It's quite possible that you'll see some chicory with brown spots in the supermarket. Even if the pieces otherwise look crisp and fresh, you should not grab them. Even at home, chicory that has become stained in the refrigerator is no longer grade A.
Is chicory with brown spots still edible?
Brown spots definitely affect the quality of the chicory. Are only a few leaves affected?If there area few brown spots, you cancut them out generously You can use the rest of the chicory as usual after washing it thoroughly.
Why does chicory get brown spots?
Brown or reddish-brown spots and other discolorations can have various causes. For example, they can be caused byproduction defects, or they can arise after laterdamages. However, brown spots usually indicateold goods that have been stored at home or in the supermarket for far too long, possibly incorrectly. If a stored chicory already has a lot of brown spots, it has gone bad and belongs in the organic waste bin. It is actually not necessary to buy in advance, as chicory is available almost everywhere in this country and has a long season.
How do I recognize good chicory when shopping?
Flawless chicory is easy to recognize because its freshness can also be seen on the outside. Pay attention to the following features:
- Sprout isfirm and crunchy
- the tip isclosed
- the base (stem area) is colored white
- the leaf tip is light yellow toyellow
- no stains visible
- the leaves are not damaged
There is also a red variety of chicory that is milder than the yellow variety. The above-mentioned characteristics also apply to them, except for the basic color, which is not white-yellow, but white-red.
How do I store chicory correctly?
Chicory needs darkness, moisture and cool temperatures. He finds all of thisin the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator First remove any damaged outer leaves and wrap the buds in a slightly damp cloth. When storing, make sure that the chicory is not cramped by other stored items. This can damage its delicate leaves and cause them to turn brown. Use the chicory within a week.
Tip
Green leaves are not harmful, but bitter
Never store chicory in a light place for longer, otherwise its leaves will turn greenish. In doing so, he increasingly develops the bitter substance lactucopicrin. You can then hardly eat it raw. Combined in salads with sweet ingredients such as tangerines, the bitter taste is less dominant.
