Brussels sprout
| Brussels Sprout |
|---|
 Brussels sprouts, cultivar unknown |
| Species |
| Brassica oleracea |
| Cultivar group |
| Gemmifera Group |
| Origin |
| Brussels, year unknown |
| Cultivar group members |
| unknown |
The Brussels (or brussels) sprout (Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group) of the Brassicaceae family, is a Cultivar group of wild cabbage cultivated for its small (typically 2.5–4 cm (0.98–1.6 in) diameter) leafy green buds, which visually resemble miniature cabbages.
Contents |
Cultivation
Forerunners to modern Brussels sprouts were likely cultivated in ancient Rome. Brussels sprouts as we now know them were grown possibly as early as the 13th century in what is now Belgium.[1] The first written reference dates to 1587.[1] During the 16th century they enjoyed a popularity in the southern Netherlands that eventually spread throughout the cooler parts of Northern Europe.[2]
Brussels sprouts grow in temperature ranges of 7 to 24°C (45 to 75°F), with highest yields at 15 to 18°C (59 to 64°F).[2] Plants grow from seeds in seedbeds or greenhouses, and are transplanted to growing fields.[2] Fields are ready for harvest 90 to 180 days after planting.[1] The edible sprouts grow like buds in a spiral array on the side of long thick stalks of approximately 60 to 120 cm (24 to 47 in) in height, maturing over several weeks from the lower to the upper part of the stalk. Sprouts may be picked by hand into baskets, in which case several harvests are made of 5 to 15 sprouts at a time, by cutting the entire stalk at once for processing, or by mechanical harvester, depending on variety.[1] Each stalk can produce 1.1 to 1.4 kg (2.4 to 3.1 lb), although the commercial yield is approximately 900 g (2.0 lb) per stalk.[2] In the home garden, "sprouts are sweetest after a good, stiff frost."[3]
Brussels sprouts are a cultivar of the same species that includes cabbage, collard greens, broccoli, kale, and kohlrabi; they are cruciferous. They contain good amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid and dietary fibre. Moreover, they are believed to protect against colon cancer, due to their containing sinigrin.[4] Although they contain compounds such as goitrin that can act as goitrogens and interfere with thyroid hormone production, realistic amounts in the diet do not seem to have any effect on the function of the thyroid gland in humans.[5]
North America
Production of Brussels sprouts in the United States began around 1800, when French settlers brought them to Louisiana.[2] The first plantings in California's Central Coast began in the 1920s, with significant production beginning in the 1940s. Currently there are several thousand acres planted in coastal areas of San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties of California, which offer an ideal combination of coastal fog and cool temperatures year-round. The harvest season lasts from June through January.[1][6] They are also grown in Baja California, Mexico, where the harvest season is from December through June.[6]
Much of the United States production is in California, with a smaller percentage of the crop grown in Skagit Valley, Washington, where cool springs, mild summers and rich soil abounds and to a lesser degree on Long Island, New York.[7] Total United States production is approximately 32,000 tons, with a value of $27 million.[2] Ontario, Canada produces approximately 1,000 tons per year.[8]
80% to 85% of US production is for the frozen food market, with the remainder for fresh consumption.[7] Once harvested, sprouts last 3 to 5 weeks under ideal near-freezing conditions before wilting and discoloring, and about half as long at refrigerator temperature.[2] American varieties are generally 2.5–5 cm (0.98–2.0 in) in diameter.[2]
Europe
In Continental Europe the largest producers are the Netherlands, at 82,000 metric tons, and Germany, at 10,000 tons. The United Kingdom has production comparable to that of the Netherlands, but it is not generally exported.[9]
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 179 kJ (43 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 8.95 g |
| Sugars | 2.2 g |
| Dietary fiber | 3.8 g |
| Fat | 0.30 g |
| Protein | 3.38 g |
| Vitamin A equiv. | 38 μg (4%) |
| Thiamine (Vit. B1) | 0.139 mg (11%) |
| Riboflavin (Vit. B2) | 0.090 mg (6%) |
| Niacin (Vit. B3) | 0.745 mg (5%) |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 0.309 mg (6%) |
| Folate (Vit. B9) | 61 μg (15%) |
| Vitamin C | 85 mg (142%) |
| Vitamin E | 0.88 mg (6%) |
| Calcium | 42 mg (4%) |
| Iron | 1.4 mg (11%) |
| Magnesium | 23 mg (6%) |
| Phosphorus | 69 mg (10%) |
| Potassium | 389 mg (8%) |
| Sodium | 25 mg (1%) |
| Zinc | 0.42 mg (4%) |
| Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient database |
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Nutritional and medicinal value
Brussel sprouts, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane, a chemical believed to have potent anti-cancer properties. Although boiling reduces the level of the anti-cancer compounds, steaming, microwaving, and stir frying does not result in significant loss.[10]
Brussel sprouts are also a source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells.[11][12]
Cooking and preparation
The most common method of preparing Brussels sprouts for cooking begins with removal of the buds from the stalk. Any surplus stem is cut away, and the surface leaves that are loosened by this cutting are peeled and discarded. Cooking methods include boiling, steaming and roasting, however, boiling results in significant loss of anti-cancer compounds.[10] To ensure even cooking throughout, buds of a similar size are usually chosen. Some cooks will make a single cut or a cross in center of the stem to aid the penetration.
Whatever cooking method is employed, overcooking is avoided. Overcooking releases the glucosinolate sinigrin, which has a sulfurous odor. The odor is the reason many people profess to dislike Brussels sprouts, if they've only tried them overcooked with the accompanying sulfurous taste and smell. Generally 6–7 minutes boiled or steamed is enough to cook them thoroughly, without overcooking and releasing the sinigrin.
Gallery
 A field of Brussels sprouts after harvest |
 Brussels sprouts on the stalk |
 Brussels sprouts on stalks |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Brussel sprouts info". Pfyffer Associates. http://www.brussel-sprouts.com/BSINFO.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Brussel Sprouts". University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. http://www.uga.edu/vegetable/brusselprouts.html. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
- ↑ Crocket, James. Crockett's Victory Garden, Little, Brown and Company, p. 187, 1977.
- ↑ Bowden, Jonny. [The 150 healthiest foods on earth], Fair Winds, p. 27, 2007.
- ↑ McMillan M, Spinks EA, Fenwick GR (January 1986). "Preliminary observations on the effect of dietary brussel sprouts on thyroid function". Hum Toxicol 5 (1): 15–9. doi:10.1177/096032718600500104. PMID 2419242.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Where Brussels Sprouts are Growing Today". Ocean Mist Farms. http://www.oceanmist.com/html/products/brusselprouts/bsproutgrow.aspx. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Crop Profile for Brussel Sprouts in California". United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/cabrusselsprouts.html. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
- ↑ Siva Mailvaganam (2004-08-03). "Area, Production and Farm Value of Specified Commercial Vegetable Crops, Ontario, 1998–2001". Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/stats/hort/veg_m01.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
- ↑ "The small market study: Brussels sprouts.". SMP. http://www.cababstractsplus.org/google/abstract.asp?AcNo=20043210961. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick (2007-05-15). "Research Says Boiling Broccoli Ruins Its Anti Cancer Properties.". http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/research_says_boiling/.
- ↑ "Broccoli chemical's cancer check". BBC News. 7 February 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4688854.stm. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
- ↑ "How Dietary Supplement May Block Cancer Cells". Science Daily. 30 June 2010. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100629131316.htm. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
External links
- PROTAbase on Brassica oleracea (Brussels sprouts)
- Cultural information on brussels sprouts for the home garden From the experts at Learn2Grow
- Brassica oleracea gemmifera - Plants For a Future database entry
- Brussels Sprouts - recommendations for maintaining postharvest quality (UC Davis)
- Brussels Sprouts Nutrition - nutritional information on raw Brussels Sprouts.
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