Place unwrapped in vegetable drawer in fridge to allow for air circulation.

As a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, broccoli possesses sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates giving them their pungent aroma. Glucosinloates are just one phytonutrient brought to you by broccoli that prevent inflammation and lower your risk of cancer.

Broccoli can be steamed, roasted (with olive oil and cubed garlic), sauteed, juiced, or even fried. It's quite versatile. Pairing with other savory flavors (i.e. salt, garlic) brings out the flavors of the broccoli while masking some of its bitterness.

The most-studied gene for bitter taste receptor, TASR38, comes in two types. People who have only one type or the other may be at the extremes — they are either very sensitive to bitterness or don't taste it unless it's very strong. But most people are somewhere in between, having one copy of each type.

However, even for people with both genes, their perception of bitterness ranges. Scientists theorize this has to do with how individuals have learned to regard certain foods with a bitterness component: If family or friends regard it as bitter, then they're more likely to have the biology that says it's bitter.