Steaming broccoli is a fast and healthy way to cook this nutritious vegetable. It preserves broccoli's vibrant green color and fresh flavor without the addition of oil. While boiled broccoli is often soggy, steamed broccoli is characteristically crisp-tender.
A 2009 study prepared broccoli using five popular methods – boiling, microwaving, steaming, stir-frying and stir-frying/boiling. Researchers found steaming kept the highest level of nutrients. “Boiling vegetables causes water soluble vitamins like vitamin C, B1 and folate to leach into the water,” Magee said.
Boiling leaches out the vegetable's water-soluble vitamins in these vegetables, such as vitamin C and folate, as well as many of the glucosinolate compounds, which are water-soluble, too.
Good for heart health
A study by Nutrition Research found that consuming steamed broccoli regularly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the total amount of cholesterol in the body.
Boiling veggies leads to a lot of nutrient loss, and the longer the veggie boils, the more nutrients will escape into the water. Steaming veggies on the other hand is a brief process, and it is the method that leads to the least loss of nutrients in most veggies.
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.
If you like your broccoli softer, cook it for 5 to 6 minutes. Steaming it much longer than that will cause it to lose its vibrant green color and a lot of nutrients.
One disadvantage of steaming food is that it can take longer to cook than other cooking methods. This is because the water in the steam pot needs time to reach a boil and cook the food. Another one is that it can create moisture retention.
On the other hand, steam cooking has its detractors. Steam can cause serious burns, and because steam quickly dissipates from a container, those who are not careful may end up burning themselves while engaging in this type of cooking or removing food from a steamer.
Broccoli, spinach, and lettuce may lose up to 50% or more of their vitamin C when boiled ( 4 , 5). Because vitamin C is water-soluble and sensitive to heat, it can leach out of vegetables when they're immersed in hot water. B vitamins are similarly heat sensitive.
Does Broccoli Cause Gas? Full of fiber, these innocent green florets are much harder to digest when raw, so it's best to lightly steam or sauté broccoli before you eat it. Enjoy just a few pieces at first, and you should notice an improvement in your tummy after eating.
Steamed broccoli may be one of the healthiest ways to cook broccoli because it's quick and nutrients and vitamins won't be lost in the cooking water, as can be the case with boiled broccoli.
As the veggies hit the boiling water, volatile acids are released into the water and are carried away in the steam. When the pot is covered, the steam and the acids it contains are forced back into the water. Once there, the acids react with the chlorophyll in the vegetables, turning them an unsightly shade of brown.
Destroy that — sulforaphane can't form. A study by Jeffery that compared boiling, microwaving, and steaming found that steaming broccoli for up to five minutes was the best way to retain its myrosinase.
Immediatley before cooking, soak your broccoli, head down, in cold, salted water (1 tsp salt to 8 cups water) for 5 minutes. Any critters will float to the top where you can rescue them or allow them to suffer a salty death.
Unlike boiled vegetables, steamed veggies are cooked briefly and then removed from the heat. This can be done using a vegetable steamer or a regular saucepan with a cover. During steaming, the heat of the steam cooks the veggies, and they are spared from the boiling water.
Good vegetables to steam – Broccoli, spinach and other leafy greens; cauliflower, asparagus, carrots, green beans, small potatoes and artichokes. Veg to avoid steaming – Any large chunks of hard veg, such as potatoes, squash or celeriac.
Healthy Ways to Cook Vegetables
To steam, place food into a steam basket and cover over simmering water. Since food is not directly touching the water, vegetables retain more of their nutrients. Just watch steaming closely so as not to overcook your veggies.
Some people prefer broccoli florets, but you can eat the leaves and stems, too. The stalk contains the most fiber, while broccoli leaves are highest in cell-protecting antioxidants, vitamins E and K, and calcium. At the store or farmers market, look for fresh broccoli with dark green or purple, not yellow, florets.
No, you should not use steam on your face every single day. Although the benefits of steaming face are far too many, steaming everyday can prove to be slightly harsh as the pores will not have enough time to close. Therefore, limit the process to 10 minutes once a week for best results.
Steaming is a healthy method of cooking because it adds no fat or calories. Steaming food in the microwave is easy. Using a microwave safe dish, put a little water in the bottom with the food and heat until the food is cooked through.
Blanching means the broccoli is briefly cooked in hot water and then immediately removed and placed into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This pre-cook method helps preserve the bright green color and it also allows the broccoli to cook faster, which keeps the broccoli crunchy.
Because it makes veggies taste richer, more flavorful, and saltier than they would if you cooked them at home, which encourages you and other customers to keep coming back for more.