How to Cook Fresh Broccoli

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Broccoli is a delicious and healthy vegetable that you can cook easily. Wash your broccoli and cut it into bite-sized pieces. To prepare broccoli in a low-calorie way, steam it or cook it in the microwave and add it to your favorite dishes. For a richer broccoli dish, sauté or roast broccoli in oil. Avoid boiling broccoli, which can strip it of its vitamins and nutrients. [1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Washing and Cutting Broccoli

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  1. Rinse a head of broccoli under cool water to remove any dirt or grit. Gently shake off the excess water. Dab the broccoli dry with a paper towel. [2]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Place the broccoli on a clean cutting board. Locate the part of the plant where the broccoli florets (i.e., the buds on the top) meet the stem. Cut the broccoli in half about an inch (approximately 2.5 cm) under this meeting point to separate florets from the stem.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Cut the stem that remains under the head of the broccoli vertically. Continue to cut it into smaller pieces until you are left with bite-sized florets. Try to make pieces that are similarly sized so that they cook evenly.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Using a paring knife, carefully remove any dark green leaves from the broccoli stalk. Use a vegetable peeler to strip away the outer layer of the stem, which is thick and difficult to eat. Use a sharp knife to cut the remaining stem into bite-sized pieces. [3]
    • Cut pieces of broccoli stems to be about the same size as the florets.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Steaming Fresh Broccoli

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Pour an inch (approximately 2.5 cm) of water into a medium-sized pot. Attach a steamer basket to the top of the pot. Make sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the basket. [4]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Set one of your stove top burners to a medium-high heat. Place your pot on the burner, uncovered. Allow the water to reach a simmer .
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Place your broccoli florets and stems in the steamer basket. Do not fill the basket more than the height of the pot. Cover the pot with a lid. [5]
  4. Allow your broccoli to steam in the pot for about five minutes, until you can pierce it with a fork. At that time, remove the pot from the burner and carefully lift off the lid. Spear a piece of broccoli with a fork to see if it is tender. [6]
    • The fork should pierce through the broccoli with very little effort. If it does not, the broccoli is not finished cooking.
  5. If your broccoli isn’t cooked through after five minutes, continue steaming it for one minute intervals. After a minute, test a piece of broccoli by piercing it with a fork. If it is still not cooked, continue steaming it and check it again after one minute.
    • Checking the broccoli this frequently will prevent overcooking, which will leave it soft and mushy.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Microwaving Broccoli

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Place your cut broccoli florets and stems in a microwave safe dish. For each medium-sized head of broccoli that you use, add approximately 3 tablespoons (44.4 ml) (1.5 oz.) of water to the dish. [7]
    • The broccoli pieces do not need to be fully submerged. The steam created from the water will cook them.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Loosely cover the dish with a microwave safe lid or dinner plate. Leave an opening for some steam to escape while the broccoli cooks. Alternatively, use a vented, microwave-safe lid that allows steam to be released from the top.
  3. Place the dish in the microwave. Program the heat setting to high and cook the broccoli for 3-4 minutes. Note that cooking times may vary for different microwaves. [8]
  4. Remove the broccoli from the microwave and carefully remove the lid. Pierce the broccoli with a fork to see if it is ready. If it requires more cooking, place the broccoli back in the microwave for one minute intervals until it is ready. [9]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Sautéing Broccoli

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  1. Pour one tablespoon (0.5 oz.) of olive oil into a medium-sized pan. Lightly tilt the pan in circular motions to spread the oil across the surface. Place the pan on the stove top over medium heat for one minute to heat it.
    • Broccoli can also be cooked with an equal amount of another type of oil (e.g., coconut oil) or butter. Note that this will change the flavor of your dish.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Carefully add fresh broccoli pieces to the heated pan. Using a heat-resistant spatula, stir the broccoli pieces to coat them in oil. Spread them out evenly in the pan to make sure that all of the pieces cook evenly.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Set a timer or alarm to count 6-7 minutes of cooking time. Cook the broccoli over a medium heat. Stir the pieces frequently with your spatula.
    • Move broccoli pieces from the outside part of the pan towards the middle as you stir, and flip them as much as possible.
  4. Once the broccoli is done cooking, remove the pan from the heat and turn off the stove. Carefully transfer your broccoli to a plate using your spatula. Allow it to cool.
    • Sprinkle the broccoli with salt and pepper as desired to flavor it.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Roasting Broccoli

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  1. Prepare to roast broccoli by preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 220 degrees Celsius). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. The foil can be disposed of after cooking, making cleanup much simpler. [10]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    In a medium-sized bowl, mix the florets and stems from one head of broccoli with 2–3 tablespoon (29.6–44.4 ml) (1-1.5 oz.) of cooking oil. Use a spatula to stir the pieces until they are all covered in oil. Add a dash of salt to taste. [11]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Fresh Broccoli
    Transfer the broccoli pieces to the pan. Make sure that they are laid out in a single layer without any overlap. Distributing the broccoli evenly allows all the pieces to cook the same amount. [12]
  4. Put on an oven mitt and place the pan in the oven. Let the broccoli roast for 20 minutes and remove it from the oven to see if it is done. If not, place it back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes. [13]
    • Roasted broccoli usually ends up with a nice nutty flavor and with crisp ends.
  5. Using an oven mitt, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Place it on your stove top to cool down. Make sure that the broccoli is crunchy and lightly browned, which is how you can tell that it's done. [14]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you cook broccoli and keep it?
    Taylor DeCosta
    Executive Chef
    Taylor DeCosta is an Executive Chef and Founder of Taylor Made Cuisine in Orange County, California. With over 10 years of professional experience, Taylor and her team offer event catering and meal delivery services to clients all over Southern California, including Los Angeles and San Diego County. Taylor and her team have been featured in many publications including the Los Angeles Times, Goop, and Orange County Business Journal. Taylor received her Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) degree in Culinary Arts and Chef Training from Orange Coast College.
    Taylor DeCosta
    Executive Chef
    Expert Answer
    Honestly, roasted broccoli tends to maintain its texture better than steamed vegetables, which can become soft and lose their texture when reheated. Steaming is a good option only if you plan on consuming all the vegetables in one sitting. Roasting, on the other hand, will add more flavor and a little longevity to your dishes.
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      Tips

      • If you like broccoli but want to try something new, you can also try cooking romanesco instead of broccoli as they have similar flavors.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • If you want your broccoli to stay fresher longer, roast it instead of steaming it. Steamed broccoli gets mushier faster, but roasted broccoli is still good after a few days.
      • We usually just add salt, pepper, and garlic to our broccoli and maybe sometimes red pepper flakes for an extra kick. Lemon juice is also great and adds a bit of freshness.
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      Things You'll Need

      Washing and Cutting Broccoli

      • Paper towels
      • A cutting board
      • A sharp knife

      Steaming Fresh Broccoli

      • A medium-sized pot
      • A steamer basket

      Microwaving Broccoli

      • A microwaveable dish

      Sautéing Broccoli

      • A medium-sized pan
      • Cooking oil or butter
      • Salt and pepper, as desired

      Roasting Broccoli

      • Aluminum foil
      • A baking sheet
      • Cooking oil

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking broccoli, check out our in-depth interview with Taylor DeCosta .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/05/15/25124.aspx
      2. ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-cook-broccoli
      3. ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-cook-broccoli
      4. ↑ http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/steamed_broccoli
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      7. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      9. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-broccoli-5-ways-167323

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Before you cook your fresh broccoli, chop the stem off and cut the florets into bite-sized pieces. If you want to steam the broccoli, pour 1 inch of water into a pot, place a steamer on top, and put the broccoli in the steamer when the water is simmering. After the broccoli has steamed for 5 minutes, test if it's ready by stabbing it with a fork. If the fork pierces the broccoli with little effort, it's ready. Otherwise, continue to steam it until it's soft. To learn about other ways to cook broccoli, including how to roast or sauté broccoli, keep reading!

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