How to microwave vegetables

Microwaving broccoli helps it retain nutrients.

Cooking veggies in the microwave is fast, easy, and actually helps them retain more vitamins than boiling. However, this cooking method often gets a bad rap because sometimes the veggies come out tasting rubbery and weird. The key to firm and flavorful microwavable veggies is not to drown them in water or cook them for too long. Simply washing your veggies and not drying them afterward is usually just enough water for microwave cooking.

How to microwave veggies:

• Wash veggies; do not dry.
• Place the veggies in a microwaveable-safe dish with the lid slightly ajar– this will steam the veggies, but allow enough hot hair to escape to keep from exploding.
• As for cooking times, a good starting point is one minute for every cup of soft/tender produce, like fresh spinach. For heartier veggies like broccoli or brussels sprouts, nuke for about 2-3 minutes for every cup, and even longer for more dense vegetables, like potatoes. After the initial time, cook for another 30 seconds or so until the veggies are the way that you like them. I like mine veggies al dante, so 1-2 minutes is usually a good estimate for me.

• Brussels sprouts: 2-3 minutes
• Cauliflower: 4-5 minutes
• Carrots (sliced): 3-4 minutes
• Kale, chard, spinach: 1 minute
• Asparagus: 2-3 minutes
• Potato: 5-6 minutes; cut the potato in half first