How can I reuse or recycle Brussels Sprout stalks/stems?

Long time Recycle This-er Lizzy has asked about “the big brussels sprout stalk thing”:

Any ideas for the big brussels sprout stalk things? Oh, and can you eat the leaves that are sometimes on top?

I think the easiest thing to do here would be to reduce in the first place – don’t buy sprouts in the first place, they’re horrible ;)

If you do insist on eating them though, apparently the leaves can be cooked like cabbage. I’ve had less success finding out anything about the stalk though… Other stalks in the Brassica family (like broccoli) can be eaten so it wouldn’t surprise me if you could eat them – just I can’t find any recipes for doing so. Anyone got any suggestions?

As for other reusing ideas, apparently chickens love playing with them – pecking off all the last bits of sprouts. Does anyone know if other small animals (rabbits etc) could nibble at the stalk too?

Any other ideas?

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13 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle Brussels Sprout stalks/stems?”


  1. Bertie says:

    Just compost them or if you can’t be bothered then dig them into your runner bean trench before planting.

    Pigs love them as well

  2. Wendy says:

    Oh, brussel sprouts are wonderful. Just cook them with bacon. As for the stalks (and all other green waste), put them in your worm composting bin.

    You do have a worm composting bin, right? It’s my number one recycling tool.

  3. Kai says:

    Could it not be boiled up for stalk like a lot of other edible but not very tasty vegetable parts?

  4. LuAnne says:

    I think that the stalk probably has a lot of good cancer fighting goodies also. I LOVE brussel sprouts steamed with butter and a little salt.

    I just tried cutting (not easy) the stalk and putting the small pieces in my green smoothie. It worked quite well but left a small chunk of the stalk. I just removed it and added the liquid to my smoothie. Vitamins……!

  5. Susie says:

    We cooked the stalks and peeled the outer parts to eat the center part. Kind of like you would peel away the outer parts of an artichoke. My husband LOVED it. I think you could cut the stalk lengthwise and scoop out the core as another approach. Good luck.

  6. Susie says:

    P.S. We steamed the stalks quite a while to cook them.

  7. sal says:

    Are the stalks nice. What about if you. Cook the stalks and then mash them with potatoes.

  8. ann muzzey says:

    I want to try cooking and eating the center of the brussels sprout.
    If anyone else has tried it, please give me some feedback. The
    centers appear much like those of broccoli.

  9. Kathy says:

    These things have Hollywood potential. After I cut off the sprouts, my son and his friends (5th grade) used them as rifles and filmed an action movie. When they were satisfied that one of the guys had died from multiple gun shot wounds, they made him lie on his back and they placed two brussel sprouts on his closed eyes to signify that he had passed.

  10. Dan says:

    I’ve cooked the thicker, older stalks of bok choi before — diced them up and threw them right in the crock pot with a potato-onion soup that was eventually run through a blender. Sure seemed to add a lot of good flavor and heartiness, without any stringy bits from the stalks. We just got a cheap HUGE stalk of brussels sprouts, gonna try this same approach w/ that.

  11. Chef Neo Geo says:

    Well, I purchased a nice stalk with a good many sprouts on it. I too ponder the center since it looks like broccoli. So I peeled it and tasted it raw. It taste like a starch raw coconut meat, not bad but I will pass it on to my rabbit who loved it the other day.

  12. Dennis says:

    The large fibrous stalks of the brussels sprouts are not only delicious, they are nutritious and easy to prepare too! It is surprising that not many people eat them.
    Just remove the sprouts from the stalk…no hurry, it may take several meals to do this. Start by removing the sprouts from the bottom of the stalk, enough for one meal at a time, and then stand the stalk upright in a bowl of water that is not too deep because you want the sprouts that are remaining on the stalk to stay out of the water. This will help the stalk stay hydrated.
    After a few days, or when you have eaten all the sprouts, peel the stalk down to the non-fibrous core using a good paring knife. You will end up with a very crispy but tender center that you can slice and stir fry, steam, or add to other recipes. Absolutely easy and delicious.



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