When you first put the broccoli in the water, swirl it around in the water a few times to loosen any larger pieces of dirt. If you use warm water, the florets of the broccoli can wilt slightly. If you don’t have a sink available, you can use a large bowl instead. Just make sure the broccoli is submerged under the water.
If you don’t have a colander, you can simply hold the broccoli in your hands and move it around under the water.
If you have a bristle brush for cleaning fruits and vegetables, you can use it to clean broccoli, but remember to be careful when brushing the florets. They can be delicate and may easily break off of the stalk.
If the florets and stalk are still wet, you can pat them dry with a paper towel or clean cloth before preparing the broccoli.
For example, if you put 3 cups (710 mL) of water into the bowl, then you would add 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar.
A vinegar bath takes slightly longer than a cold water bath, but can be more effective at removing pesticides and bacteria than water alone.
If you soak the broccoli for longer than 30 minutes, it can begin to absorb the vinegar, giving it a bitter taste.
Worms tend to live in the florets, where there are plenty of places to hide. If you’re worried about worms in the stalk, you can place the entire stalk into the water, but be sure to keep the florets facing down.
If you don’t see any worms when you move the broccoli, continue the soaking process to ensure that there aren’t any hidden worms.
You don’t have to remove the worms from the water, but it can prevent them from re-attaching to the stalk before you remove it from the water.
If you haven’t yet cleaned the broccoli by scrubbing it with a brush or your fingers, you can do it while you rinse the head.
Once the broccoli is clean and dry, you can cut and cook it or serve it immediately.
