Healthy eating can be difficult when resources and time are scarce. Fortunately, your handy microwave will do all the work for you when it comes to cooking your vegetables. Just wash them, dry them and put them in the microwave for a few minutes, and the vegetables are ready to eat!
Steps
Step 1. Prepare the vegetables
Of course, this means different things depending on the type. In general, it should be cut into small pieces.
- It is generally a good idea to cook the vegetables separately so that nothing is overcooked or undercooked. However, if you need to mix them, cut the vegetables that require more cooking into smaller pieces. For example, if you cook potatoes and cauliflower together, make sure the potato pieces are much smaller than the cauliflower florets.
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In the case of corn on the cob, keep the husk. Since corn is a cereal, the loss of water makes the corn richer in starch and harder.
Microwave Corn in Its Husk Step 3
Step 2. Place the vegetables in a microwave safe container
For safety reasons, bowls that do not heat up in the microwave (e.g. Pyrex glass bowls) are preferable. However, use any microwave-safe bowl with oven mitts with caution which should make a difference.
Step 3. Season lightly
Microwave cooking gives a texture very similar to steamed vegetables (which makes sense; microwave radiation stimulates the water molecules in the food, causing the temperature to rise and the water to convert to steam). Heavy seasoning is not very necessary because the vegetable retains its original flavor very well. A little salt and pepper is enough; a pinch of spices or herbs will do just fine.
Step 4. Start the microwave
Add about 3 tablespoons of water to the bowl for every 450g of vegetables. Generally, firmer vegetables like beets or turnips will take longer to cook, while softer, moister ones like broccoli take much less time. Leafy vegetables like spinach take very little time compared to all the others. Cook for about ½ - 2/3 of the recommended time and check with a wooden skewer every next minute.
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For some reference, consider that the potato pieces generally take 8 minutes, the broccoli sprigs about 4 minutes, and the spinach about 3 minutes for 450 gr.
Cook Green Beans Step 14Bullet1 -
Understandably, larger pieces also take longer to cook than smaller pieces.
Cook Vegetables in the Microwave Step 4Bullet2 - Consult this table for more specific cooking times.
