Fridge storage

How long does cauliflower last in the fridge?

About 3 days for cauliflower. That’s what Well Stockd plans on; the table below has the sources’ own times.

Times are for a fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below. They’re a guide, not a safety guarantee.

How we checked this: each storage time here is checked against the source named beside it, USDA FoodKeeper, USDA FSIS or another, before the page goes live. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, since FoodKeeper and FSIS give none. Editorial policy

How long it keeps

Unopened
3 to 5 days refrigerated Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Cauliflower (opens in a new tab)
Opened or cut
Cut florets hold 3 to 5 days Our estimate: FoodKeeper and FSIS give no time for this.
Freezer
About 10 months (300 days) at best quality. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely at 0°F; the time is about texture and flavor. Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Cauliflower (opens in a new tab)Compare freezer times for other foods on the printable freezer storage chart.
How to store it
Stem-down in a loosely closed bag so condensation cannot pool on the head.
Kitchen list sorted by use soon, grouped into fridge and pantry, each item with its amount and buttons to change it
Your kitchen, sorted by what to use first Free

How to tell if cauliflower has gone bad

Dates are estimates; these are the checks that actually decide it. Don’t taste food to check whether it has gone bad.

Warning signs (throw it out if you notice more than one):

  • Brown speckling across the head
  • Soft or wet patches
  • Sulfur smell

Sources and limits

Write the date it went in on the container, and use it within 3 days. Don't wait for a weekly check.

Well Stockd doesn’t know when this food was harvested, packed, bought, opened or cooked. Write down the date you opened, cooked or refrigerated it, follow the package directions, keep your fridge at 40°F or below, and check the official listing when food safety is in question.

Each time in the table names its source beside it. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, because FoodKeeper and FSIS give none for that food in that state, and where our time differs from FoodKeeper’s, the row shows FoodKeeper’s figure too. The number at the top is Well Stockd’s own estimate. It’s a guide, not a safety guarantee: FoodKeeper says storage times are guidelines, and quality varies with how food is grown, handled, shipped and stored. This page was last updated .

Out of cauliflower? What to use instead of cauliflower