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    You are here: Home / Recipes

    Steamed Broccoli

    BY: Courtney PUBLISHED: Jan 21, 2019 Leave a Comment UPDATED ON: Feb 9, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
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    how to steam broccoli - perfect steamed broccoli florets and stalk

    Steamed Broccoli is great for snacking or recipes. We’re going to show you how to steam broccoli, keep it bright green and how to not overcook broccoli.

    steamed broccoli in a bowl with a white cloth

    Broccoli is a go-to vegetable side dish. We like to enjoy roasted broccoli, steamed broccoli, but we don’t recommend boiling broccoli. Also, cooking in the microwave is going to kill some of the nutrients as well.

    Why don’t we recommend boiling broccoli? You lose a lot of nutrients in the water, by steaming broccoli or roasting you’re not soaking the broccoli in water. It can become waterlogged and overcooked. This goes for most vegetables, aside from starchy vegetables like potatoes.

    What is blanching?

    Blanching stops the cooking process. Once the broccoli is done you add it to an ice water bath. This keeps the broccoli green and crisp. It can easily overcook by just letting it sit.

    boiled broccoli in a bowl with steamed blanched broccoli in bowl in upper corner

    how to steam broccoli

    broccoli crown on cutting board for steamed broccoli

    To make steamed broccoli first start by cleaning the broccoli. Once you have fully cleaned the broccoli cut the broccoli florets off the stem.

    chopped broccoli florets on cutting board with knife

    Once you are finished with the florets you can add them to a steamer inserted into a pot with about an inch of boiling water. (Enough water to steam, but not over the steamer basket, make sure the broccoli isn’t sitting in water)

    broccoli florets in steamer basket to make steamed broccoli

    Steam the broccoli covered on medium-high heat so that the water is boiling.

    steamed broccoli in steamer basket placed in large saucepan

    how long do you steam broccoli?

    Remove the broccoli after around 5-6 minutes and place right into an ice water bath to blanch the broccoli.

    steamed broccoli in ice water bath blanching

    how to steam broccoli stems

    We used crowns so the stems aren’t long. Just peel the tough exterior and then remove the rough end.

    peeled broccoli stalks for steamed broccoli

    Chop the stems up into bite-size pieces and place into the steamer just like you did with the broccoli.

    chopped broccoli stems on a cutting board with knife

    Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until tender.

    steamed broccoli stems in a bowl

    Now that your broccoli is steamed you can either enjoy it right away or save it for recipes. Steamed broccoli freezes well too.

    how to freeze broccoli

    • We like freezing broccoli for later for things like smoothies or casseroles. It’s excellent to have on hand and easy to do!
    • Simply line your baking sheet with a nonstick Silpat or parchment paper and then spread the broccoli onto the sheet pan.
    • Freeze the broccoli until firm and then place into a freezer bags or a freezer safe container.
    • Another method is drying the broccoli with a clean tea towel and then placing in a large enough container so it’s not touching too much.
    • Broccoli is pretty easy to break apart once frozen so as long as it has some room you shouldn’t end up with a big block of frozen broccoli.

    steamed broccoli in a silicone reusable stasher bag for freezing with tongs above in a glass bowl

     Stasher Bags are our preferred container as they’re freezer safe, silicone, and of course reusable.

    fresh steamed broccoli in a bowl with a white cloth

    Now you can add the broccoli to any recipe that calls for it without running to the grocery store. It’s so nice to have fresh or frozen broccoli on hand. It’s delicious as is seasoned with salt, smothered with some dairy free alfredo sauce, or even added to your favorite stir fry!

    tips for steamed broccoli

    • Always blanch the broccoli or any veggies after steaming, stopping the cooking process keeps the broccoli bright green. It also prevents overcooking. Use cold water with a little ice to make ice water in a large bowl.
    • Start off with boiling water and have the steam basket in the pot, place the broccoli in and cover until the broccoli is tender about 5 minutes.
    • Store in freezer safe bags like stasher to keep it fresh in the freezer

    Recipes using steamed broccoli

    • Broccoli Tater Tots
    • Cheddar Broccoli Tots
    • Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
    • Broccoli Cheese Potato Mini Pies
    • Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe
    • Dairy Free Mac and Cheese
    steamed broccoli in a bowl with a white cloth
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    Steamed Broccoli

    Steamed Broccoli is great for snacking or recipes. We're going to show you how to steam broccoli, keep it bright green and how to not overcook broccoli.
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 5 mins
    Total Time: 10 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: broccoli, steamed broccoli
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 103kcal
    Author: Courtney

    Ingredients

    • 2 crowns broccoli
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Trim the broccoli florets from the broccoli crown.
    • Once you are finished with the florets you can add them to a steamer inserted into a pot with a little bit of boiling water. Water should be about an inch of water or two. Just enough so it's not coming above the steamer insert.
    • Cook the broccoli for covered on medium-high heat so that the water is boiling. 
    • Remove the broccoli after 5 minutes and place right into an ice bath to blanch the broccoli.
    • Chop the stems up into bite-size pieces and place into the steamer just like we did with the broccoli florets.
    • Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until tender.
    Nutrition
    Serving: 1servings | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 961mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1894IU | Vitamin C: 271mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 2mg

    The nutritional information is automatically calculated and can vary based ingredients and products used. If the nutrition numbers are important for you we recommend calculating them yourself.

    nutrition disclaimer

     

     

    you may also like:

    • Broccoli Mushroom Stir FryBroccoli Mushroom Stir Fry
    • Roasted Broccoli And CauliflowerRoasted Broccoli And Cauliflower
    • Cheddar Broccoli TotsCheddar Broccoli Tots
    • Broccoli Tater TotsBroccoli Tater Tots

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    POSTED IN: Recipes Side Dish Recipes broccoli

    About Courtney

    Fruit and Veggie lover. I love making produce fun and delicious, not to mention taking tons of pictures in the process! :-)

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