Cauliflower makes an excellent side dish for soups, casseroles, salads, stir-fries, etc. Although it is not so common, it has a lot of health benefits. Also, it is usually recommended for vegetarians who eat the florets as a snack dipped in hummus or cooked.
However, one bizarre thing about cauliflower is that only the head of the vegetable is eaten, and the rest is disposed of. Sometimes, the head, an edible white flesh on the vegetable, is called the “curd.”
Cauliflower belongs to a group of vegetables known as “cruciferous vegetables,” also including broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc. Every member of this group has similar health benefits. For now, let’s find out more about cauliflower.
How much does a head of cauliflower weigh? A medium-sized head of cauliflower weighs about 2 pounds, which equals 0.9 kg. Since this vegetable has no fixed size, there will be different weights.
Asides from its weight, there are many other exciting things that you might want to know about this vegetable family. In this article, I will point out things like how many plates cauliflower heads can serve as well as the health benefits of it.
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How much cauliflower is in a head?
As I mentioned earlier, the head of cauliflower is the only part eaten. It would be best to cut out the stem and leaves before cooking. Also, if you prefer to eat raw florets, you will have to take out the stems and leaves by their sides.
However, it might interest you to know how much cauliflower you can find in the head after trimming off the stem and leaves. Since the other parts are not edible, you have no business with them. Now let’s see how much cauliflower you can make from its head alone.
An average or medium-sized head can yield about four to six cups of florets at a go. How much florets it yields depends mainly on the size of its head. Bigger-sized heads will yield more than six cups, while smaller-sized heads might not even yield three cups of florets.
How much does a head of cauliflower weigh in kg?
We already know how much the head of cauliflower weighs in pounds. As I mentioned earlier, a medium-sized head of cauliflower weighs about 2 pounds. We can easily convert this figure to kilograms since pounds and kilograms are standard units for measuring weights.
Since 1 kg equals 2.2 pounds, 2 pounds equals (2÷2.2) 0.9 kilogram. Hence, a medium-sized head of cauliflower will weigh about 2 pounds or 0.9 kilograms. The weight in kilogram can be further expressed as 900 grams.
Health benefits of cauliflower
Vegetables generally have many benefits, especially as sources of vitamins and minerals – Cauliflower is not an exemption. The vegetable has a composition of essential nutrients with many health benefits. Some nutrients help fight or prevent acute illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
Asides from its significant effect in reducing the risk of such diseases, it is also an excellent weight loss remedy. Therefore, if you are looking forward to getting rid of some fat without any extreme measures, a regular intake of cauliflower will be of great help.
As I mentioned, cauliflower contains many nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, not regularly included in our diet. These include calcium, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Manganese, fiber, folate, and many other nutrients the body needs.
Cauliflower can also play a huge role in brain development, thanks to one of its essential nutrients, choline. Choline ensures that the nervous system works well and stays completely healthy. It also reduces the risk of liver and heart diseases. Although very rare, choline is also found in broccoli.
In addition, cauliflower has a very high fiber content. Fiber is one of the most needed nutrients of the body, but unfortunately, it is not usually met. With a single cup of cauliflower, you can have enough fiber for the day. For example, fiber is necessary for the body to feed on bacteria in the digestive tract.
Adequate fiber intake will help prevent digestive conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, diverticulitis, etc. As I mentioned earlier, regular intake of cauliflower can help reduce the risk of liver disease, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Is it ok to eat cauliflower every day?
Like everything else, too much of it can harm health. It also applies to cauliflower; too much or excess intake of cauliflower can be a little bad for the health. One of the side effects of taking too much cauliflower is its fiber content.
Although the fiber content of cauliflower has several benefits, especially feeding on the bacteria in the digestive tract. However, too much fiber in the body has some side effects. Some of the effects of excess intake of fiber include;
- Flatulence
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Extreme weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Reduced blood sugar levels
- Intestinal blockage, etc.
The more fiber you consume, the greater the risk of developing these medical conditions. A cup of fiber daily serves you for a whole week. Also, you should avoid taking it raw too many times. Cauliflower is better when served as a side dish (to accompany other dishes).
Wrapping Up
From the article, we can conclude that a head of cauliflower will weigh about 2 pounds or 0.9 kg. An average-sized head of cauliflower should also yield about 4 to 6 cups of florets, which can be eaten raw or cooked.
Remember that a medium-sized head of cauliflower is enough to serve up to 5 people at a go. If possible, you can spread the portions within a week. However, you must ensure it remains a side meal and does not become too regular.