Money Moral Dilemma: Is it OK to snap off the broccoli stalk before weighing it?

mdjuergens

I don't think it's OK at all. Just eat the stalk. Peeled and eaten raw it's like Kohlrabi - only cheaper.... or you can boil, steam, fry, roast... it - whatever you prefer, and it keeps better than the rest of the broccoli.

suejb2

Always did this prior to having pets. Now we have guinea pigs they eat the bits we don't.

happyinflorida

I have done a couple of times but I felt so guilty I stopped doing it!!

We don't use it and throw it away.

Smodlet

Who knew the inside of broccoli stalks is white? The things you learn here on the MSE board! I, too, have thought of this but never done it as it did feel like stealing, or vandalising, perhaps. No-one has mentioned the adverse effect stalk-snapping (why can I not stop laughing at the subtext?) would have on shelf-life. Fine if you plan to use the broccoli in the next day or so but it would certainly dry out faster without its stem.

To take things a step further, and I was scandalised by this, my mother used to undo containers of cloves, take five or six out, replace the lid, put the tub back on the shelf and sneak them out of the store with her shopping. When I challenged her nefarious practice, her answer was, "but I only want five or six; they will go off before I use them all." I did not and do not condone this behaviour.

londonlydia

To be honest, if it was too much of a problem for these stores then they would no doubt shrink wrap them like some do anyway. They could sell broccoli with shorter stems, but then they would have to pay pickers/ factories to cut them down without damaging the florets, and for the cost of changing their processes they probably just think those who want a shorter stalk can do so themselves.

CHEEKY_CHIPMUNK

I've been doing this trick for years saving me a fortune, my friend who struggles to break the stalk takes a small penknife in with him...but alas the stores are twigging on to whats happening and strink wrapping the stuff. This can also be done with cabbage just remove the outer leaves which are usually dirty and pop the clean cabbage in a plastic bag. Pays to be crafty nowadays, pity we can't do the same with Bananas, Oranges etc.

CHEEKY_CHIPMUNK

Just noticed that someone feels guilty about breaking off the stalk but instead paying for it and throwing it away when they get home...you could be throwing away nearly 50p everytime...go on be a devil and be 50p better off.

AfroKinky1

I am not a stalk user and I get really annoyed when they are unnecessarily large. I would love to break the stalks off but I do not have the guts. I like your style!

Tannith

If you don't eat the broccoli immediately, the water in the stem helps to keep it fresh.

Emily1975

Seems to me, if there wasn't a market for the stalks then there would be an issue with this process. The store will arrive at it's price per kg taking into account the total weight of the product including stalk. If it's left with all the stalks, then the price sold will not adequately reflect the predicted selling cost.

However, as has been demonstrated on this forum, there are people who want the whole vegetable, those who want the flowers only and those who want the stalk only, therefore this practice seems fine to me. Those who want the stalk can break it off, or take a stalk from the box that has already been discarded. Likewise for those who want flowers only. No problem.