Unquestionable! Full-vitamin spinach tastes perfectly raw, but perhaps you also enjoy cooking it fresh. It’s enjoyable fried, steamed, boiled, or saturated in cream.
Again, the vegetable cooks faster, making it ideal for steaming.
So, can you perfectly steam spinach in the microwave, is it beneficial, a step process on how to steam spinach in microwave, and how long does it take?
You can use your microwave to steam spinach via a microwavable bowl, a microwave steamer, a pinch, or a safe plastic bag. Irrespective of the container, it’s a fast and effective way to prepare food straight from the fridge to the dining table within a few minutes.
Two Best Ways to Cook Spinach in the Microwave
Put the wet spinach leaves in a microwavable container to use the microwave in steaming spinach. You don’t need to add water if the leaves are still wet. Precede by covering h a microwave-friendly lid or a plastic wrap.
You should let moisture discharge while cooking by leaving one side of the plastic bag open—Cook the spinach on high until the leaves turn dark green or are all withered. Steaming half a pound of average-sized spinach will probably take three minutes.
1. Using a Steamer or a Bag
You can choose to use a microwave steamer to blanch your spinach. You can season the steaming liquid with a steamer to allow the aroma and flavor to hold on to the cooking leaves a little.
Pour water, stock, wine, and flavors like garlic cloves at the lower section of the steamer. Steam the vegetable, covering with a lid with an outlet for three minutes for half a pound of spinach.
Alternatively, you can use a microwavable plastic bag to steam spinach, provided you seal it partially.
Since the plastic bag seal is somehow tighter, it won’t take much time to cook. Then microwave spinach for about two minutes on high. Like the usual steaming method, leave your leaves wet or spray little water into the bag before steaming.
2. Using Steamed Spinach
Steamed spinach slightly tastes like vegetables, even after you season the steaming liquid. Due to this, you can dress it using lemon juice, pepper, and salt for a healthy side dish. Alternatively, you can mix it with melted butter or cheese for something more presentable.
Steamed spinach is typically combined with toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, sesame seed oil, and cooked tofu for a simple but healthy Japanese meal.
For something quicker though substantial, smash feta into the hot vegetable and mix, allow the leaves’ warmth, melt the cheese, and serve with toast.
You can top the steamed spinach for breakfast using garlic and poached or fried egg and a slice of butter toast.
Can You Microwave Spinach?
Yes, you can safely microwave spinach. To prevent the nutrients from escaping, check the correct timing and heat ideal for microwaving spinach.
Besides this, only use a little water when microwaving to prevent the nutrients from draining away from the vegetable, ensuring it’s safe and healthy to consume.
Spinach is high in nitrates. Thus cooking the green vegetable in a microwave oven is a relatively easy and quick way to cook as it also maintains its nutrient components.
When frying spinach using a stovetop, the heat usually is high, and there’s a high probability of carcinogenic poison release, and it has consequences.
However, you can securely cook spinach with little heat and less cooking time when using the microwave oven.
How to Prep Spinach for Microwaving?
Before steaming, there’re a few things you should know.
Always use cold water to rinse fresh handpicked spinach from the store or your garden. It will help eliminate any soil or dirt trapped on the stems or leaves.
Also, remove the brown or yellow leaves and stalks since they signify decay.
Again, it’s advisable to soak the vegetable in water for one or two minutes.
You don’t need preparation time if you’re using the pre-packaged or pre-washed spinach.
Materials
- Spinach (between 4 to 6 ounces)
Tools
- Microwave safe bowl or plate and a lid
Instructions on How to Steam Spinach In Microwave
- Prep the leaves: Remove the spinach leaves, rinse them, and prepare them as illustrated in the prep section.
- Chopping: You can choose to use the leaves that way or use a chopping board and knife to cut them into pieces. Chopping the leaves does not affect either the cooking time or the flavor.
- Use the Microwave safe plate or bowl: Place the slightly wet leaves in a microwave-safe bowl or plate. You can decide to use a microwavable plastic bag provided it has an outlet.
- Add water: You can add a tablespoon of water to the bowl or plate if you’re using the dried pre-cleaned spinach.
- Putting the plate or bowl in the microwave: Cover the container using a glass lid or a microwavable plastic wrap but ensure it has a vent. Place the container in the microwave.
- Adjust the microwave settings: Switch the microwave on. Adjust the timer at two minutes at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit or the highest temperature setting, then steam the vegetables until the leaves start to wither.
- Rest time: After removing it from the microwave, drain all the excess water and serve immediately. If you intend to use it another day, put it in an airtight vessel or sealable plastic bags and store it in the freezer.
Tips to Microwave Spinach
There are specific critical instructions that you should follow if you want to steam spinach in the microwave oven or for reheating spinach using the microwave. They include:
- Spinach steams faster in the microwave, and two minutes is enough cooking time for four to eight ounces of spinach.
- Use a microwavable container to put spinach when cooking.
- If you microwave spinach for an extended period, it will destroy the nutrients and the available vitamins on the vegetable.
- If you use excess water to steam spinach, you might lose the vitamins and crucial minerals to the water when draining it away.
- Spinach will release lots of water when cooking and provided it’s covered, and you don’t need to add water to it.
- Always cover spinach using a microwavable lid or cover.
- Other people prefer using plastic wrap to cover the container before microwaving. Though this is not advisable since the steam gathers on the plastic and falls down, and may expose the food to leached chemicals.
- You can use a wet paper towel to cover the spinach as it will absorb steam and simplify the cooking process.
- Remove the lid carefully to let the steam escape and not burn you.
How to Steam Spinach Without a Steamer?
If you don’t have a steamer, you can steam on the stove. Start by putting the leaves in a saucepan or skillet, then add two tablespoons of water.
Adjust the stove on moderate heat and cook for nearly five minutes or until the leaves start to wither before removing the pan from the stove.
How Long Does it Take to Steam Spinach in the Microwave?
Steaming spinach using a microwave takes approximately thirty seconds to two minutes, contingent on how powerful your microwave is.
Is it Better to Steam or Microwave Spinach?
The best way to preserve all the nutrients when cooking spinach is by steaming it over the stovetop.
Faqs About to Steam Spinach With a Microwave
Is it Ok to Microwave Spinach?
It’s not advisable to cook spinach or any other green vegetables or even carrot and celery in the microwave. Once heated, these nitrate-full vegetables can become poisonous and emit carcinogenic substances, which are naturally and highly cancerous.
How Long Does Spinach Take to Steam?
The fastest way to steam spinach is by microwaving it. It uses less time to cook compared to cooking spinach using a stove. It takes around two to three minutes to cook spinach in the microwave. However, the time depends on the quantity of spinach and the type of spinach. For instance, baby spinach that has tender leaves cooks way faster.
How Long Should I Microwave Fresh Spinach?
If you want to cook French spinach, first put it in a microwavable bowl. Set your heat on high and cook for one to two minutes. Then decant the extra water and pour lemon juice. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve.
How do You Steam Spinach in the Microwave?
Select and rinse the leaves and eliminate any dead or rotten parts. Place them in a microwave-safe container, then insert the container in the microwave. Adjust the timer at two minutes, then steam the spinach on high or cook it until the leaves start to wither.
How do you Dry Spinach in the Microwave?
To dry spinach in the microwave, start by cleaning it and putting it in a drying rack. Ensure the spinach is arranged in one layer. Begin the drying process by placing it in the microwave at 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let it stay there for six hours and then lower the temperature to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. After one hour, the spinach should be dry; however, you should observe its progress. After drying and cooling, store the green vegetable in a cool, dry place.
Does Microwaving Spinach Remove Oxalic Acid?
When you microwave spinach, it discharges oxalic acid and gets out of the food. The process involves boiling your spinach on purpose to minimize its oxalate amount. Doing this assists in breaking down and loosening their oxalic acid content.
Can you Blanch Spinach in the Microwave?
Yes, you can blanch spinach using a microwave steamer. Steamer lets you flavor the steaming liquid to ensure the taste and aroma slightly sticks to the cooked leaves. Fill the lower part of the steamer with stock, water, or wine plus seasonings like garlic cloves. Steam the leaves covering with an open lid for three minutes for half a pound of spinach.
Is cooked or Raw Spinach Healthier?
Raw spinach contains plenty of fiber, but cooked spinach can give high volumes of beta carotene: A specific study found three times more beta carotene in cooked spinach than in raw spinach.
Conclusion
Steaming spinach using the microwave is a secure and reliable way to cook vegetables. However, to get the best by microwave cooking, you should follow some crucial tips.
Always use a microwavable container when using the microwave oven for cooking. Microwaving spinach produces plenty of steam, and the heat submitted is seven times more than direct heat. It is therefore advisable to use ceramic or glass instead of plastic containers.
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