Oven-Roasted Broccoli Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my broccoli soggy in the oven? ›

Obviously you have to wash the broccoli first, but the problem is that broccoli really tends to hold water in all of those little florets. However, the drier the broccoli, the crispier it will get when you roast it; wet broccoli steams. Since crispy is what you're going for here, you need to dry the broccoli.

Roasted broccoli is a healthy side dish with major crowd appeal. Broccoli contains a lot of good-for-you fiber, vitamin C, and a surprising amount of protein, too. Who knew? If you've been in a rut with side dishes lately, or you're tired of steamed broccoli, you're going to love this simple side.

You don't want little ones to burn before larger ones become tender! Don't let things get too crowded! If the florets are too close together on the sheet pan, they will steam in the oven, and they won't get brown and crisp. Make sure to spread your florets in an even layer with a little space between each one.

Don't Crowd the Pan.

If the florets are too close, they will steam instead of roast. If your roasted broccoli comes out mushy, it is likely the pieces were too close together. Give it room for the air to circulate!

If the pan is packed too tightly, the vegetables will steam instead of caramelizing. The result is sad, limp, less-than-flavorful vegetables. The solution: Give your vegetables some room to breathe. Arrange the veggies in a single layer, keeping at least a quarter inch of space between them.

If you crowd and overlap the veggies, they will steam and get mushy, not what we want! Roast vegetables at a high heat, 425 degrees F and make sure you preheat the oven so it is HOT when the veggies go in! Flip! For even browning and caramelization, flip vegetables halfway through cook time.

In this regards, it is likely that broccoli cooked by steaming will be better fit for human consumption than other cooking methods. In conclusion, the current study clearly shows that nutrient and health-promoting compounds in broccoli are significantly affected by domestic cooking.

Steaming broccoli is quick and easy, and it's considered one of the healthiest ways to prepare the vegetable. Instead of submerging the florets and stem into boiling water or roasting them in the oven, the broccoli is placed in a steamer basket over simmering water and covered with a lid.

While many vegetables benefit from roasting, broccoli is an ideal candidate. After just 15 minutes in the oven, the florets come out crisp and browned at the edges with tender stems.

Some broccoli varieties are more bitter than others and bolt quicker, choose heat tolerant varieties or quick maturing varieties. Even if the head is small, pick your broccoli when the florets are tight, close together and bright green.

Should broccoli be washed before roasting? ›

Like other vegetables, broccoli can harbor a host of contaminants. "It's important to wash any vegetables, as they can carry Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria,” registered dietitian Chelsea Edwards tells Southern Living. "Not washing your produce increases the risk of one of these foodborne illnesses."

Roasting or baking does not have a significant effect on most vitamins and minerals, except for B vitamins.

To avoid soggy broccolis try steaming it for 2 minutes and check the texture, if required cook for a minute more but not more than that. After this, you put the boiled broccoli into ice water, the constant shock will make them crispy.

You can soak the broccoli in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes or more to help it regain its firmness. Another method is to slice off a portion of the stem and place the remaining stem and crown in a pot with a cup of water. Store it in the fridge overnight, and the broccoli will be crisp and fresh in the morning.

Stash the broccoli in a cold part of your refrigerator — like the crisper drawer — preferably away from fruits and that produce excessive ethylene gas like apples. If there's no room in the crisper, store it on a shelf near the back of the fridge.

If you don't have a steamer, you can simply put the broccoli directly into an inch of boiling water, but keep a close eye on it and remove the broccoli from the pan as soon as it's done so it doesn't get waterlogged.

Once tender, carefully pour the florets back into the cleaned colander over the sink to drain. Leave the broccoli in the colander to steam for another minute before serving; this helps stop the broccoli going soggy.

To avoid mushy broccoli, remove the extra water from the vegetable by draining it well and patting it dry before it goes anywhere near the pan. Take note that this tip goes for marinades, too.