Brussel sprouts are a controversial vegetable, but a lot of people enjoy them, and if you’re getting into the wintry spirit, you may already be serving these healthy green globes at dinner. If you’ve ever cut one open and discovered it’s pink inside, though, you might be doubting whether it’s safe to eat.
Pinkness inside your Brussel sprouts can be caused by a variety of different things. In many cases, it’s a worrying sign, and it indicates that the sprouts have gone off and should not be consumed. Occasionally, it may be due to the variety of sprout, or due to the sprout reacting with something else you are cooking.
Nobody wants to throw away good sprouts, so we’re going to check out what causes this sort of discoloration, whether it’s safe to eat, and what to do about it. This should help you to avoid wasting sprouts and ensure you can enjoy your meal.
Why Are My Brussels Sprouts Pink In The Middle?
If you cut open a raw sprout and find that it is pink inside, the first thing you should do is check whether the sprout is okay. Pinkness is very commonly caused by mold or fungal decay, and eating moldy sprouts could make you sick – so it needs to be avoided.
Check whether you can see any damage on the outside of the sprout that might have let bacteria in.
Next, smell the sprout and see whether it smells fresh or not. A sprout that is past its best will often have a strong sulfur smell because it contains hydrogen sulfide gasses. These gasses create a pungent odor that most people find unpleasant. A fresh sprout will have very little smell, but an old sprout, where the gasses have had time to gather, will smell strong.
You can also check whether the sprout is mushy, especially around the pink area. If it feels soft or slimy, the sprout has decayed and needs to be thrown away, not eaten. However, if none of these things are true, it’s possible that the sprouts have turned pink for another reason. This could be due to:
- The variety, as some kinds of sprouts (such as Rubine) do have more pink coloration, which could appear in the center
- Something that you have cooked it with, especially if you are adding vinegar or lemon juice to the sprouts
Brussels sprouts contain anthocyanin, and this is what gives red cabbage its attractive color. When this is mixed with lemon juice, it will react, creating a bright red or pink hue inside the sprout. If your previously green sprouts have turned pink when you’ve added vinegar, they should still be fine to eat – even if they look a little strange!
Can You Eat Pink Brussels Sprouts?
If your Brussels sprouts have turned pink because you have added acidity to them or if you have bought a pink variety, you should be able to eat them safely. However, if you cut the sprouts open and find that they are brown, pink, or mushy inside, this is a sure sign that they have gone off.
You should not eat Brussels sprouts that have gone off, as they could contain bacteria that would make you sick. That may mean discarding Brussels sprouts, but it is better to be safe than to eat potentially spoiled sprouts. You should be particularly wary of any sprouts that have been stored in the fridge for more than about 5 days.
How Should You Store Brussels Sprouts?
If you have Brussels sprouts, you should keep them in the fridge, as they need to be chilled if they are to be kept for more than a day or two. Left at room temperature, the sprouts will quickly shrivel and start to decay, and you may see the leaves pulling away from the center and losing their tightness.
Brussels sprouts can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days, but you should aim to use them up by this point, or there is a high chance that they will start to go off. Like many other cabbages, they do not store brilliantly well, so using them up reasonably quickly will minimize the risk of waste.
When you are choosing sprouts in the store, avoid any that have brown or yellow outer leaves, as these are much more likely to have decay and pinkness in the center. Choose sprouts that are bright green and have tightly furled leaves, and they should last better.
Conclusion
If your Brussels sprouts are pink inside, you will need to check them thoroughly for any signs of decay. Pinkness is often an indication that bacteria or fungi have started to form inside the vegetable, and these could make you sick if you consume them. However, if your sprouts were green and only developed pink after being mixed with an acid, they should be fine to eat.
