Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli

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Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli - Learn how to steam broccoli  perfectly (crispy tender) in your Instant Pots every time. The healthiest and easiest way to consume broccoli. Retains it's green color and nutrients. Enhance the flavors with some garlic salt, pepper, butter and lemon juice and this makes a perfect side. Kid Approved. Vegan. Gluten-Free. Low-Carb. Instant Pot Video Recipe,  stove top and microwave option included. 

LET’S BE FRIENDS ON PINTEREST! WE’RE ALWAYS PINNING TASTY RECIPES!

Yes, our new family favorite. Broccoli has come back into our diets, simply because picking your own broccoli at the farm or a walk to the farmers market is so much more fun. We have realized that it's the easiest and healthiest way to consume broccoli. Here in Germany, snacks are usually fresh fruits, veggies and cheeses instead of processed packaged food. We we have embraced this fresh fruits and veggies culture too. 

Is steamed broccoli good for you?

Although consuming raw broccoli may seem like the healthiest way to have broccoli, research indicates that steamed broccoli 

• improves flavor and appeal
• preserves more nutrients than boiling, and it softens broccoli without adding fat. This helps you get the most nutrition with the lowest possible caloric intake while still producing an attractive flavor.
• has cholesterol-lowering potential
• has increased levels of health-promoting and antioxidant compounds

Why you will love this Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli

• Perfect flavors and perfect texture every single time.
• Easy to make.
• Ready in a jiffy and makes a perfect side or snack.
• Pat with with some butter, a dash of salt and pepper and some lemon juice, trust me you will get addicted. Or simply just pair it with your favorite drip.
• Kid Approved.
• Vegan and Gluten-Free.
• No-fat and Low Carb.
• If you are new to pressure cooking, this a perfectly easy recipe to begin with. More beginner recipes, here.

How to Steam Broccoli?

Steaming broccoli and getting the perfect texture consistently can often get tricky. It can either be under cooked or easily overcooked. So here is how we steam broccoli to perfection every single time. 

First clean the broccoli thoroughly by soaking it completely in a pot full of water and 2 tablespoon vinegar. Keep the broccoli head submerged for 20 minutes to soak the bugs out if any.

Next cut the broccoli head into medium sized florets.

Although you can steam broccoli on the stove top or even the microwave, our favorite is steaming broccoli in our Instant Pots as it requires no baby sitting. We have listed all three ways below, feel free to pick your favorite methods. 

How to Steam Broccoli in an Instant Pot / Broccoli in Instant Pot

Here is just a gist of the steps involved in the recipe. You can find the detailed recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Step 1 : Pour a cup of water into the inner pot. 

Step 2 : Add salt, it keeps your broccoli from being bland and helps retain the green color. Spread the florets  evenly on the steamer basket. 

Step 3 : Close the lid and seal the vent. Pressure cook on high pressure for 00:00 minutes. What happens is the time taken to build the pressure inside is enough for the broccoli to cook.

Step 4 : Also another important step to get the perfectly cooked broccoli is – the quick release before the broccoli gets mushy. This is a fail-proof recipe and you can’t go wrong with this for sure!

How can I get Crispy Tender Instant Pot Broccoli?

• 0 minutes high pressure
• quick release

What Instant Pot settings should I use to get Soft Tender Instant Pot Broccoli?

• 1 minutes high pressure
• quick release 

New to Instant Pot ?

If you are a newbie to Instant Pot or an electric pressure cooker,  here is how to Master your Electric Pressure Cooker with just 3 buttons. If you trying to dodge the Burn notification here is everything you need to know about Instant Pot says Burn Message. What is it, what it means, why you get it and how to avoid it?

How do I steam Broccoli in Microwave

Toss the florets into a microwave safe bowl. Add a table spoon of water and salt to the bowl. Cover the bowl with a microwave safe lid and microwave on high power for 1 minute. Check for doneness, microwave for another minute if you like the broccoli to be really tender and soft.

Steaming Broccoli on a stove top pot using a steamer basket

If you are opting for the classic way and want to steam your broccoli on a stove top pot. Add upto 1 inch of water to the pot in which your steamer basket fits and turn on the heat. 

Spread the florets onto the steamer basket and once the water starts bubbling, insert the steamer basket into the pot, cover the pot with a lid and allow it to steam for about 3-4 minutes for tender crisp broccoli and 7-8 minutes for soft tender broccoli. 

Steaming Broccoli on a stove top pan without a steamer basket

This is similar the the last one above except that you are not using a steamer basket. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the pan and bring it to boil. Add the florets and salt, cover the lid and steam for upto 3-4 minutes for tender crisp broccoli and 7-8 minutes for soft tender broccoli. 

Pro Tip : while steaming the broccoli, add hot water to the pot before adding broccoli to the steamer basket, it reduces the time taken to heat the water.

Broccoli has various benefits

Broccoli isn’t a vegetable that most people enjoy or love to eat, however it's a great addition to your staple diet. Here is why?

• It curbs overeating.
• Great for teeth and gum health.
• Regulates blood sugar levels.
• Balances pH levels and regulates blood acidity
• Promotes healthy bones.
• Promotes cardio vascular health.
• Helps prevent cancer.
• Fights birth defects.

Broccoli Calories

1 cup (100 g) = 31 calories.  No fat!!! Low Carb!!!

If you love Broccoli, check out out other Broccoli Recipes

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup

Eggfree Broccoli Poppers 

Vegetarian quesadilla with broccoli and corn

Stir Fry Broccoli

Garlic Roasted Broccoli

Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli Video Recipe

Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli Recipe

Continue to Content

Steamed Broccoli

Yield: 2 cups

Steamed Broccoli is the healthiest and easiest way to consume broccoli. Here is how to steam broccoli perfectly (crisp tender) every time so that it retains it's green color and nutrients. Enhance the flavors with some garlic salt, pepper, butter and lemon juice and this makes a perfect side. Kid Approved. Vegan. Gluten-Free.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 medium sized broccoli heads

Dressing (optional)

• Butter -1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice -1 tablespoon
• Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
• Black pepper - 1/2 teaspoon
• Sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp

Instructions

Clean the broccoli

First clean the broccoli thoroughly by soaking it completely in a pot full of water and 2 tablespoon vinegar. Keep the broccoli head submerged for 20 minutes to soak the bugs out if any.

Prepare the broccoli

Next cut the broccoli head into medium sized florets.

Steam broccoli in Instant Pot

Pour some water into the inner pot. 

Add some salt, it keeps your broccoli from being bland and helps retain the green color. Spread the florets on the steamer basket. 

For crispy tender broccoli

0 minutes high pressure

Quick release

Pressure cook on high pressure for 00:00 minutes, sealing the vent. What happens is the time taken to build the pressure inside is enough for the broccoli to cook.

For soft tender Broccoli

1 minutes high pressure

Quick release

Steam broccoli in Microwave

Toss the florets into a microwave safe bowl. Add a table spoon of water and salt to the bowl. Cover the bowl with a microwave safe lid and microwave on high power for 1 minute. Check for doneness, microwave for another minute if you like the broccoli to be really tender and soft.

Steam broccoli in Steamer

If you are opting for the classic way to steam broccoli and want to steam your broccoli on a stove top pot. Add upto 1 inch of water to the pot in which your steamer basket fits and turn on the heat. 

Spread the florets onto the steamer basket and once the water starts bubbling, insert the steamer basket into the pot, cover the pot with a lid and allow it to steam for about 3-4 minutes for tender crisp broccoli and 7-8 minutes for soft tender broccoli. 

Steam Broccoli in Pan

This is similar the the last one above except that you are not using a steamer basket. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the pan and bring it to boil. Add the florets and salt, cover the lid ans steam for upto 3-4 minutes for tender crisp broccoli and 7-8 minutes for soft tender broccoli.

Flavoring steamed broccoli

Dress to taste with butter, salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Notes

Pro Tip : While steaming the broccoli, add hot water to the pot before adding broccoli to the steamer basket, it reduces the time taken to heat the water.

Pro Tip : To get the perfectly cooked broccoli is – the quick release before the broccoli gets mushy. This is a fail-proof recipe and you can’t go wrong with this for sure!

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