Last Updated on May 23, 2022 by

Broccoli steaming is a quick and healthful method of preparing this nutritious vegetable. Without oil, the brilliant green color and fresh taste of broccoli are preserved. Steamed broccoli is crisp and delicate, but boiling broccoli is sometimes mushy. Furthermore, some nutrients seep into the boiling water when broccoli is cooked. With steaming, you won’t have to worry about that.

Fill a big saucepan halfway with water to steam broccoli and add a steam basket. The broccoli florets should then be added to the steam basket. Bring the water to a boil by turning the burner to high. Cover the saucepan and let the water boil for another 4 minutes. The broccoli will steam throughout this time. Remove the broccoli from the steam basket after 4 minutes and enjoy.

How To Steam Broccoli

Step 1: Wash The Broccoli

First and foremost, make sure your broccoli has been well cleaned. Dirt may be hidden in the nooks and crevices of grocery store heads, even if they aren’t typically filthy chevaliers. Submerging the head of broccoli in a big basin of water is the best method to clean it thoroughly. If it starts to boba, weigh it down with another water dish. Allow it to soak for a few minutes before rinsing them under cold water.

Step 2: Trim The Broccoli and Cut It Into Florets

Broccoli stems are often chopped off and discarded, but they may also be steamed and eaten. You’ll want to cut off the dry end of the stem. Then use a vegetable peeler to remove the rough outer skin. To get to the portion of the stem where the florets branch out, slice the peeled stem into rounds. 

Slice down into the head of cauliflower with your chef’s knife to carve off florets, twisting the head as you go. Cut the florets into uniform sizes to ensure that they cook simultaneously. Start steaming your broccoli (florets and stem segments included!) now.

Ways To Steam Broccoli

Skillet

This strategy is ideal for those who do not have access to specialized equipment.

• Fill your skillet halfway with water and bring the water to a boil. Make sure you don’t add too much water, or the broccoli may boil instead of steam, resulting in mushy results.
• Cover the pan with a lid and add the broccoli.
• Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the broccoli achieves your preferred softness. With a fork, test your broccoli: the tines should only be able to penetrate the stems, but they should not be limp or have a brownish color.
• Season the broccoli with salt and pepper after draining it.

Steam Broccoli on the Stove

A steamer basket is required before you can steam broccoli on the stove. Stainless steel, ceramic, bamboo, and silicon are used to make steamer baskets. Depending on your requirements, you might utilize a [easyazon_link identifier=”B09QBQQ9YP” locale=”US” tag=”realikal-20″]Dash Pass 21 Bamboo Steamer[/easyazon_link], which is often used in Chinese cuisine. Alternatively, this [easyazon_link identifier=”B0086ANRGU” locale=”US” tag=”realikal-20″]Concord 30 CM Stainless Steel 3 Tier Steamer Pot Steaming Cookware[/easyazon_link] has an extended handle that is simple to remove from boiling water. Whatever kind you pick, make sure your pot is slightly wider in diameter than the basket to ensure an appropriate fit.

• In a big saucepan with a steamer basket, bring 1-inch water to a boil. Add 312 cup broccoli florets, cover, and steam for 5 to 7 minutes, or until tender. (Remove the lid carefully since hot steam will escape.)
• Broccoli that has been steamed on the stove is delicate and brilliant. You may also steam broccoli without using a basket on the burner.

Steam Broccoli On Microwave

Microwaving broccoli is another option for steaming it. This steaming technique does not need the use of a steamer basket. Hence no additional equipment is required. How to cook broccoli in the microwave is outlined below.

• In a large microwave-safe dish, combine 3 1/2 cup broccoli florets and 2 teaspoons of water. Cover and simmer on High for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring once until the broccoli is crisp-tender. (Remove the lid carefully since hot steam will escape.)
• It’s simple to steam broccoli in the microwave. Plus, you may dress up and serve the broccoli in the same dish that you microwaved it in to save time and effort.

You can cook dishes like Cheesy Broccoli, and Crispy Smashed Broccoli with Za’atar now that you know how to steam broccoli. 

Steam Broccoli in Instant Pot

According to the Instant Pot Surprise, electric pressure cookers can steam beautiful crisp-tender broccoli in 10 minutes. Only a steamer basket insert is required.

• Fill the Instant Pot halfway with water. Place the broccoli in the steamer basket and into the pot as well.
• Close the cover and choose the 0-minute steam option, which means the vegetables will be done as soon as the Instant Pot reaches pressure. It will take around 10 minutes to pressurize and naturally release.
• Season the broccoli with salt and pepper after removing it from the steamer basket insert.

Where To Buy Broccoli

Broccoli is offered in single stalks, bundles, and sacks at your local grocery shop. Florets that have already been clipped may be bought in bags, while frozen florets can be found in the freezer department.

Fresh broccoli is in season from October to April in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it is accessible all year. Look for firmly wrapped, dark green florets and sturdy, slender stems when buying broccoli. Thick stalks are an indication of age and might be woody. Any heads with fading or little yellow blooms should be rejected since they signify age.

Broccoli may be grown and harvested at home, depending on where you reside. Plant in whole light in temperate areas; in hot climates, plant in partial sun to avoid bolting.

How To Store Broccoli

Broccoli may be stored for up to five days in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator, loosely wrapped in a plastic bag or perforated bag. The stalks may begin to get limp before the five days are out, depending on how long they sat at your grocery store, so use them as soon as possible, particularly if serving raw. Cooked broccoli will last three days in the fridge in an airtight container. Broccoli may be frozen for 6 to 12 months if properly stored.

Cut washed and dried broccoli into florets and slice the stems to freeze fresh broccoli. For around 5 minutes, steam. Plunge into freezing water to halt the frying and keep the green hue. Drain well and store in airtight bags or containers.

What Does Broccoli Taste Like?

Cabbage family members have a particular taste characteristic that varies significantly across cultivars. Raw broccoli has a vegetal, somewhat sweet, and slightly bitter taste when eaten raw. It has a distinct taste from cooked broccoli, which is usually sweeter. 

Cooked broccoli may be highly delicate, crisp-tender, or crunchy, depending on the cook time and manner. The taste of the stem is milder than that of the florets.

Recipes for Broccoli

Broccoli may be used in various dishes, including soups, salads, stir-fries, and casseroles. Serve raw broccoli with dip or in a salad or slaw. Broccoli may be cooked and served as a side dish or pureed into a soup (thawed frozen broccoli also works nicely in place of steamed). 

Slice and broil, or toss into a stir-fry or curry. Broccoli, roasted or sautéed, is a tasty green side dish with garlic, sesame, cheddar, chile, and other bold tastes and spices.

How To Steam broccoli Without A Steamer

Broccoli is steamed in a saucepan with approximately an inch or two of boiling water on the stove. The broccoli must be cooked in a saucepan with a cover to prevent steam from escaping. If you’re using foil instead of a lid, use oven gloves to avoid a burn from the steam. Give the broccoli 3-3 1/2 minutes to steam.

How To Cook Broccoli 

Broccoli is a versatile vegetable that may be cooked and prepared in various ways. Rinse and dry it before using, and clip any brown off the cut stem if necessary. Some recipes ask the stem to be peeled, while others merely call for the florets. Every component of the broccoli offered at the supermarket is edible, so keep any leftovers for another meal. Leftover stalks, for example, may be boiled and pureed to create soup.

Take a sharp knife and cut away at the base of the flowering stalks, detaching them from the main, thick stem to split up ahead of broccoli into florets. If desired, cut the florets into smaller pieces. Raw broccoli florets may be used in a crudités tray or a broccoli salad. The florets, as well as the stem, may be cooked. Broccoli may be cooked whole (though it’s usually broken up for even cooking) or sliced into thick “steak” slices.

Conclusion on How To Steam Broccoli

Steamed broccoli is a simple way to ensure that broccoli is cooked to perfection every time. Because it’s a blank canvas, your steamed broccoli will make an excellent meal-prep building block. It may be served as a simple side dish or subsequently incorporated into various recipes. Keep your broccoli in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to three days to store them.