Best answer: Can you cook broccoli in boiling water?

To cook: Broccoli can be boiled, steamed or stir-fried, it is easy to overcook – it should still retain its bright green colour when cooked and should have a little ‘bite’. … To boil, place in a pan of boiling water and cook the florets for 6-8 minutes.

Do you boil broccoli in hot or cold water?

Directions

1. Wash the broccoli in cold water and pat dry. Peel the stem and trim right where the florets branch off. Break apart the florets.
2. 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.

Will boiling broccoli soften it?

Softening. Cooking broccoli for this article means heating broccoli, whether it’s in an oven, or in a pot of boiling water. … The top softens more than the stems, since those stems contain fibers that don’t completely break down during cooking.

Can you boil broccoli instead of steaming?

(Boiling is not our preferred method for cooking broccoli, unless you’re OK with a mushier texture.) Using just a small amount of water also means that it will quickly convert to steam when introduced to heat; by placing the lid on the pot, you can trap the steam to quickly cook the broccoli.

Is boiled broccoli water good for you?

Recommended. They found that microwaving the broccoli in the water for five minutes at full power produced the greatest nutrient loss, and the microwaved broccoli lost 74% to 97% of three key antioxidants. Boiling also led to a significant loss of these antioxidants.

How long should you boil broccoli?

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.

What will happen if a broccoli is cooked longer than 20 minutes?

Do not overcook broccoli. Overcooking will cause it to break apart, lose its color, diminish its taste, and will cause the lose of many nutrients. If adding broccoli to a cold salad, first blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes and then immediately rinse with cold water.

Is it bad to boil broccoli?

But with broccoli, it’s certainly best to avoid boiling. A far better way is to steam, as the veg cooks, but doesn’t release nearly as much nutrients in the process. With boiling, water-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C and B leak out, which doesn’t happen as much through steaming.

What is the healthiest way to cook broccoli?

Cooking (Or Not Cooking) Broccoli To Protect Its Nutritional Riches : The Salt Cooking broccoli too long destroys the beneficial enzyme that breaks down chemicals into cancer fighters. The best way to eat it is raw or steamed for just two to three minutes, a nutrition expert says.

How do you steam if you don’t have a steamer?

The technique is simple: fill a medium pot with 1/2 inch of water, place three golf ball–sized balls of aluminum foil on the bottom, rest a heat-proof plate on top of the foil balls, cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Add vegetables to the plate, cover, and steam until crisp-tender.

What do you do with boiled broccoli water?

Besides containing trace nutrients that leach out from the cooked vegetables into the pan water, this liquid essence can be used for cooking dishes such as pasta, rice, soups and stews. Saving vegetable water is also a good way to conserve in your cooking and be less wasteful while adding nutrients.

Can we drink boiled vegetable water?

“Boiling vegetables causes water soluble vitamins like vitamin C, B1 and folate to leach into the water,” Magee said. “So unless you are going to drink the water along with your vegetables, such as when making soups and stews, these vitamins are typically poured down the sink.

Is it better to eat broccoli raw or steamed?

Broccoli is a nutrient-packed vegetable that can be eaten safely either raw or cooked. Cooking may enhance the antioxidant activity of broccoli, but it may also reduce its content of certain heat-sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin C and sulforaphane.