How to Steam Broccoli in the Microwave (2024)

FAQs

How to Steam Broccoli in the Microwave? ›

Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe dish and add about 2-4 tablespoons of water. You can add more or less water depending on the portion of broccoli you are cooking. Cover the bowl with a loose lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap with holes for ventilation. Microwave 2-4 minutes until the broccoli is tender.

How to Steam Veggies in the Microwave. Steamed veggies are super easy to make with the Micro-Cooker^®. Just add a few tablespoons of water for every cup of fresh veggies and cook until they reach the desired doneness. Feel free to use more water than necessary and strain the water when the vegetables are done cooking.

Place 3/4 to 1 inch of water in a saucepan with a steamer and bring to a boil. (Note that if you don't have a steamer, you can simply put the broccoli directly into an inch of boiling water.) Add broccoli, steam 5 to 6 min: Add the broccoli to the steamer and cover; reduce heat to medium and let cook for 5-6 minutes.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of water (a little more if you're steaming multiple portions). Place in the microwave and pop a lid on top to keep the steam in. Microwave on high! Firmer vegetables like turnips or potatoes may take 6-8 minutes, and softer, moister veg like broccoli will take less – around 4 minutes.

Minerals and metal

These minerals - which include iron, magnesium, and selenium – act like tiny pieces of metal and create what is known as an “arcing effect” in microwaves. An arcing effect is when sparks occur as a result of electromagnetic waves in a microwave reflecting or bouncing off metal.

Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe dish and add about 2-4 tablespoons of water. You can add more or less water depending on the portion of broccoli you are cooking. Cover the bowl with a loose lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap with holes for ventilation. Microwave 2-4 minutes until the broccoli is tender.

Make sure you don't use more water, otherwise the broccoli will boil rather than steam, making for soggy results. Add your broccoli to the skillet and cover it with a lid. Cook until the broccoli reaches your desired level of tenderness, about 3 to 5 minutes.

The easiest way to cook broccoli is to blanch it. Blanching is a process in which the broccoli is submerged in boiling water for only a few minutes, then transferred into an ice bath to keep it from overcooking and turning mushy. The broccoli florets will turn a vibrant shade of green and maintain a much-needed crunch.

Cooking (Or Not Cooking) Broccoli To Protect Its Nutritional Riches : The Salt Cooking broccoli too long destroys the beneficial enzyme that breaks down chemicals into cancer fighters. The best way to eat it is raw or steamed for just two to three minutes, a nutrition expert says.

How do you steam vegetables in the microwave without a steamer? ›

Micro-Steaming Vegetables. To micro-steam, lay vegetables in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate. Cover them with a triple layer of damp paper towels. Microwave on high heat until the vegetables are tender, two and a half to six minutes, depending on the power of your microwave.

But because microwave cooking times are shorter, cooking with a microwave does a better job of preserving vitamin C and other nutrients that break down when heated. As far as vegetables go, cooking them in water robs them of some of their nutritional value because the nutrients leach out into the cooking water.

That's why steaming is one of the best ways to maximize nutrients. It turns out that's especially true for broccoli. When in doubt, microwave. That's because microwaving uses little to no water, and can heat the vegetable quickly, thus preserving nutrients such as vitamin C that break down when heated.

If you want to save your celery, kale or spinach to eat later as leftovers, plan to reheat them in a conventional oven rather than a microwave. When blasted in the microwave, naturally occurring nitrates (which are very good for you on their own) may convert to nitrosamines, which can be carcinogenic, studies show.

That's why steaming is one of the best ways to maximize nutrients. It turns out that's especially true for broccoli. When in doubt, microwave. That's because microwaving uses little to no water, and can heat the vegetable quickly, thus preserving nutrients such as vitamin C that break down when heated.

Broccoli can be eaten raw, but blanching it quickly in boiling water helps give it a more crisp-tender texture and bring out its flavor. Broccoli can also be steamed, sautéed, and roasted. You could even throw long spears on the grill!

Pour a 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of your 6-quart Instant Pot and arrange a steamer basket over that. Add the broccoli florets to the steamer basket, then secure the lid on the pot. Move the steam release valve to “Sealing” and use the Manual or Pressure Cook button to cook at high pressure for zero minutes.