How do you make hard broccoli soft?

Place the broccoli florets and stems in a microwave-safe dish and pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of water over top. Cover with a dinner plate and microwave on HIGH for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the lid carefully and check if the broccoli is tender. Microwave in additional 1-minute bursts if necessary.

How do you soften broccoli?

Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Place broccoli in the boiling water and cook uncovered until crisp-tender. Once tender, carefully remove with a slotted spoon or strain the broccoli. Shock in ice bath if you're serving the broccoli cold or serve it warm immediately.

How do you make broccoli firm again?

You can soak the broccoli in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes or more to help it regain its firmness. Another method is to slice off a portion of the stem and place the remaining stem and crown in a pot with a cup of water. Store it in the fridge overnight, and the broccoli will be crisp and fresh in the morning.

Will microwaving broccoli make it soft?

Microwave on HIGH (regular power) for 3 to 4 minutes.

Depending on your microwave's strength this should give you tender yet still slightly crispy broccoli — not mushy. Try at 2 1/2 minutes first, then check, re-cover and put back in if it's not done yet.

How do you tenderize broccoli?

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook, uncovered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes depending on the size of the florets. Drain into a colander, transfer to a plate, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve with lemon wedges.

How to cook broccoli without losing its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties!

What does soaking broccoli in salt water do?

Hence, soaking the vegetables in salt water not only removes the pesticides and insecticides, but it also kills the bacteria and bugs present on them.

How do you soften broccoli without a steamer?

Option 2: Steam without a steamer basket

Add just enough water to cover the bottom of a large skillet (about 3/4 cup for a 12-inch skillet). Add the broccoli in an even layer, cover, and steam over medium-high heat until just tender and bright green, 6 to 8 minutes total.

Is it better to microwave or boil broccoli?

But the microwave method is better than steaming the veggies over boiling water, Souza said, because it's still possible for some of the nutrients to leach into the water. Plus, it's much quicker to microwave the broccoli than wait for a pot of water to boil on the stove.

How do you make broccoli soft without losing nutrients?

Why is my broccoli not soft?

The broccoli stem should be firm. A soft stem is an indicator of spoilage. The stalk should also look fresh, not cracked or dried out. If the bottom of the stalk looks dry, you may be able to cut off the dry part and still consume the broccoli provided there are no other indicators of spoilage.

How do restaurants make broccoli so green?

To retain the green, cook the vegetables in lots of boiling water. There are enzymes in green vegetables that break down chlorophyll, which are released when you cut vegetables or cook them.

Can I cook limp broccoli?

Limp broccoli is a sign that it's not as fresh as it could be. You can still use it in cooking, like in soups or stir-fries, where the texture may not be as important. If it's just slightly limp, you can also try reviving it by soaking it in ice water for a short time to crisp it up a bit.

How long does it take for broccoli to get soft?

To boil, place in a pan of boiling water and cook the florets for 6-8 minutes. To steam, place in a steamer over boiling water and cook for 6-8 minutes. Broccoli to be stir-fried should be separated into bite-sized florets, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan and add the florets, cook for 4-5 minutes or until tender.

How do you soften hard vegetables?

Boiling, steaming, stir-frying, and sautéing are the best cooking methods. Check them frequently and immediately remove them from heat when they reach the softness you want.

Should broccoli be hard or soft?

The stalks should feel firm and crisp, never limp or wobbly. Check the cut end of the stem, too, and pick broccoli heads that are moist and fresh-looking, not browned where the stem was cut. At most stores, you can also buy packages of pre-cut broccoli florets -- look for the same characteristics to ensure quality.

Is it better to boil or cook broccoli?

While boiled broccoli is often soggy, steamed broccoli is characteristically crisp-tender. Plus, when you boil broccoli, some of the nutrients leach into the boiling water. You don't have to worry about that with steaming. Your steamed broccoli will be a great meal-prep building block because it's like a blank canvas.

What is the most beneficial way to cook broccoli?

Healthiest Way to Cook Broccoli

Lightly sauteed with garlic and a splash of water. It's that simple. Cooking broccoli in this way retains most of its colour, nutritional value along with that crunch that results in a delicious side dish that even my youngest and pickiest eater enjoys.

Is it healthier to boil or bake broccoli?

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.

How long does broccoli take to soften in boiling water?

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add salt. Add in broccoli florets (and stem if using). Cook for 2-3 minutes or until fork tender.

How do you boil broccoli without it going soggy?

2 Cook the broccoli florets and stalk pieces in lots of salted boiling water for 3-5 minutes. They should be a little soft, but remember they are going to be cooked again, so not too soggy. Drain and set to one side ensuring they are in a well aerated place so that the steam coming off them dries them out a bit.

How do you steam broccoli without a steamer or microwave?

How do Chinese restaurants get broccoli so crispy?

The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.

Why is Chinese broccoli so good?

Like many leafy green vegetables, Chinese broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients. It contains high amounts of beta carotene. Beta carotene helps prevent age related macular degeneration (ARMD), which causes vision loss and eventually blindness. Additionally, Chinese broccoli is a good source of vitamin E.

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