Here’s how to steam vegetables to get them on the table fast! Use this method to avoid soggy & bland veggies: they’re crisp tender and delicious every time.
Want to steam veggies? We’re here to help. Steaming one of the quickest vegetable cooking methods there is. It also has a bad rap. Often this method results in overcooked, bland, and soggy veggies. But guess what? Turns out that if you cook until crisp tender and season correctly: the veggies are delicious every time! Here’s our master method for how to steam vegetables: the right way. If you have a specific veggie in mind, go to one of these recipes:
How to steam vegetables: a tutorial!
The main adage to steaming: don’t be temped to overcook! You’ll want to cook your veggies just until they’re crisp tender. This also means you’ll need to be ready to taste test, fork in hand! Cooking even a few minutes past the right timing makes veggies go from bright and crisp to faded and mushy. Here are our tips on how to cook veggies using a steamer basket.
Gear required
You’ll need a steamer basket or steamer pan to make this recipe. Here’s a steamer basket you can buy online that works for any pan you have. In these photos, you’ll see we used a fancy pan with steamer basket that has a handle. It’s an option too, but not required for steaming!
Step 1: Chop the veggies into uniform pieces.
To get the vegetables to cook evenly, the best advice: chop in the most uniform pieces you can! The thicker the veggie, the longer it will take to cook. (This is most important for veggies like carrots: the smaller your pieces, the shorter the cook time.)
Step 2: Fill the pot with water under the steamer basket. Bring it to a boil.
Rule number one of steaming vegetables is this: bring the water to a boil first! Don’t be tempted to just throw everything in the steamer and bring the water to a boil. Add about 1 inch water to the bottom of the saucepan or pot, then place in the steamer basket. The surface of the water should be just under the basket (so pour out water if you need to). Then bring it to a boil!
Step 3: Add the veggies, cover, and steam until crisp tender (timing below).
Once boiling, add the veggies to the steamer basket and cover the pot with a lid. (If your steamer doesn’t have a handle, place it in the pan before boiling the water, then add the brocolli once boiling.) Cook with the lid on just tender. Here are the approximate timings:
- Broccoli: 3 to 5 minutes
- Green Beans: 4 to 5 minutes
- Carrots: 4 to 5 minutes, depending on how thick you cut them
- Cauliflower: 10 to 12 minutes
Here’s the most important part: taste! Test a piece with a fork and taste to assess whether it’s done. The cook time will be different every time based on the thickness of how you’ve chopped them, and the maturity of the vegetable.
Step 4: Drain and season.
Carefully remove the veggies to a bowl. Then toss with olive oil or butter and kosher salt. If you’d like, amp the flavor by using lemon juice, fresh herbs, feta cheese crumbles, or other spices. See the specific recipes for examples of how to season them:
That’s it: how to steam vegetables!
Let us know in the comments below how you serve them.
More side dish ideas
Steaming vegetables is a fantastic way to make them into a quick and easy side dish! Here are a few more of our favorite side dish resources:
- 30 Favorite Side Dish Recipes These delicious, easy side dish recipes are tried and true favorites! They pair with just about anything to make it a meal.
- 12 Best Vegetable Side Dishes These vegetable side dishes work with just about any meal: and they’re healthy and easy to make. Here’s the BEST way to prepare each of these vegetables!
- Sides to Go With: All the best sides to pair with mains, by category! Here are sides to go with: Soup | Mac & Cheese | Risotto | Enchiladas | Lasagna | Salmon | Tacos | Pizza | Chili
How to Steam Vegetables
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 to 10 minutes
- Total Time: 44 minute
- Yield: About 4, depending on your quantity
Description
Here’s how to steam vegetables to get them on the table fast! Use this method to avoid soggy & bland veggies: they’re crisp tender and delicious every time.
Ingredients
- Vegetable of your choice (broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, carrots)
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Chop: Chop the vegetables into uniform pieces.
- Boil water: Place about 1 inch of water in a pot or saucepan. If using a steamer basket without a handle, add it to the pot now: the water surface should be right under the basket. Bring the water to a boil.
- Steam: Once boiling, add the vegetables (in the steamer basket, if it has a handle). Steam with the lid on until crisp tender, taste testing with a fork to assess doneness. Make sure not to overcook! Set a timer and taste at the low end of the timing. Use a guide of: 3 to 5 minutes for broccoli, 4 to 5 minutes for carrots and green beans, and 10 to 12 minutes for cauliflower.
- Season: Carefully remove the vegetables to a bowl. Toss with olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If you’d like, add other flavors like dried or fresh herbs, spices, fresh lemon juice, or chopped herbs.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Steamed
- Cuisine: Vegetables
Keywords: How to Steam Vegetables
This was super helpful. I had never steamed vegetables before but I followed your instructions and my broccoli came out perfect. Thank you!
I have followed your instructions and I think I give the cooked vegetables time to lose any steam left in them. However, I always end up at the end of a main course with a plate plus water, which I assume has continued to drain out of the vegetables. P.s. I like my vegetables hot and with a degree of crunch.
Thanks in anticipation for your help.
David.
Hi! Have you tried letting them sit in a colander for a minute before seasoning? This could help with residual moisture.