Hi Sweetie, Git Voch. I was told by a baki in kashrus that one can avoid problems with bugs by only buying Grade A produce when buying fresh vegetables. Naturally, they should still be checked.
A friend told me that her mother would hold fresh broccoli over a flame, & if there were bugs present, they would fall out when exposed to the heat. I tried it once, and bugs did fall out, but if no bugs fall out, what is the proof that there were none present?
I also once heard in a shiur that soaking vegetables in salt water has the result of the bugs clinging more tightly. Though the florets are good, if I were to use fresh broccoli, I would cut off the florets & only use the stalks. I haven’t used fresh cauliflower in years, and I really miss it! I still think it’s safer to buy frozen vegetables with a reliable hashgocha.
Your Meema Yehudis