{"id":763,"date":"2021-04-22T00:00:41","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T00:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/?p=763"},"modified":"2021-04-25T04:09:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T04:09:40","slug":"how-long-to-steam-broccoli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/how-long-to-steam-broccoli\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Steam Broccoli for the Best Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Steaming is a great way to cook broccoli because it can be more gentle than boiling broccoli<\/a>. Steaming gives you a little more wiggle room to not miss the perfect doneness since it takes a few extra minutes from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course it takes both a pot and a steamer so there’s a little more setup and cookware to wash, but steaming can also be healthier since it may help your broccoli retain more of its water-soluable vitamins<\/a> especially if you know how to prep, and how long to steam the broccoli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to select broccoli at the grocery store<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Starting with good quality broccoli will get you the best results. If it’s already old or going bad, no cooking method is going to save it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start by looking for tight florets and stalks (stems) that are firm. When broccoli gets old it will get soft, flexible, and squishy when it’s really old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do a color check too. You want the tops to be dark green with a slight hint of purple at the top. As broccoli ages it will get pale and start to turn yellow and brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to cut and and prepare broccoli for steaming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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First trim off the very bottom of the stem since this tends be woodier. The bottom of the stem is older, and it is the first part to dry out while sitting in the fridge section at the grocery store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, cut the stem off close to where the bushy florets start. Cut off individual florets and then cut the stem into pieces to match their size. This assures that everything finishes cooking at the same time. If you were to simply leave the stem whole, it would take much longer to finish cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to soak and wash broccoli<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you simply wash the head of broccoli first, then cut it, there are soooo many nooks and crannies between the mini stems that you can’t reach with your fingers, or even a brush. The best way to prep broccoli is to cut it first, soak, then rinse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s typically not a lot of visible dirt on broccoli, but I like to do a full submersion under water for about five minutes, then throw out that water and give it a rinse under running water as a final pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long to steam broccoli<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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To steam broccoli<\/strong>, I use a bamboo steamer over medium-high heat. However, you could also use a steamer basket. Here’s how to steam broccoli:<\/p>\n\n\n\n