Among the vegetables that you can comfortably steam in the microwave are carrots. Microwaving is the simplest, fastest, and most efficient way of steaming vegetables.
When you follow just a few steps, you will have superb results. Today we focus on how to use a microwave to steam carrots.
Here is how to steam carrots in microwave.
Wash, peel, and chop the carrots into ½” thick rounds. Place the chopped pieces in a microwave-safe bowl and add two tablespoons of water to the carrots. Use a microwave-safe plate or a lid to cover the bowl.
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat at high power for three minutes. Check whether the carrots are steamed enough for you. If not yet, you may return them to the microwave and heat them again for an extra 30 seconds.
This article contains guidelines on how to steam carrots in the microwave. The author has made the guidelines easier by providing step-by-step guidelines. The author has also concluded the article by discussing the most frequently asked questions about steaming carrots in the microwave.
Can You Steam Carrots in the Microwave
Yes, you can steam carrots in the microwave. Just like it has been briefly explained above. Below is a more detailed step-by-step procedure on how to steam carrots in the microwave.
Requirements
- Kitchen knife.
- Chopping board
- Vegetable peeler
- Some carrots
- Seasoning: salt, black pepper and powdered herbs.
- Water
- Microwavable bowl
- A lid
Step by Step on How to Steam Carrots in Microwave
Step one: Wash the Carrots
Use a chopping board and a knife to cut off the top of the carrots. Wash the carrots under running tap water.
This step is always important when you intend to cook any vegetables. Washing carrots get rid of any dust, soil, insecticides or fertilizer chemical traces that might still be attached to the carrots.
Step two: Peel and Chop the Carrots
Peeling is usually not necessary. However, it is a step that some prefer to do before steaming their carrots.
If you are among those who prefer their carrots peeled before being steamed, you may make use of a vegetable peeler to get rid of the skin of the carrots.
Next, use your kitchen knife on a clean chopping board to chop the carrots into ½” thick rounds. Do this to all the carrots you intend to steam.
Step three: Transfer the Chopped Carrots to a Microwavable Bowl
After you are done chopping the carrots. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Add at least two tablespoons of water to the carrots and cover the bowl with a lid or a microwave-safe plate.
Step four: Steam the Carrots
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat at high power for three minutes. If, after the set time, the carrots are not steamed enough for you, consider reheating again for an extra 30 seconds.
Step five: Serve the Carrots
Transfer the steamed carrots to a serving plate. At this point, you may consider seasoning the carrots with some salt, black paper and some powdered herbs to enhance their taste.
How to Cook Carrots in Microwave
Cooking carrots in the microwave is not so different from steaming carrots in the microwave. The only difference is the microwaving time.
Therefore, as you plan to cook carrots in the microwave, gather all the above requirements. Clean, peel and chop the carrots just like explained.
Transfer the carrots to a microwavable bowl. Add at least two tablespoons of water to keep the carrots moist and use a lid to cover the bowl.
Place the bowl and microwave and heat for 6 to 7 minutes. The time for cooking carrots in the microwave differs from that of steaming.
The cooking time is longer by 2 to 4 minutes. Drain excess water from the carrots, and transfer them to a serving plate where you will season them with a pinch of salt, black paper and some powdered herbs.
How Long to Steam Carrots in Microwave
Steaming carrots in the microwave should only take 3 minutes. In case of any additional time required, it shouldn’t be more than 30 seconds unless you intend to cook them instead of steaming them.
Place the chopped pieces in a microwave-safe bowl. Add two tablespoons of water to the carrots and use a microwave-safe plate or a lid to cover the bowl.
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat at high power for three minutes. Check whether the carrots are steamed enough for you; if not yet, you may return them to the microwave and heat them again for an extra 30 seconds. Drain excess water and transfer the carrots to a serving plate—season with a pinch of salt, black paper and some powdered herbs.
How to Steam Carrots Without a Steamer
There are two main ways to steam carrots without a steamer: on a stove and in the microwave. Below is how you use these methods to steam carrots if you do not wish to use a steamer.
1. Steam on a Stove
Requirements
- Saucepan
- Chopping board
- A fitting lid
- Seasoning: salt, black pepper and powdered herbs.
- Kitchen knife
Procedure
Step One: Clean and Chop the Carrots
Cut off the top of the carrots and wash the carrots under running tap water. Make use of a vegetable peeler to get rid of the skin of the carrots. Next, use your kitchen knife and a clean chopping board to chop the carrots into ½” thick rounds.
Step Two: Pour Some Water into the Saucepan
Pour a quarter a cup of water into a saucepan. Ensure the water is not too much; it should just be enough to create the required steam for your carrots. Add a pinch of salt to the water and place it on the stove.
Step Three: Boil the Water
Before you begin to boil, cover the saucepan with a well-fitted lid. As the water begins to boil, add your chopped carrots, and ensure they are evenly spread in the pan.
Step Four: Steam the Carrots
Return the cover of the saucepan and ensure that no steam escapes. Let the carrots simmer for 6 to 7 minutes, or until the water evaporates. Then use a fork to find out if they are steamed enough.
Step Five: Serve the Carrots
Transfer the steamed carrots to a serving plate. At this point, you may consider seasoning the carrots with some salt, especially if the salt you added to the water was not enough; black paper and some powdered herbs.
2. Steam the Carrots in the microwave
The other option of steaming carrots without a steamer is by using a microwave.
As stated above, microwaves are the best for steaming any vegetables. A few steps that require cleaning the carrots, chopping and microwaving them in a microwave-safe bowl for a few minutes are all you need to do.
Refer to the above “Can you steam carrots in the microwave?” subheading for a detailed step top step procedure.
Faqs On How to Steam Carrots in Microwave
Is it bad to steam vegetables in the microwave?
There is nothing wrong with steaming carrots in the microwave. In most cases microwaving is the only method of cooking that retains the nutritious value of vegetables, including carrots. When you steam carrots in the microwave, you are guaranteed that carrots are still intact from their taste, texture, and nutrients.
How do you steam carrots and broccoli in the microwave?
Place the chopped carrots and broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl. Add two tablespoons of water to the bowl. Use a microwave-safe plate or a lid to cover the bowl.
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat at high power for three minutes. Check whether the carrots and broccoli are steamed enough for you.
Drain excess water and transfer the carrots and broccoli to a serving plate.
How do you soften carrots quickly?
Place chopped carrots in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a few tablespoons of water to the carrots. Use a microwave-safe plate or a lid to cover the bowl.
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat at high power for three to four minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the carrots.
Return the bowl to the microwave and microwave again for three minutes. Check whether the carrots are soft enough for you.
Drain excess water and transfer the carrots to a serving plate. Season with a pinch of salt, black paper and some powdered herbs.
Why do carrots spark in microwave?
Carrots spark in the microwave because they contain high amounts of minerals such as iron, selenium and magnesium. When such minerals are exposed to a high amount of heat from the microwave, they cause an arcing effect that makes them look like they are sparking in the microwave as you microwave.
How do you blanch carrots in the microwave?
Requirements
- Two bowls. One should be microwave safe.
- A fitting lid
- Water
- A slotted spoon
- Kitchen knife and a chopping board
Procedure
Step One. Prepare the Microwave-safe Bowl
Ensure one bowl is microwave safe. Half fill the microwave-safe bowl with water. Clean, peel and chop the carrots and add them into the microwave-safe bowl half-filled with water. Take a lid and completely cover the bowl.
Step Two. Microwave the Carrots
Place the bowl in the microwave and, at high-temperature heat for 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Step Three. Prepare the Other Bowl
As the carrots heat in the microwave, take the other bowl and half fill it with clean water. Add a handful of ice cubes to the water and let it stay close to your working area. Continue keeping an eye on the microwaving carrots.
Step Four. Check Whether the Carrots are Ready
Remove them from the microwave. Check the carrots to see if they are any that are unevenly brightly colored.
Suppose you meet some that are not as bright as the rest of the carrots, return them to the microwave and heat again for 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Step five. Place the Carrots in Ice Water
When the time is up, remove the bowl from the microwave and use a slotted spoon to pick the carrots from the microwave-safe bowl and immediately immerse them in the bowl containing iced water.
Let the carrot stay in the ice water for 5 minutes before serving or packing them in an airtight bag or container and storing them in the freezer.
What can you cook in a microwave steamer?
A microwave steamer can cook almost all vegetables, including Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, small potatoes, broccoli, corn, peppers, and carrots, among so many others.
How long do you boil carrots until soft?
The duration to boil carrots on the stove varies depending on the type of carrots you want to boil.
For instance, whole carrots boil for 15 minutes while baby carrots boil for 7 minutes.
However, chopping your carrots also may cause the duration of boiling carrots. Chopped carrots boil for 4 to 6 minutes.
How do you soften carrots on the stove?
Place a saucepan on the stove with some water. Let the water boil, and add a pinch of salt.
Add your clean sliced or chopped carrots and cover the saucepan with a nice fitting lid. Let the carrots boil for 7 to 8 minutes.
Keep an eye on them, do not allow them to turn mushy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, carrots can easily be steamed in the microwave. Microwaving is a safe method that will leave the carrots with their naturally sweet taste and nutritious value.
As discussed in the article, with just a few simple steps, you will have steamed carrots that can be served and seasoned with a pinch of salt, black paper, and some powdered herbs to enhance their taste.
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