# Broccoli, Kale, or Spinach? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784 "2020-08-22T23:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/21 "2020-08-23T04:07:52Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Kale is like eating forage. Way too much chewing. And all the time I’m chewing I’m thinking “why”? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/22 "2020-08-23T05:34:14Z")
Spinach if it’s super-fresh. Otherwise, none of the above. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/23 "2020-08-23T06:41:34Z")
I can’t imagine picking the other two over broccoli. George HW Bush hated it, that was his choice. But it’s pretty much the only green/remotely healthy thing my youngest will eat. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/24 "2020-08-23T09:34:27Z")
Spinach first. As long as it’s well-cleaned, it’s fairly flexible and I’ll eat it raw, well-cooked and in-between. Then broccoli. If it’s too old or cooked wrong it’s barely edible. Good broccoli is YUM. Is kale edible? Actually it’s okay as kale chips or as accent in a salad. As a main vegetable, it’s not my thing. Funnily enough I can gross out my parents by eating a bit of kale. They really don’t like it. Or eggplant, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/25 "2020-08-23T10:33:08Z")
I hate spinach. Well, I’m ok with it raw in a salad, but cooked it’s disgusting. If I see it listed on a menu (eg hake on a bed of spinach) I will reject that choice instantly. It’s slimy and horrible. I truly don’t understand its popularity. Broccoli on the other hand is my green veg of choice. I love it. Kale is fine too. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/26 "2020-08-23T12:17:10Z")
I’m a never Kaler. Spinach then broccoli. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/27 "2020-08-23T12:59:08Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I can’t imagine picking the other two over broccoli. George HW Bush hated it, that was his choice. It may be something more than mere chance. As I understand it, broccoli tastes particularly bitter to some people because of their taste receptors. > **[The Broccoli Problem: Why Some People Taste Things More Bitter](https://www.livescience.com/39578-why-some-hate-broccoli.html)** > > It has been a mystery why some of us love some vegetables like broccoli, while others find it a bitter veggie, even though most people have the same genes for bitter taste receptors. Now scientists may have found the missing link. But broccoli would be my answer to the thread title question. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/28 "2020-08-23T13:33:01Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Kale is like eating forage. Way too much chewing. That’s not my problem with kale. It can be cut up and cooked into submission. My issue is just that it tastes nasty. It’s by far the nastiest-flavored plant in its family that anyone tries to eat. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/29 "2020-08-23T13:39:35Z")
Baby spinach in a salad, cooked broccoli as a side dish. Both in small quantities. On the two times I have attempted to eat kale, it was far too bitter for my palate. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/30 "2020-08-23T13:59:34Z")
I eat kale for its powerful antioxidant effects and other health benefits. The problem is most people don’t know how to prepare kale so that it tastes good. I’ve taken my many years of culinary expertise and developed a kale recipe that is both healthy and delicious. I call it: _Healthy & Delicious Kale Kasserole._ Recipe: • 1 lb. elbow pasta • 1/128 cup kale • 8 strips bacon • ½ cup salted butter • ½ cup all purpose flour • 1 ½ cups whole milk • 2 ½ cups half and half • 4 cups grated medium sharp cheddar cheese • 2 cups grated Gruyere cheese • ½ Tbsp. Salt Cook pasta as directed. Fry and crumble bacon. Mince 1/128 cup kale and fry in bacon grease. Combine all ingredients and bake at 350F x 30 minutes. Sprinkle with additional grated cheese, bread crumbs and butter. Bake for additional 15 minutes till bubbly and golden brown on top. Serve with high-gravity beer. Eating this dish on a regular basis will significantly increase your lean muscle mass. The muscle mass will be primarily concentrated in your abdominal and buttocks regions, but many people find this attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/31 "2020-08-23T14:04:19Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > 1/128 cup kale Do you just wave a leaf over the baking dish? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/32 "2020-08-23T14:08:00Z")
Cooked, kale. Raw, spinach. Broccoli can go back to hell, where it came from. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/33 "2020-08-23T14:10:29Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > Do you just wave a leaf over the baking dish? I use a homeopathic approach with regard to kale. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/34 "2020-08-23T14:20:12Z")
Spinach, wilted and with a little butter. Or, as we’ve already headed into saag country, my vote is for saag aloo. j ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/35 "2020-08-23T14:39:40Z")
Loves me some broccoli, but it has to be cooked. I don’t like the mouth-feel of raw broccoli. I’m OK with spinach raw or cooked. The only time I’ve had kale was in [stuffed ham](https://www.visitmaryland.org/article/southern-maryland-stuffed-ham-recipe). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/36 "2020-08-23T14:48:23Z")
If I can have fresh green uncooked spinach in a salad, I’d prefer that. If not, cooked broccoli with a generous blob of butter, please. Kale? Only if I must. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/37 "2020-08-23T20:06:32Z")
Broccoli and spinach both have their place, but from the phrasing in the OP, “that’s your choice on a menu”, I get the impression that we’re talking cooked and by itself as a side dish. Under those circumstances, broccoli: Cooked broccoli can be good if not overcooked, but spinach cooked by itself (as opposed to as an ingredient in a more complicated dish) usually isn’t. Raw, broccoli is a great vehicle for dip (lots of surface area) and not bad by itself, while spinach is the foundation for a great salad. Kale isn’t bad, per se, but anything kale can do, spinach can do better. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/38 "2020-08-23T20:10:21Z")
Spinach, as long as it’s cooked in/with something. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/39 "2020-08-23T21:08:36Z")
Broccoli’s fine as long as it’s cooked; not a great crudite in my opinion. Spinach is nice wilted, with some butter and freshly shaved nutmeg. Kale tastes like the bitter, leathery skin of long-dead enemies. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784/40 "2020-08-23T21:27:30Z")
Spinach. Then _cooked_ broccoli (not raw, not lightly steamed…cooked!). Kale is something you put chicken salad on when you’re felling fancy. It isn’t for eating. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broccoli-kale-or-spinach/918784.md?page=3)