Steamed Broccoli: How to Steam Broccoli Perfectly | Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

How to properly steam broccoli? ›

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.

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.

Use one teaspoon salt per 1 cup of water. Salt provides a “barrier” against carbon dioxide, which prevents chlorophyll from changing color. Make sure that you have enough water in your pot so that all of the broccoli is floating in it.

Add an inch or two of water to a saucepan. Insert a steamer basket, and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, place vegetables in a single layer in the steamer basket. Cover the saucepan with a lid, lower the temperature, and steam until the vegetables are tender.

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.

But as Emily Ho, an associate professor and researcher at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, tells The Salt, cooking broccoli too long destroys the enzyme that breaks down chemicals called glucosinolates into cancer-fighting agents.

After the broccoli cooks, make sure to remove the lid from the dish. If you keep the lid on the dish, the broccoli will continue cooking and can result in mushy, overcooked florets.

Cooking Method #1: Blanching

Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add a heaping tablespoon of salt. Add the broccoli florets and cook until crisp-tender, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and plunge immediately in the ice water.

Keep the water boiling throughout the steaming process to maintain a constant supply of steam.

As the veggies hit the boiling water, volatile acids are released into the water and are carried away in the steam. When the pot is covered, the steam and the acids it contains are forced back into the water. Once there, the acids react with the chlorophyll in the vegetables, turning them an unsightly shade of brown.

Why is steaming broccoli better than boiling? ›

In conclusion, the current study clearly shows that nutrient and health-promoting compounds in broccoli are significantly affected by domestic cooking. All cooking treatments, except steaming, caused great losses of chlorophyll and vitamin C. Only boiling and stir-frying/boiling caused the loss of total carotenoids.

Add the broccoli florets to a steamer basket, and place it in a saucepan filled with 1 inch of water. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover the pan. Let steam for 5 minutes, or until the broccoli is crisp-tender and bright green.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Place the broccoli florets in a steamer basket (or metal colander) inside the pot. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the broccoli is bright green and tender-crisp. Once done, season with a bit of salt.

Steaming: Steaming is one of the best methods for preserving the nutrients in broccoli. Simply place the florets in a steamer basket over boiling water and cook until tender. This method ensures that the vitamins and minerals remain intact and readily available for absorption.

Stir-frying and stir-frying/boiling, the two most popular methods for most homemade dishes in China, cause great losses of chlorophyll, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C, and glucosinolates, but the steaming method appears the best in retention of the nutrients in cooking broccoli.

Add about 1 inch of water to the pot and bring to a boil. Add broccolini, cover and steam for about 5 minutes. Remove with tongs, season with salt & pepper, then finish with a drizzle of olive oil, about 1 to 2 tablespoons.