To steam broccoli, first find a pot and a steamer basket that fits inside of it. Next, add the broccoli to the steamer basket and cover it. In many other broccoli preparations, such as steaming and sautéing, al dente (between tender and firm) is the ideal texture you want to aim for. Does broccoli lose its nutrients if it is microwaved? In their larval stage, cabbage loopers are green, approximately 1-inch-long worms. Read on for another quiz question. It doesn’t have to be peeled, but the peel can be tough so I usually do. Did you know you can read answers researched by wikiHow Staff? Not necessarily! Cut the florets, the bushy parts of the broccoli, away from the stems. Get recipes, tips and NYT special offers delivered straight to your inbox. Guess again! To remove leaves from head of cabbage, cut approx 1/4" off the bottom of the head and place the whole head of cabbage in boiling water. Absolutely! I like to garnish my bowl with a twist of freshly ground black pepper and an additional sprinkle of cheese. Separate the florets from the stems of the broccoli. Despite the solidity of broccoli stems, the vegetable definitely doesn't need to be boiled this long to achieve a nice al dente texture. This flavorful soup is made without heavy cream, milk or flour—or even vegetable broth. Boil about 2 minutes. Support wikiHow by Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 930,002 times. If you like your broccoli to be very soft, you might want to cook it for this long. Technically, the whole stem of a head of broccoli is edible. Broccoli you buy at a farm stand will be pretty much fresh off the farm. If you boil frozen broccoli for ten minutes, it will basically be mush when it's done. This broccoli potato soup is best enjoyed immediately. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Choose another answer! If you want your frozen broccoli to achieve an al dente texture, you need to bring the water up to a boil. Read on for another quiz question. Believe it or not, you should actually take ten minutes before you rinse your garden-fresh broccoli to soak it in salt water. Heat the pot over medium-high heat until the water to boil. You need to get your water boiling-hot in order to give frozen broccoli the right consistency. Try again! Depending on how much broccoli you're cooking, there may not even be enough to cover the whole skillet, and that's fine. Remove any tough stems … Try again! ", "I did not know that there were so many ways to cook broccoli. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Correct! Broccoli (leaves and stems) Edible flowers (roses, nasturtiums, pansies, hibiscus) Celery; Bell peppers (any color) Chinese pea pods (the flat kind without large peas) Brussel sprouts; Cabbage (any type) Broccolini; Summer squash; Zucchini squash; FRUITS. Nope! NYT Cooking is a subscription service of The New York Times. Finally, remove the steamer basket and drain the water. Raw broccoli has a firm texture. Subscribe now for full access. In this case, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Choose another answer! Broccoli requires less cleaning if you got it from... That's right! Thanks, now I, "The simple directions were great for me. Chopping and cooking fresh broccoli: Cut the florets off the broccoli then break up into medium pieces. Serve with Parmesan cheese. Tossing the broccoli right after you add it ensures that all the pieces get a nice oil coating. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you want to learn how to saute your broccoli in a pan, keep reading the article! More tepid water can defrost broccoli, but it won't give it the right consistency. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When water in the pasta pot comes to a boil, add salt to taste and spaghetti. Break the crown up into bite-sized florets. However, most of the stem is totally edible and delicious if prepared right, so you're just wasting broccoli if you throw it away. Not quite! But roasting broccoli is different, and it results in a unique texture. Though they're harmless, they can be a real appetite killer. wikiHow's. Try another answer... How long should you cook frozen broccoli on the stovetop? This makes it a great alternative to cabbage or turnips, plus it is high in vitamins and minerals. Using a ladle, transfer 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the pan with the mushrooms and shaved broccoli stems. This article has been viewed 930,002 times. However, frozen broccoli cooks fast, so once the water starts to boil, the broccoli will already be ready. Is broccoli suitable for making into a purée? There’s a better option out there! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. About 2 hours, plus soaking of the beans and farro. Add the cheese to the soup one cup at a time, stirring until melted between additions. Choose another answer! Broccoli should be cooked al dente. Guess again! Add broccoli to the boiling water and blanch for 30 seconds; transfer to the ice water to shock the broccoli and stop the cooking. Broccoli stems and flowers can be prepared and cooked separately, like two different vegetables. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The bulb kind of tastes like broccoli stems (my favorite part of broccoli!) Great!". I sliced the crowns very thin and blanched them briefly with the pasta. Very detailed, but so easy to, "Just finding a variety of easy ways to cook broccoli with seasonings I hadn't used before. Prep the broccoli crowns and stems . These should be no more than 10% of the diet (about 1 teaspoon per 2 lbs … ", Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-167323, http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/08/09/how-to-roast-broccoli/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Boil water in a large saucepan (or do this step in a steamer). Microwaves just heat polar molecules up. Broccoli florets are the bushy part of the broccoli plant, and they're generally considered the most desirable to eat. Which masala is most suitable for broccoli? As long as you're stirring and paying attention, your broccoli won't scorch. The worms die in the salt water. Then, let the broccoli cook for 3-5 minutes. If you want to use the thick main stem, peel the outer skin (which is tough) then cut into 2.5 cm / 1” x 1cm / 2/5” batons. Yes! Begin heating a large pot of water for the pasta. When it goes off, add thinly sliced broccoli crowns and flower buds, and cook 2 minutes more, or until the pasta is al dente. No guessing on any of the recipes. Click on another answer to find the right one... What's the benefit of tossing the broccoli when you start to sauté it? That said, though, the last inch or so often has a hard, woody texture, so you're better off throwing it away and just blanching the florets and the rest of the stem. Not necessarily! Cut the thinner stem into about 2.5cm / 1 inch pieces. Peel off the softened leaves. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. If you want, you can just throw out broccoli stems and only blanch the florets. Rinse the broccoli florets thoroughly. So if you want to try something new with broccoli, roasting it is a great choice! Almost! When you're blanching broccoli, what part shouldn't you eat? Featured in: Not any more than with any other method of cooking. You can, but it won't taste very good, so I don't recommend it. Place remaining head back in the boiling water and repeat until all of the leaves are removed. Tender broccoli (that is, broccoli that's softer than al dente without being too squishy) is considered to be a little overdone. What should I do if the florets are turning brownish? Right! Close! Because of the way ovens heat food up, the only way roasted broccoli will end up tender is if it was wet when it went in the oven. While you should try to spread your broccoli out, covering the whole skillet isn't important. For this pasta I used a vegetable peeler to shred the broccoli stems into thin ribbons, which I cooked briefly with the mushrooms. I sliced the crowns very thin and blanched them briefly with the pasta. Combine with the little flower buds that fall off onto your cutting surface in a bowl. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Reduce heat to medium, add salt to taste, another tablespoon of oil, and shaved broccoli stems. The result is a dish with different textures and shades of green: the stems should be crisp-tender, their color faded. To boil broccoli, first bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. If you want to know how to cook broccoli, just follow these steps. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until lightly colored and beginning to sweat, 3 to 5 minutes. You’ll just need a few basic ingredients to make it: Butter contributes to the irresistible flavor and silky texture. Set aside. Not quite! Microwave on high for about two minutes, then check for tenderness. Cut crowns into thin slices (about 1/4 inch). We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Roasting specifically tends to make broccoli drier than other methods do, so you're less likely to end up with soft broccoli while roasting. Peel and discard the thick outer skin of the stems. Whether you're steaming, sautéing, roasting, or blanching the broccoli, it's a tasty veggie that tastes great on its own or with a variety of other meats or vegetables. Remove from heat. Read on for another quiz question. Broccoli stems and flowers can be prepared and cooked separately, like two different vegetables. Choose another answer! It is a digital cookbook and cooking guide alike, available on all platforms, that helps home cooks of every level discover, save and organize the world’s best recipes, while also helping them become better, more competent cooks. If you got your fresh broccoli from a grocery store, all you need to do is give it a thorough rinse. Properly roasted broccoli is crunchy and caramelized. Not exactly! When you're sautéing broccoli, a coating of oil is important to make sure that the broccoli cooks evenly. They should regain their dark green color. Whether you are cooking fresh or frozen broccoli, the first thing to remember is don't overcook it. unlocking this staff-researched answer. Technically, you could replace it with two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, but I like butter … You can cut off the last inch or so of the stems, which will be a bit tougher and … Garden-fresh broccoli is prone to cabbage loopers, a common garden pest. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Try again! But most people prefer broccoli to be al dente, and boiling frozen broccoli for three minutes will make it too soft. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Cook-Broccoli-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Broccoli-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Cook-Broccoli-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1099808-v4-728px-Cook-Broccoli-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"