I soak my broccoli after picking in salt water. I add maybe one quarter cup of salt to maybe 1 galloon of water, dump in the broccoli and let it set for awhile. I'll swish the broccoli around several times and scoop out any cabbage worms that come out. After a few times of swishing and not finding any I figure all is well. (I have caterpillers of the cabbage white butterfly on mine, not inch worms) Can't guarantee it will work with other insect larvae and can't guarantee it will remove them all. But it has worked for us. I don't think my husband would refuse to eat broccoli if he found one, but he would definitely react worse to it than I would.

Good question and I don't have an answer. Your post just reminded me of a childhood memory.

My dad was a gardener and one meal lettuce was brought in, my mother rinsed it well under the faucet and it was served.

We ate it like usual and then I noticed something odd, there was this green thing on the lettuce. I had no idea what it was at that age, just that it was some "worm" thingy. At this point everyone began inspecting their salads and we all had *many* green 'worms'. It was not particularly appetizing to realize we had already eaten half our salads :)

These days I really don't care, it's just protein, but back then I reacted much like your husband. It was some time before I felt safe eating lettuce again :)

I use the salt soak like naturegirl 2007 does. My DH would react the same way your's did and he's a rough and tumble backpacking/camping/roughing it person. Geesh!

Count me as another salt soak. Then, I just try not to look too hard or think about it. I have a strong gag reflex.

BTW, I have learned that broccoli comes out much much better if you boil the water first, then add the broccoli. Cover for 2.5 to 3 minutes max - absolutely no longer, and it comes out perfectly tender-crisp.

Kay

To minimize the problem, I put a pan of water near the cabbage. The robins who go drink there clean them up. It is certainly a factor 10 reduction, very effective. Change the water at least every ten days to avoid mosquitoes.

You could also tell him to grow up. That PB sandwich he ate yesterday had the same amount of insect matter in there, and all he has to do is a google search to find out. Yes, it is legal. The FDA only specifies maximum amounts of insect in human food.

I have a GREAT answer that you and your DH will love. It's called Bt or Bacilulus thuringiensis. It comes in a dustable powder or liquid. Organic gardeners use it because it is safe to eat the members of the cabbage family right after they are treated. This only works on cabbage loopers and doesn't affect any beneficials or other nasty bugs. I would guess that the loopers would disappear within 24 hours after treatment. It's helpful to start treating as soon as you see white butterflies (adults) in your garden. Over time you'll have more control over the population so that after you get some frosts you won't have to treat anymore. I'm with your husband, I don't like this kind of surprise.

I'll second the Bt idea. It works great. I apply it with a tool called the dustin mizer. It blows a very small amount of powder over a very large area. Use it very early in the morning when the wind is calm, and the dew is heavy to make it stick well. I use it once a week after I plant and never even get a hole in a leaf from any caterpillars.
The product is sold locally as "Dipel".

I guess the application of Bt is all in the timing. I used BT and my wife found a worm in the broccoli on her plate.

Here is a link that might be useful: Win Free Garden Stuff

I love brocolli but don't plant it as I don't want even 1 lopper in the cook pot. Years ago, when I grew broccoli and used BT, I'd still find critters in the cook pot, even after the salt soak. I buy store stuff, even though I know it is sprayed with stuff that is worse for me to eat than a few cabbage loppers.

Another vote for the salty water pre-soak. Never found a one in the broc after that. Several floating on the salty water but none in the broccoli. ;)

Dave

PS: but I also have to agree that it isn't the worst thing he has ever eaten whether he knew it or wants to admit it or not. Banning broccoli because of one looper sighting is going way overboard.

Dave, I eat broccoli, I just don't grow it. I love worms especially in my garden soil and my compost pile. I bait my own hook when I fish. I'm sure I've eaten much worse than a cabbage worm and it didn't hurt me.
I love toads but am afraid of spiders. Guess I'm weird.

Sorry, I wasn't clear Shirley but my comment was directed at the OP's DH. ;)

Dave

I too find Dipel very effective on brassicas (and on tomatoes if the Heliothis grubs get bad), but regular use is important, because the caterpillars have to ingest it for it to work. They stop feeding almost right away but take a few days to die.

I spray weekly as soon as I notice eggs appearing or see that the adults are active, that way the caterpillars never get beyond tiny, so there's little-to-no damage and less chance of serving someone a caterpillar surprise.

I also soak my picked brassicas and greens for five minutes or so before cooking or serving. I find this long enough to drown the little bastards and make them let go. If I suspect there's a few there I'll soak a second time in fresh water. So far so good!

These posts read like they're from the 60s! Floating row covers prevent the entire problem--no spraying, no salt water soak, no caterpiller larvae (they're not inchworms). The row covers keep off the butterflies that lay the eggs that hatch into the larvae. Just pin the the row covers down well so butterflies don't get under them. I use rocks.

yes those little green guys are never easy to see until they are on your fork, we have been having good results with b.t. spray, only a cpl times thru the moth season. lots of birds are still spending the day under the shade of broc, cabbage, cauli,...ofcourse PROMPT harvesting also helps, and if one slips by, well,,,give me worms in my broc, but save me the birds and the bees. perhaps the row cover could work on a small scale, with the fabric attached to a frame. my experience was that some moth or cabbage butterflies would slip in and take up home under the row cover, with the wind and plant growth, there always seemed to be an access point. broc on

Bt does work, but you can't do it haphazzardly. Every time it rains you need to dust again and even if it doesn't rain do it on a weekly basis because the Bt will probably break down over time. If you dusted and it rains 2 days later you must dust again. The dust n mizers are quick and easy. As long as I keep doing this I get NO bugs. If I don't spray like I did last year because of the constant rain no amount of soaking will get rid of 100% of the bugs. My brain is so squirmy on worms that even one would spoil my whole dinner. Sorry I can't get past the bug thing.

Secure row covers can definitely work (secure being the operative word!), I use this on a small scale for rocket grown in tubs. It just depends on your situation - in my in-ground garden I intermingle my broccoli, kale, pak choy etc with flowers and other veg, so I don't have large blocks of brassicas that suit row covers, so I use Bt there. Also, I like to be able to give the plants a quick check without having to open up the row cover. The horticultural fleece I have is quite opaque, as is the insect mesh.

One thing that I find reduces pest pressure from the Cabbage Whites is planting nasturtiums near the brassicas. I use the climbing ones and run them up trellises or over a fence so they don't take up too much space. The Cabbage Butterflies seem to prefer them. Plus the leaves and flowers are edible, they look pretty and have a nice fresh smell to them.