Master the simple way to prep this cruciferous side.
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Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture.
Published on January 05, 2024
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In This Article
- How to Boil Broccoli
- How Long to Boil Broccoli
No matter what you’re making for dinner, broccoli is an excellent choice for a side. The cruciferous vegetable is grown year-round in certain climates, meaning it’s pretty much always available for purchase, not to mention the fact that it’s healthy, easy to cook, and, of course, delicious. When it comes to cooking broccoli, there are various ways to do it, but boiling the veggie is fast and yields crisp, bright florets that you can serve as is, or flavor with butter, cheese, garlic, and more.
However, one pitfall of boiling broccoli is that you need to keep a close eye on it. Once the vegetable is tossed into a pot of boiling water it cooks very quickly, meaning that if it’s in the pot for even a minute too long, you could be left with a mushy mess. Keep reading to discover how long to boil broccoli so it’s bright and crisp every time.
How to Boil Broccoli
Perfectly boiled broccoli is bright green with a crisp-tender texture, making it the ideal healthy side as is, or the perfect canvas for a hearty pat of butter, a generous squeeze of lemon juice, or a bountiful sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. For the best way to boil broccoli, follow these steps:
- Wash the broccoli in cold water and carefully pat it dry.
- Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, cut off the stems of the broccoli to create medium-sized florets. Try to ensure that all of the florets are around the same size so the broccoli will cook evenly. (Note: You can also boil the broccoli stem, which is safe to eat, but not as flavorful as the florets.)
- Once the water is boiling, add the broccoli florets to the pot. Cook the broccoli, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes. You’ll know the broccoli is done when it’s bright green and crisp-tender.
- Drain the broccoli into a colander, transfer it to a plate, and season it as you like.
How Long to Boil Broccoli
If you’re following the recipe above and boiling medium-sized broccoli florets, they only need about two to three minutes in boiling water before they are fully cooked. However, if your broccoli florets are larger they may need an additional 30 seconds or so, and if they are smaller they will likely be fully cooked in less than two minutes. No matter what size your broccoli florets are, you will know they are done cooking when they are a bright, vibrant green with a crisp texture and a little bit of give. If you want your broccoli to be softer, cook it for an additional 30 seconds. Once the broccoli begins to turn yellow and develops a mushy texture, it’s been boiling for too long.
If you’re trying to waste less food and wish to cook the broccoli stems with the florets, cut them into bite-sized pieces and boil them for about two minutes before you add the florets to the pot of boiling water. Since broccoli stems cook more slowly than the florets, they need more time on the stove. After two minutes, add the florets and boil for an additional two to three minutes, keeping an eye on all of the broccoli to ensure it doesn’t overcook. Like the florets, you’ll know those hearty broccoli stems are done cooking when they are a brighter green with a crisp-tender texture.
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