I love broccoli stalks! I usually peel the store-bought ones (or make a half-hearted attempt to do so), but didn't bother when we grew them ourselves.

I gather "vermicomposting" has something to do with worms? I posted on the composting forum about single-person composting, and one suggestion was that I get a worm box. I trust they stay in the box . . . ?

Good morning, Sherry and welcome to the table!

I love the stalks, actually prefer them to the floret part but if they are really large or tough I will peel about half of the outer skin off. Usually I just quarter them and steam away. I like broccoli to be a little undercooked, with lemon on it.

I like the stalks better than the florets.

I live in SW Ontario - London, in fact and Ole Joyful lives just a few miles out in the country. Are you far from us?

Welcome to the table.

ivmae

Thanks for your kind words! Ivmae, I live in Kitchener, so not far at all!

Alisande, yes my worms are all in Rubbermaid bins with lids. They don't get out of the bins. They're in the dark, get lots of food, warmth.....they're in heaven, so they won't leave. :-)

I like my florets tender-crisp as well, crunchy; I hate soft mushy ones. So I'll have to cook up some stalks as well! It means less food for the worms, but they'll survive! lol
I'm making stir-fry tonite, so I'll make sure to peel the stalks and add them as well.

Sherry

I actually like the stalks better than the florets.

I enjoy both stalks and florets.

Welcome Sherry--hope you'll visit often. I only like the florets, but next time I'll peel them and try again since everyone likes them it seems.

The stalks are tender and delicious. Hub eats them peeled and raw, like carrots. I always stir-fry the stalks with the florets, never steam them. Broccoli is a good bargain and lasts a while in the fridge, too.

another Sherry

I do if they are young and tender. vique

I only eat the leaves (florets. I choked on a stalk once and since then won't touch them. Silly me.

I like to cut up the stalks and add to soup....I peel them if they're tough.

Shirley

Wow, I'm really glad I asked this question.
Hands down, the stalks should be eaten. So I'll do that. It sounds like Patti will too. :-)

Thanks again for the warm invite. I do plan to come often and partake in the discussions....

Sherry (#2)

Yes, but if they're too hard I cut off that part and eat the rest.

I love them any which way, but have to put a bit of salt on them for them to keep their nice green colour, or else they look very unappetizing and grey instead of green.

BTW, welcome from another Canuck out on Vancouver Island, BC

Peeled and sliced/quartered/chopped, and added to whatever I am making. Plus I remove all leaves, as I find them bitter (even the littlest ones). Welcome from another Ontarioan? lol.. We're just below Barrie. Kym

I never eat them either, in fact, when I get a frozen combo thing of veggies, I pick thru it and take them out!!

Welcome!!!
Rita

Hi Sherry--I love the stalks raw, peeled, better than the flowers.

I'm a sister vermicomposter, but I've really neglected my boxes this summer. I'd be embarrassed if a fellow vermicomposter saw them. A few worms hang on though, and the herd renews itself with a little care. I don't like harvesting the castings. I just like a place to put my scraps.

Welcome to the KT. Post often.

I like the stalks ... and, being frugal (no need to refer to that, for those of you who read "Money Saving Tips"), I eat them, rather than dropping them into the compost. I don't peel them - maybe, with only three operable teeth, I should.

When I cut the stalks, lengthwise almost to one end to keep the stalk intact, so easier to cut them crosswise, then crosswise, I get a feeling for whether they're old and have gotten a bit woody. I usually give the stalks a shot in the microwave first, and add a bit more time if they're rather woody, as I, too, like my florets a bit crunchy, so then when I add the florets, it only takes a small amount of heating to finish the stalk while leaving the floret a bit crunchy.

Hope such an activity will help you to make more effective use, and to your exacting standards, of the product as a whole. Give it several trials before giving up on it - patience pays.

ole joyful

The stems make a great broccoli slaw.

Gayle

I like the stalks, but sometimes they're pretty thin by the time I peel the hard outside skin off them. I did learn the hard way not to discard broccoli stalks in a garbage disposal because the stalks will unravel like celery stalks and get tangled around the disposal blade.

By the way, welcome, I'm from Markham (just outside Toronto) but grew up in Windsor.

Hello.........slice crosswise about 1/4 inch thick. Saute
with a little oil, ginger and garlic.........yummy. Make
them as crunchy as you prefer.

I like the stems, but they must be cut in bite-sized pieces and well cooked. (I steam them, and add lots of butter,my secret ingredient for all vegetables.)

Welcome aboard!

Another broccoli stalk fan here. I peel them and steam them, or eat them raw...they make great dippers.

Wow!!! You guys are all awesome! Hi to my fellow canucks....local and otherwise! ((waving))

Hi Socks!! Yep I sure see you on the vermi and houseplant pages.
I've got 4 bins going. (ssshhhh....don't tell anyone else in the building)

We had the stalks for dinner in with the other stir-fries. By the time I peeled them and had them reasonably straight ( a lot of knobbies and branches) they weren't very plentiful, but we both really liked them!!!

I'm so glad I came/joined here and asked this question!

Sherry

Can I be a guest-canuck? My dad was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. And I like the stalks better than the florets. Peel, slice, put them in the steamer first, then serve the veggies all together. Serve with butter and S & P and maybe a little mayo on the side for dipping.

blerk ... in my view ALL brocolli belongs in the compost! But my DH & DS like it so I grudgingly include it with the other vege shopping! They only like the florets but our cocker spaniel just about does cartwheels over the stalks so nothing gets wasted.

And welcome to the table Sherry!

First of all welcome to the board.

I didn't eat the stalks until I met my mother in law. She showed me how to kind of julienne them, and then steam. I then dip them in butter and mayo and I swear they taste like artichoke hearts.... YUM!

Here is a link that might be useful: Our family's journey with autism!

I love the stalks, but I always peel them.

Hi kiwi dj (fellow Comonwealther),

While there's life ... there's hope.

Don't give up entirely on a potentially good thing!

Who knows - maybe you could learn to do cartwheels, too!

o j

I too like the stalks.

I almost always leave the florets ON the stalks, and cut them into long-stemmed pieces.

I do cut away the very bottom part of the stalks, where it starts to get woodier.

Welcome!

You're supposed to peel the brocoli stalks? I don't. I didn't know I was supposed to! And yes, we eat both the stalks and the florets. The stalks are my dad's favorite part.

Tami