Facts about Brussels Sprouts

1. 07

   Over 100,000 tons of Brussels sprouts are grown annually in California's Central Valley, producing approximately 90 percent of the United States' domestic supply.

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2. 06

   Selective breeding over 400 years transformed wild cabbage into Brussels sprouts by cultivating plants that produced edible buds along the stem rather than a single head.

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3. 05

   Cooking Brussels sprouts at high temperatures for over 5 minutes breaks down glucosinolates, bitter compounds that many people find unpalatable, making roasting an effective method to improve their taste.

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4. 04

   A single Brussels sprout plant produces 20 to 40 small heads over its growing season, with each head weighing approximately 1 to 1.5 ounces at harvest maturity.

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5. 03

   Frozen Brussels sprouts retain approximately 90 percent of their vitamin C content compared to fresh ones, making them nutritionally superior to fresh sprouts stored for extended periods.

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6. 02

   In 1587, Brussels sprouts were first documented in Brussels, Belgium, where cool autumn temperatures allowed the plant to thrive and become a regional staple.

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7. 01

   The vegetable Brussels sprout contains sulforaphane, a compound that research suggests may reduce cancer cell growth by up to 40 percent in laboratory studies.

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