To soften, preserve or pre-cook broccoli for other recipes, blanching is the best way. It is easy, fast and you have everything already in your kitchen that is required for this. When broccoli is blanched in a microwave, it is even easier and convenient as well.
Below are the steps to blanch broccoli in a microwave:
1. Cut the broccoli into florets of bite-size
The entire broccoli has to be cut into bite-size florets and if you want to eat stalks, florets should be cut smaller than the bite-size. If there are any woody bits, remove them all so that cooking occurs evenly.
2. Transfer all the broccoli to a bowl and add water
I would suggest using a microwave-safe bowl for this. Often for blanching, I prefer using a ceramic bowl. In this, broccoli florets have to be transferred and water is added.
For one pound of broccoli, 2-3 tablespoons of water is enough.
3. Cover the bowl tightly
The bowl with broccoli florets has to be covered. For this, a ceramic or stoneware plate is preferred over the plastic wrap. The plate on the bowl should be air-tight.
4. Run the microwave on high for 3-4 minutes
Strength of the microwave decides the time for which you should run the microwave while blanching broccoli. Generally, for a 700-1000 Watts microwave, 3-4 minutes are enough.
At this stage, broccoli should be tender yet slightly crispy but not mushy. To avoid getting mushy, microwave for 2 ½ minutes first, check and stir, re-cover and then put in back if not done yet.
5. Remove lid carefully
Once done, remove the lid carefully as the steam formed inside may cause burn to you. The lid has to be removed so that steaming is stopped.
6. Put in the ice water immediately
Once broccoli is cooked perfectly, transfer the florets immediately to a bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking process. Allow the florets to soak in this for 2-3 minutes.
7. Dry on paper towels
Drain the florets with a colander and dry on paper towels to remove the excess water.
Now blanched broccoli is ready and it can be used for other recipes or put in zip-lock bags in the freezer for later use.
How to cook baby broccoli in microwave?
Baby broccoli or broccolini is a green vegetable very similar to broccoli but has smaller florets and longer, thin stalks. It is a hybrid of broccoli.
To cook baby broccoli in the microwave, follow the easy steps mentioned below:
- First, rinse the baby broccoli under the tap water properly.
- Once done, shake them so that excess water is drained off but do not dry them.
- Wrap all the baby broccoli in a microwave-safe cling wrap and put it in the microwave.
- Microwave them for 1-2 minutes.
- Once done, remove them with the help of tea towels and unwrap them carefully.
- Don’t leave baby broccoli in the microwave as it will keep cooking.
- Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to them to add flavor and serve hot.
How to microwave broccoli in a bag?
It is good to microwave broccoli as it is easy, time-saving and prevents loss of nutrients while cooking.
Broccoli can be cooked in microwave in a plastic zip lock or freezer bag but before using the bag you must be sure that it is BPA-free and safe to be used in the microwave.
To microwave broccoli in a bag, follow the steps:
- Cut the broccoli into florets of the desired size.
- Place all of them in a zip lock bag or freezer bag which is microwave-safe.
- Add some seasoning or little butter to this. Also, add 2 tablespoons of water.
- Run the microwave on high for 5 minutes.
- Once done, remove the bag immediately from the appliance and open the bag. Be careful as the bag can be hot and the escaping steam may cause burn.
Always, leave a small part of the closure open to prevent exploding of the bag in the microwave.
Also, the bag should be kept on the microwave-safe plate and not directly on the turntable of the microwave as after the microwave, the bag will be too hot to handle and it may leak in the microwave.
How long do you microwave fresh broccoli?
When fresh broccoli is cooked in a microwave, it is more tender-crisp and delicious. It requires approximately 4 minutes to microwave fresh broccoli. However, there may be little difference in time depending on the strength of the microwave and the quantity of the broccoli.
The time mentioned here is for 12 ounces of broccoli in a 700-1000 watts microwave.
Once done, broccoli should be seasoned with butter, pepper, salt, and little lemon juice before serving. These add flavor to your dish.
Does microwaving broccoli destroy nutrients?
No, microwaving broccoli does not destroy nutrients. As compared to the conventional method, less heat is used by microwave ovens, and also the cooking time is shorter in a microwave.
Due to these reasons, nutrients in the food are not destroyed when microwaved. It should be ensured that you are using the best ways to retain vitamins and minerals in the food while microwaving.
Always use a microwave-safe bowl while cooking so that unhealthy chemicals do not seep into the food. Also, do not add much water as the water-soluble vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, Thiamine (B1), Folate (B9), and Panthothenic acid (B5) escape while cooking.
Adding little water while cooking food in a microwave retains more vitamins and minerals as compared to any other cooking method.
How to steam broccoli in microwave without a steamer?
It is easy to steam broccoli in a microwave without a steamer. For this, chop broccoli in small florets and put them in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of water over them.
Now, cover the bowl with a plate and cook the broccoli on high in the microwave for 2-4 minutes until they are tender and crispy.
Once done, remove the broccoli from the microwave and be careful as the steam will be hot. Transfer them to a serving dish and serve plain or with butter, little salt and pepper.
This is an easy way to steam broccoli in a microwave without a steamer.
How to cook frozen broccoli in microwave?
Frozen broccoli can be cooked with much ease in steamable bags in microwave in just 8-10 minutes. But if you do not find these bags, you can still cook them in a microwave-safe dish with a lid.
For this, take frozen broccoli in a microwave-safe dish and add an inch of water to the bottom of the dish. Cover the dish with a lid and run the microwave on high for 8-10 minutes.
To get crisper broccoli, 8 minutes is enough but to get more tender broccoli, microwave them for 10 minutes.
Once done, remove the broccoli from the microwave and add a little butter with salt and pepper. Toss them together and serve hot. Your delicious dish is ready.
Conclusion
Most of the time we prefer to use a microwave to blanch vegetables and broccoli is one of the vegetables preferred for this method. Blanching broccoli in a microwave saves a lot of time and helps to retain nutrients as well.
For this, you just need a microwave-safe bowl, florets of broccoli, water, and a microwave. The method mentioned above is the easiest one which you can follow and get tender crispy broccoli every time.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your favorite dish in no time. Happy Cooking!