# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**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, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/21 "2017-11-01T11:55:34Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > 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. What is your preferred way of eating them? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/22 "2017-11-01T12:58:22Z")
I’m wondering if the no-thaw recommendation is to prevent the vegetables from getting mushy. The freezing will create ice crystals which break down the cell walls, which means they will lose a lot of their firmness if they thaw. Perhaps going straight from frozen to cooked tightens up the proteins and keeps them firmer? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/23 "2017-11-01T17:21:50Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > What is your preferred way of eating them? Not. I’m no fan of vegetables in general, but b sprouts are WAY down on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/24 "2017-11-01T17:36:52Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I’m wondering if the no-thaw recommendation is to prevent the vegetables from getting mushy. The freezing will create ice crystals which break down the cell walls, which means they will lose a lot of their firmness if they thaw. Perhaps going straight from frozen to cooked tightens up the proteins and keeps them firmer? I would agree with that. The REAL reason to say “don’t thaw” is so the company doesn’t get complaints from people who thaw, get mushy vegs, and then ruin them in the microwave. I mean, yes, of course, they want you to have the best experience with their product, as a primary goal of the instructions, but they also want to mitigate complaints. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/25 "2017-11-01T17:38:38Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Not. I’m no fan of vegetables in general, but b sprouts are WAY down on the list. Then why are you pestering this thread with your anti-Brussel Sprout agenda? BE GONE! ---
**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:** [November 1, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/26 "2017-11-01T17:57:13Z")
Sequential threads that just now came up for me: **Trick or Treating Results? Frozen Brussel Sprouts** ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/27 "2017-11-01T18:07:27Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Sequential threads that just now came up for me: > > **Trick or Treating Results? > Frozen Brussel Sprouts** Me too. Best Halloween ever! ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/28 "2017-11-01T19:48:14Z")
Those microwave bags for Brussels sprouts are the terriblest. I recommend taking what you want out of the bag and roasting the sprouts in the oven with some salt. ---
**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:** [November 1, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/29 "2017-11-01T19:59:46Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Sequential threads that just now came up for me: > > **Trick or Treating Results? > Frozen Brussel Sprouts** [Ruin Halloween with Chocolate-covered Brussels sprouts!](http://time.com/4546087/chocolate-covered-brussels-sprouts-halloween/) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/30 "2017-11-01T21:15:00Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Then why are you pestering this thread with your anti-Brussel Sprout agenda? BE GONE! If I can get just one person to swear off Brussels sprouts, it will all be worth it! Nah, enjoy 'em if you like 'em. Just don’t make me smell 'em. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257/31 "2017-11-01T21:21:46Z")
The best way to enjoy Brussels sprouts is by roasting or sauteing them. They taste far and away better than steamed or microwaved ones. It’s like a totally different vegetable. But start with fresh rather than frozen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-brussel-sprouts/800257.md?page=1)