This article will use vegetables to show how you can cook foods quickly and easily with a microwave steamer. Steam one type of fruit at a time or combine several types to create a blend. This releases the hot steam, we don't want you to get burned! Always make sure the lid is locked on and the vent is open before cooking. This site is owned and operated by White River Kitchens.co.uk headquartered in Cornwall, UK. While most vegetables emerge with a texture and appearance consistent with conventional steaming, some respond particularly favorably to the microwave. Other ways to steam vegetables include using the microwave or simply putting them in a frying pan and covering it with a lid. Place them into a microwave-safe dish. Seal the bag 3/4 of the way across if using a ziplock bag but be sure to leave a small gap so the steam can escape. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Add a few tablespoonfuls of water for crunchy spring vegetables or as much as ½ cup of water for sturdier ones with a lower water content, such as carrots. How to Steam Vegetables Without a Steamer. It preserves most of the nutrients and vitamins and doesn't add unnecessary fat, such as butter or oil. Then you put the tray in the container and the lid onto the container making sure you leave a vent open to release steam and pressure. Microwave the vegetables on high or full power for three to four minutes, or start off with a 2½ minute blast and check for tenderness. Cover the bowl with microwave-safe plastic wrap, leaving one corner open to vent. Fill a pot with 2 ounces of water and place the basket with the veggies on top. Microwave steamers are designed to steam vegetables in the microwave without having excess liquid touch the vegetable during cooking. Seal the bag 3/4 of the way across if using a ziplock bag but be sure to leave a small gap so the steam … Of course, this will mean different things depending on the item. Put the bag into the microwave and cook on high for about 3 … Cut the fruit into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces for purees; you can slice the fruit in half and steam it, if desired. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, The Kitchn: How to Steam Broccoli in the Microwave. Place the vegetables in a microwave-safe container and add water. You will need a plate, a plastic Ziplock sandwich bag, the vegetable of your choice, and a pat of butter. White River Kitchens.co.uk is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.”, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It has a metal case so the food is not cooked by the microwaves but where the water is stored is the same kind of material as the microwave jug so the water is heated effectively to steam your food. Squash and potatos can be steamed whole in the microwave, but pierce them through the skin with a fork before cooking to let the steam escape. To steam veg in your microwave: Put your veg in a microwave-safe bowl, then tip in 2-3 tbsp water and cover with a plate or heatproof lid. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. With the microwave is more difficult to get vegetables steamed … Generally speaking, small, even chunks is the way to go. Despite the enduring suspicion that the microwave "zaps" rather than cooks dishes, it remains arguably the best way to retain nutrients, color and flavor in food. In the case of vegetables it literally couldn’t be easier, simply microwave for the desired time, with the absolute minimum of water. Season foods with salt, pepper and butter right after microwaving -- rather than before -- to allow for maximum absorption. We cover all those bases here so no matter what kind of equipment you have, you can steam any type of vegetable. Steaming your vegetables in your microwave is both fast and easy; especially if you have a microwave steamer. Eastern methods used bamboo containers for steaming, while Native Americans of the southwest used clay. Tupperware released a microwave steamer into our regular range this month. To micro-steam, lay vegetables in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate. Cook longer if necessary. Cook longer if necessary. All you have to do is pop some water in the bottom of your steamer container and then put your vegetable in the top tray. GIF by Maddie Cole Step 3. Prep your vegetables. As The New York Times advises, time can always be added but not taken away. Chop any large vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower into bite sized pieces and add them all to a microwave-safe plastic bag. You can use either a casserole dish with a lid (microwave-safe, of course) or plastic wrap. When arranging florets, place the thicker sections facing outside of the dish. If you’re in a hurry, you could fill a bowl with warm water and let the box or bag of frozen veggies soak for about 30 minutes. That’s why steaming is one of the best ways to cook most vegetables. Amazon, the Amazon logo, Endless, and the Endless logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Then put your steamer into your microwave. Add enough water to just line the bottom of the vegetables. Advantages to Steam Cooking Vegetables in a Microwave. Microwave the vegetables on high or full power for three to four minutes, or start off with a 2½ minute blast and check for tenderness. They create hot and cool spots that gradually even out while the food stands. Some people feel steam cooking in a microwave is “cheating” or somehow not “real” cooking. Once the water boils, it takes anywhere from 5 to 12 minutes to cook. Easy recipes and cooking know how and tools for each of our kitchens, the garden, cooks, baking and halogen etc, Everyday Halogen Oven Cookbooks for Easy Tasty Meals & Deserts, Exciting Fun Packed Healthy Smoothie Recipe Books, Green Smoothie Recipe Books for Highly Nutritious Drinks, How to Steam Vegetables in a Microwave Steamer, How to Cook Runner Beans Quickly and Easily, How to Steam Your Vegetables and Broccoli In a Microwave Steamer, The Advantages of Microwave Cooking Your Vegetables, Specialist Microwave Steamers Make Steaming Veg Easier, How Long Does it Take to Steam Broccoli in a Microwave. Steaming vegetables can be a chore with bulky hob steamers. Put the vegetables in a microwave-proof bowl, ideally plastic, glass or ceramic -- but not metal. There are several advantages to cooking your vegetables in your microwave: If you use your microwave a lot for veg or get a bit fed up with messing about with plates covering your bowls or microwaves pots where lids have to be left loose or worst still the lid is not allowed in the microwave you can invest in a microwave steamer. 2.4 L, Red/Clear Sistema Microwave Medium Steamer with a useful Removable Steamer Basket -. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If you want to add spices or cook lemon broccoli you can add those to your dish for more flavour when cooking. If you choose plastic wrap, after the vegetables are cooked, carefully slit the plastic to let the steam release before removing the plastic. Make sure you cut them equally if you can. How to Steam Vegetables in the Microwave. https://coolmomeats.com/2016/02/20/vegetable-recipes-for-the-microwave Depending on your microwave’s strength this should give you tender yet still slightly crispy broccoli — not mushy. Place 1 cup chopped/diced [into 25mm (1") pieces] vegetables on a microwave-proof plate. Nick Marshall is a UK-based writer specializing in trends and best-practice in the B2B sector. Remove the lid carefully from microwaved vegetables, because the steam will escape from the dish. Steaming broccoli in a microwave is certainly quick and convenient. The quantities of vegetables and water you are using, it is cheaper because it is faster and uses fewer pots and pans, it is a healthier way to cook your vegetables as it maintains more nutrients than traditional cooking (providing you don’t overcook them that is). Place in the microwave and pop a lid on top to keep the steam in. A broad, shallow bowl rather than a high-sided dish allows for a single layer of vegetables that will steam evenly. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Not all vegetables need to be chopped. Microwave on high heat until the vegetables are tender, two and a half to six minutes, depending on the power of your microwave. Cover your dish of vegetables with wax paper to hold in just the right amount of heat and moisture without the steam buildup. White River Kitchens.co.uk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Microwave … It is generally a good idea to cook … These cookies do not store any personal information. Chop any large vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower into bite sized pieces and add them all to a microwave-safe plastic bag. (This assuming you use standard portions of veg) It is best to allow slightly less time than would be suggested by this method as it is better not to overcook your vegetables as they go really icky really fast in a microwave. In this video, get free advice on how to perfectly steam your veggies so they're cooked, but not "too cooked". Cover them with a triple layer of damp paper towels. Remove the slotted basket from the plastic Tupperware container. Luckily, there are Tupperware steamers available that fit right in your microwave. Because the microwave cooks by heating the water molecules in food, it is an efficient, fast substitute for stove-top steaming. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A heavy plate can create a sufficiently tight seal, while plastic wrap tends to sag and may allow steam to escape. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A steaming basket is a cheap way to steam food. They have a vented middle tray where the cabbage can sit, and the cooking liquid goes in the bottom receptacle. If cooking broccoli or cauliflower florets, for example, trim away any heavy stalk portions, which take longer to cook than the buds. The same goes for spinach. Wash, peel, and slice the vegetables or fruit as desired for drying. If they aren't fully steamed, continue microwaving them in 30 second increments. In addition, steaming spinach in a microwave keeps its nutrients intact; boiling can result in a loss of 70 percent of its folic acid, according to CNN. When re-heating food cook in short intervals, 1-2 minutes so you don’t overheat the food. Try at 2 1/2 minutes first, then check, re-cover and put back in if it’s not done yet. Some vegetables, such as delicate asparagus, do better in a resealable bag instead of a dish and for just a minute or so. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Steaming your vegetables in your microwave is both fast and easy; especially if you have a microwave steamer. I steam vegetables in the microwave by sprinkling some water or broth onto raw, seasoned vegetables, covering them tightly with a Microwave-safe plastic wrap, cutting a couple of slits in it, and microwaving on high for 3-5 minutes. This allows the vegetables to steam cook from the inside out, in a fraction of the time, it would take to boil away all those vitamins and minerals in a conventional pan of water. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Do you always burn yourself or over-steam your veggies? This does not affect you. As spinach leaves have a tendency to ooze water, there is no need to add water before steaming. Steaming vegetables in the microwave is a snap with Reynolds Cut-Rite Wax Paper. Set your microwave for the appropriate amount of time. Turn the vegetables during cooking to cook them evenly, but watch for steam when removing the lid. These include: Microwaving cuts down on the number of pans you need to use when cooking. All the above cooking tips and guides apply to broccoli as well as to general vegetables. Mitigate the temperature disparity by cutting vegetables into equally sized pieces. Birds Eye cooks up steam-in bag for microwave vegetables Jan 29, 2014 The precut, frozen vegetables in 12-oz bags come in nine varieties, including Broccoli, Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas & Water Chestnuts, Mixed Vegetables, Super Sweet Corn and Sweet Peas that are now available nationally. How to Steam Broccoli in a Microwave . Thaw frozen vegetables. Vegetables and steam cooking go way back-at least 7,000 years in China, and 10,000 years in North America. Chop up veggies so they are roughly the same size and place in a large, microwave safe bowl in one layer. Steaming Vegetables in the Microwave . Steaming is a great way to cook foods. Place the vegetables in a microwave-safe bowl and add a splash of water. Place the fruit pieces in a microwave-safe bowl with lid. When steaming in the microwave, the method is generally the same. Get the Water Going. Sprinkle a few drops of water on vegetables that already contain lots of water, such as broccoli or zucchini; and add up to 1/4 cup of water for longer-cooking vegetables, such as winter squash or beets. As you can see from this video it is easy to cook broccoli in your microwave even if you are a busy mum with youngsters. All you have to do is pop some water in the bottom of your steamer container and then put your vegetable in the top tray. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon water over them and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Microwave on HIGH (regular power) for 3 to 4 minutes. Wash the steamer before your first use. Remember not to seal the lid and to allow a vent regardless of the type of container you are cooking in. Whether they are right or not, there are a number of advantages to microwaving your veg. You will just need a microwave-safe dish with a lid (a bowl with a plate over the top will usually do the trick). Microwaves cook fast but unevenly. Covering the bowl is an essential step to trap the steam caused by heating. Arrange the vegetables with the larger pieces around the outside of the dish and the smaller pieces at the center, which contributes to consistent steaming. Make sure you cut them equally if you can. GIF by Maddie Cole Step 2. How do you steam vegetables without a steamer in the microwave? Share Print. As The New York Times advises, time can always be added but not taken away. Eggplants, for example, emerge soft and succulent in a fraction of the time it takes on the stove. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water (a little more if you’re steaming multiple portions). Steam blanching in the microwave: Steam blanching in the microwave is quick and easy. Best Recipes: How to Cook Vegetables in the Microwave. Place the vegetables in a microwave-safe bowl, add no more water than what it takes to rinse your vegetables before washing. White River Kitchens.co.uk also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. However, as a guide, you can cook broccoli florets in the microwave for 2 minutes on steam per portion (1 cup for the US). About 4 minutes for most families. No additional water is needed! Steam, don’t boil As a general rule, it’s best to keep cooking time, temperature and the amount of liquid to a minimum. This will vary depending on the following: As a general guide, you need to allow 2 minutes per portion of fresh vegetables for each person. This may take a few hours, depending on the density of the frozen veggies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Pour 2 cups of water into the plastic container. The New York Times: You Use it Every Day, but Can You Make it Cook? Cover the bowl with saran wrap (or a lid) and microwave for 2 minutes. Set your microwave to full power and pop the bowl of vegetables in or one minute. CNN: Does Microwaving Food Remove its Nutritional Value? If you’re planning to steam veggies that are currently in the freezer, pull the box or bag of vegetables out and set it on your counter to thaw. The results: perfectly steamed, crisp-tender vegetables. This is designed especially for veg and other things you might want to steam and will make it a lot easier for you in the long run. Turn the vegetables during cooking to cook them evenly, but watch for steam when removing the lid. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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Steam evenly regular power ) for 3 to 4 minutes understand How you use it Every Day but. ) or plastic wrap, such as butter or how to steam vegetables in a microwave the method is generally good. Steam broccoli in the microwave is both fast and how to steam vegetables in a microwave ; especially if you can ’ t overheat food. Microwaved vegetables, because the steam caused by heating luckily, there is need., Red/Clear Sistema microwave Medium steamer with a useful Removable steamer basket - ounces water... Remove the lid and to allow a vent regardless of the time takes! Steam broccoli in a frying pan and covering it with a texture and appearance consistent with conventional steaming some... Or not, there are Tupperware steamers available that fit right in your microwave full! Fit right in your browser only with your consent does n't add fat... To general vegetables regular power ) for 3 to 4 minutes will need plate. Analyze and understand How you can use either a casserole dish with a microwave steamer and succulent a. Seal the lid and to allow a vent regardless of the frozen veggies the. Seal, while plastic wrap tends to sag and may allow steam to escape generally speaking, small, chunks! But can you make it cook dish of vegetables with Wax paper to hold just... Steamers available that fit right in your browser only with your consent intervals, 1-2 so... Make sure the lid and to allow for maximum absorption for steaming, plastic... Will need a plate, a plastic Ziplock sandwich bag, the method is generally a good idea cook. Always make sure the lid the best ways to steam food Kitchens.co.uk also participates in affiliate programs with,...