immune system.
When shopping for fresh Brussels sprouts, go ahead and examine the leaves, ensuring that they’re bright green or a tad bit yellow, not brown. You also want your sprouts to be firm to the touch, and have firmly packed leaves.
Once you’ve picked out the perfect bunch of Brussels sprouts, it’s time to clean ‘em. Cleaning Brussels sprouts is necessary, as it helps remove any dirt, debris, bugs, and pesticide residue from the cruciferous vegetable. And while cleaning sprouts may seem like a tedious task, it’s actually incredibly simple and takes almost no time at all.
When soaking your Brussels sprouts, add a little salt to the bowl of water. The salt will season the sprouts a bit, remove the bitterness, and help tenderize them before they’re cooked.
How to Clean Brussels Sprouts
Once you are ready to cook with your Brussels sprouts, it’s time to clean them. The soaking step takes a few minutes, but is pivotal to the cleaning process.
- Use a chef’s knife or paring knife to trim the bottom of each Brussels sprout.
- Fill a bowl with cold water and let the sprouts soak for about 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse the Brussels sprouts under cold running water to remove any remaining dirt or debris.
- Use a colander to drain the Brussels sprouts, and then pat them dry with a kitchen towel.
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