# Frozen Brussel Sprouts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257 "2017-10-31T01:27:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/1 "2017-10-31T01:27:08Z")
I just “cooked” a bag of frozen brussel sprouts in the microwave. The package ominously proclaims: Keep frozen. Do not thaw. Cook thoroughly. Apparently you have to prepare the entire bag - which is too much for me to eat. Can I safely refrigerate the rest after cooking? . ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/2 "2017-10-31T01:35:23Z")
Why didn’t you just take out and cook the quantity you wanted to eat and leave the rest back in the freezer? Yes, you can safely refrigerate the leftovers for a day or two, but when you reheat them, they will be, well, reheated leftover brussel sprouts. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/3 "2017-10-31T01:37:38Z")
Is it one of those steam in the bag packages? If not, just separate out what you want and stick the rest back in the freezer. I believe Steamer bags may be on the market as well. I don’t think kerning the leftovers in the fridge is an issue. I do with sprouts I’ve roasted. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk ---
**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:** [October 31, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/4 "2017-10-31T01:37:50Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > Why didn’t you just take out and cook the quantity you wanted to eat and leave the rest back in the freezer? I suspect it was the kind of bag where you steam-cook the veggies by putting the entire bag into the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/5 "2017-10-31T01:50:39Z")
Brussels sprouts are one of those foods that almost by definition can’t “go bad.”😃 (Actually, I like Brussels sprouts.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/6 "2017-10-31T01:55:04Z")
Go for it. The rules are for those who aren’t brave enough to cook and eat brussel sprouts. I didn’t know there was a maximum amount of brussel sprouts to eat. I used to cook a whole frozen bag and eat them as a snack. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/7 "2017-10-31T02:28:28Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I suspect it was the kind of bag where you steam-cook the veggies by putting the entire bag into the microwave. Yes. Thanks for the replies. BTW, I ended up eating the whole bag after all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/8 "2017-10-31T03:02:23Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I don’t think **kerning** the leftovers in the fridge is an issue. I do with sprouts I’ve roasted. _Bolding mine_ It’s absolutely fine as long as they are properly spaced. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/9 "2017-10-31T03:10:45Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I ended up eating the whole bag after all. No, read the directions. After cooking, you’re supposed to eat the brussels sprouts and throw out the bag. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/10 "2017-10-31T03:20:41Z")
And to answer the now unnecessary question, we keep leftovers in the fridge all the time, no problem. Not as good warmed up, but perfectly acceptable. By the way, cooking sprouts with bacon is delish. Fresh are better for that. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/11 "2017-10-31T03:21:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > After cooking, you’re supposed to eat the brussels sprouts and throw out the bag. To be fair to the OP, the decision is probably a wash on several criteria. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/12 "2017-10-31T04:55:25Z")
You can always chop up the leftovers and, as with any other brassicas, mix them up with mashed potatoes (leftover or fresh) and fry it up in patties, as colcannon or bubble and squeak or variants thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/13 "2017-10-31T12:07:12Z")
I will caution you that however much you like them, brussels sprouts are NOT A BREAKFAST FOOD. Any time I have broken this rule, the effluvium near ripped me in half trying to get out. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/14 "2017-10-31T17:50:29Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Go for it. The rules are for those who aren’t brave enough to cook and eat brussel sprouts. That’s right! They’re not the boss of you! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/15 "2017-10-31T22:09:43Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I ended up eating the whole bag after all. Said no **gigi** , ever. In regard to Brussels sprouts, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/16 "2017-10-31T23:24:07Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > _Bolding mine_ > > It’s absolutely fine as long as they are properly spaced. I have a small fridge, so kerning is very important! I’m pleading autocorrect issues. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/17 "2017-11-01T03:42:09Z")
Ok, so it seemed like a silly question to many of you. But what is so delicate about Brussel Sprouts that they HAVE to be kept frozen. DO NOT THAW it demands (in all caps). If it’s just a matter of taste, why not word it “for best results…” Will thawed frozen BS make you sick? ETA: I guess my question is, are Brussel sprouts more dangerous thawed than any other food? > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > You can always chop up the leftovers and, as with any other brassicas, mix them up with mashed potatoes (leftover or fresh) and fry it up in patties, as colcannon or bubble and squeak or variants thereof. That actually sounds quite yummy. I shall give it a try. . ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/18 "2017-11-01T04:20:03Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Ok, so it seemed like a silly question to many of you. But what is so delicate about Brussel Sprouts that they HAVE to be kept frozen. DO NOT THAW it demands (in all caps). If it’s just a matter of taste, why not word it “for best results…” Will thawed frozen BS make you sick? > > ETA: I guess my question is, are Brussel sprouts more dangerous thawed than any other food? I’ve seen the same instructions on all sorts of frozen foods, from other veg to pizza. I suspect that if thawed for a long time there is no guarantee they won’t spoil, not to mention that the cooking time will be different. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/19 "2017-11-01T08:57:04Z")
1. Carefully thaw the Brussels Sprouts to room temperature. 2. Gently steam in microwave. 3. Remove from bag and inhale that delicious Brussels Spouts aroma. 4. Chuck away sprouts, eat bag. Trust me, it will taste better. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/20 "2017-11-01T09:43:46Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Ok, so it seemed like a silly question to many of you. But what is so delicate about Brussel Sprouts that they HAVE to be kept frozen. DO NOT THAW it demands (in all caps). If it’s just a matter of taste, why not word it “for best results…” Will thawed frozen BS make you sick? I expect what they’re trying to avoid is dumb people putting the bag of frozen veggies straight in the fridge and expecting it to still keep till its freezer use-by date of some time in 2019. BTW, “BS” is an \*excellent \*acronym for Brussels Sprouts, IMHO (d&r) ETA: And the movie clip mascot for this thead is … [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0cFIFzV7LQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0cFIFzV7LQ) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257.md?page=2)