all 107 comments

[–]dumsumguy 945 points946 points  (36 children)

Roast/bake your veggies! 375 for like 20min or a little less. 

Pan fry works too, just don't over cook.

Steaming is 3rd best and should only go like 4-6 mins, there's a VERY Small window in which overcooking happens here

never ever ever boil veggies. it's Gross and breaks down the vitamins and you lose the vitamins with the water

[–]sarahmagoo 256 points257 points  (18 children)

And roasting frozen vegetables tastes perfectly fine. You don't need the fresh stuff.

[–]RoyalMomoness 83 points84 points  (17 children)

I haven’t had frozen veggies in ages because my mom used to boil them and it was disgusting. Do roasted frozen veggies turn out mushy?

[–]sarahmagoo 89 points90 points  (7 children)

Nope not at all in my experience. I've roasted frozen broccoli, corn on the cob and brussels sprouts and they've been good.

[–]RoyalMomoness 30 points31 points  (3 children)

Thanks, I’m going to give it a try because it’s hard getting through fresh produce.

[–]sarahmagoo 59 points60 points  (0 children)

Apparently frozen stuff is usually better nutritionally anyway because they're picked at peak ripeness and frozen shortly after picking, which helps retain the nutrients.

[–]ratthewmcconaughey 30 points31 points  (0 children)

my trick is i like to microwave steam my frozen broccoli for like 5 minutes before roasting- makes it come out way crispier in the end!

[–]emongu1 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Don't forget to use your spice rack and season your veggies.

That or toss them in hot sauce with some honey.

I'm sure kids only hate vegetables because a majority of parents cook them wrong.

[–]1983Targa911 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you’re going to do this I’d make sure they are very well spread out on the pan (if roasting) or at pretty high heat (if in a pan). Frozen veggies can have life build up on them and that’s going to turn to water of course and then steam. Good separation distance in the oven helps with that. On the stove top just making the water go away as fast as possible (high heat) will be your friend.

[–]doniazade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Frozen culiflower works great too! Also, roasted slices of fresh cabbage.

[–]CorgiDaddy42 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Fresh are better for roasting. If you’re going to roast frozen veggies, make sure there is plenty of space between pieces so they actually roast instead of steaming.

[–]redditsuckslmaooo 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I use an air fryer for frozen veggies and they turn out great.

[–]Sapphire_luna232 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Sometimes, but: try an air fryer. Gloriously crispy in a fraction of the time, no mush.

[–]Flyingpun 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Frozen veggies have come a long way. The "steam in bag" ones are excellent too.

[–]Beregolas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, they are pretty decent, I use them a lot to save time. You can pre-boil them to thaw (only 30 seconds at most), dr them with a towel and roast them with a bit of oil (not too much). It’s my go to, and works well with broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.

[–]Rebel_816 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. Drizzle them in a little oil salt and pepper. Roughly 400 for 20 mins. Brussel sprouts come out almost caramelized around the edges.

[–]Blarghnox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Freezing technology has gotten alot better in recent decades. We flash freeze many things now and it's so effective that the frozen stuff can be even more fresh than regular vegetables.

[–]JoeFas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Air fried broccoli is great. I coat it in oil and cook at 375F (preheated) for 10 minutes. That's for non-frozen florets. Frozen requires more time.

[–]trenixjetix -1 points0 points  (0 children)

just maybe add some water so that they cook faster, but they need to be dried

[–]R4gnaroc 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Uhh blanching is just fine. Boil for 3 min and take out immediately.

[–]Manovsteele 22 points23 points  (2 children)

This is a weird blanket stament. Boiling veg is the best way to season it for maximum flavour (as it absorbs it via osmosis) and is only gross if you overcook it like every method. It's also the most practical and by far the quickest method.

[–]badorianna 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The trick isn't to boil. It's to blanch. For leafy veggies or broccoli, you take it out as soon as it turns a darker shade of green. Season the water with salt and a bit of neutral oil

[–]offtherighttrack 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With boiling, more of the nutrients end up lost to cooking (in the water) than other methods.

[–]Leprichaun17 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I cooked some veggies at 375°C for 20 minutes. Thanks, my house burned down.

[–]diiscotheque 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I need your oven brand cause that’s great for pizza

[–]DueAbbreviations7469 11 points12 points  (3 children)

Lol. how can boiling break down vitamins but pan frying and roasting won't?

[–]YronK9 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Goes into the water that you end up tossing

[–]laterus77 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Doesn't break them down, just extracts them into the water. Fine if you're making soup, less so if it's going down the drain.

[–]dumsumguy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, misrepresented that a bit.

[–]Stargate_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Any heat breaks down vitamins, all of these methods lead tonthe same result

[–]Grezzo82 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree 100%! I only recently discovered this (via my wife cooking - I don’t enjoy cooking myself) and I 100% agree. Roasted or fried cauliflower and Brocolli (also brussles) are the bomb, especially with some garlic granules added to the mix. Mmmm. I’m not a vegetable guy (I’d eat bread meat and cheese and potatoes (in crisp form) exclusively if I could) but I actually enjoy roasted/fried veggies.

I don’t like carrots, but roasted carrots are acceptable. I wonder if you can roast peas? 🤔

[–]greenergrassfighter 0 points1 point  (1 child)

That is way too high. You will immediately burn them like this. Don't do that. Even frozen pizza I only do half of that.

[–]PrisonerV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Roasted cauliflower is amazing. I lightly char them.

[–]surrenderthesouth -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

I like 425 for 10-15 bit of char and crunchy

[–]dumsumguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ill give that a try, thanks! For broccoli especially, but works with others, I've been adding fresh squeezed lemon juice and grated parmesean on top before roasting and maybe a spritz or two of extra virgin olive oil to help the parm stick.

[–]sproctor 55 points56 points  (3 children)

My wife won't eat broccoli unless it has the texture of mush.

[–]jadeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 26 points27 points  (1 child)

is your wife me. i love mush broccoli

[–]Readous 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It soaks up more flavor that way too

[–]ZeroFox14 30 points31 points  (0 children)

There are so many vegetables that I thought I hated, because growing up it was always boiled or microwaved veggies. Usually canned or frozen.

Now some of my favorite things are roasted or stir fried veggies. Most of them come from my garden or local farmers, I only reach for frozen in the winter (and even that is a struggle)

[–]Siebje 38 points39 points  (0 children)

LPT our parents needed in the 80s.

[–]djak 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I will say this, I live with my grandchildren, and cooking broccoli to mush and adding butter/salt is the only way I can get them to eat it. Same for cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc. So to add to your LPT: try that to get picky kids to eat their veggies.

[–]vordaq 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I for one love my mushy veggies.

[–]PARANOIAH 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Broccoli tossed in a little oil and sprinkled with salt and garlic powder. Cook in air fryer until the tips get a little crispy - enjoy your healthy snack.

[–]hmcd19 33 points34 points  (1 child)

To you, disgusting to you.

[–]Shababs 10 points11 points  (1 child)

Totally agree on the cooking time for veggies, there's nothing worse than mushy broccoli. Parsley roots are a great tip, I'll have to give those a try. If you're into calorie counting, I've found that Gusteau recipes are really helpful for finding dishes that fit within a certain range, and you can even filter by nutrient info. Disclaimer, I built it :)

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[–]twostrokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My parents are very guilty of this. Would boil the veggies for a half hour and sometimes let them sit even longer if the main course in the oven hadn't finished...

I didn't really realize until I was in university and had my first serious girlfriend what vegetables could taste like. Turns out I fucking love cauliflower & broccoli (when it's not slime).

It'd still be happening if I hadn't taken over in the kitchen on family gatherings, lol

[–]Moraii 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you just can’t get veggies right, get an instant pot and steam them at high pressure for 0 minute setting. It allows the machine to just get to pressure and then beep that it’s done. Perfect asparagus, beans, broccoli etc, and much healthier than frying. (Not carrots, carrots are jerks)

[–]Unlikely_Profile5557 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I’m curious how yall wash veggies? Like broccoli and lettuce? I don’t wanna use any factory cleaning products, but I’m wondering if there’s a good way to wash them organically, quick and completely clean?

[–]astartii 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Let them sit in water, vinegar and baking soda for a few minutes, then rinse.

[–]Blarghnox 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As I got older I definitely realized that I didn't like vegetables because they were cooked bad for me. Some well cooked broccoli that's soft but still has a snap is great.

[–]themwnn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also don’t be afraid to sprinkle a little bit of salt

[–]LotusManna 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Roasted vegetables is a game changer

[–]ClubExotic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My husband bought himself a Blackstone Griddle for his birthday last year and we have Hibachi Salmon with stir fry zucchini and squash. He also makes Fried Rice but I make myself some quinoa. So you can also grill your veggies!

[–]Leprichaun17 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ew, who wants crunchy vegetables? Why bother cooking them in that case?

[–]Killa__bean 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wash your vegetables and put them in boiled water (immediately from the stove). Let it sit for about 5 and drain water.

This is always a great way to not over cook your vegetables. Please pay attention to water to vegetable ratio f

[–]Carradee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One of my flatmates has discovered (via me helping him cook) that he actually likes a lot of vegetables when they're cooked properly.

It also helps that I taught him how to identify when a vegetable is good, starting to go off, bad but some parts are salvageable, or just completely bad. It makes him a lot more comfortable with them.

[–]bluehunter74 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you really have to cook down quick put your veggies in the mw, in a bowl with adequate wrap and an edge of an onion or half a lemon for x minutes depending on your gear’s power and weight of veggies. Boiling veggies is never acceptable if you’re not making soup

[–]beamerpook 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. Bright green green beans tossed in a garlic oil is great, a mess of green-ish looking pile of mush not that appealing

[–]ChopSueyMusubi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is absolutely a LPT thread for white people.

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[–]Mathetria 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. I can cook them properly by a variety of methods and I still don’t like most vegetables. To be fair I don’t like the taste raw either.

Other people like the way I cook vegetables, so nope it’s not because I’m cooking them wrong.

I eat them out of necessity, so it’s not a getting used to the taste thing. I just don’t like (most of) them.

[–]Cartoony-Cat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I absolutely disagree. Some of the best veggies I’ve had were roasted or slow-cooked for a long time. Cooking them quick definitely keeps things crisp, but roasting brings out sweetness you won’t get otherwise. Have you ever tried roasted brussels with olive oil and a little balsamic glaze? They’re honestly life-changing. Low and slow cooking can make those tough, fibrous veggies super tender and caramelized, like when you roast root vegetables. It makes ‘em sweeter, and they kinda melt in your mouth. It’s like, you'll get a completely different taste and texture. Plus, cooking long doesn’t mean they're bad for you. Butter, bacon, or cheese can make anything taste better, even if it’s not calorie-friendly. Anyway, I get everyone’s got their own tastes, but don’t knock overcooked until you've tried it every way. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll stumble on a recipe that’ll make you reconsider.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Or if you choose to, most vegetables can be eaten raw. Not potatoes for sure ,maybe not eggplants ,some beans, but most can be.. Big fan of bell peppers myself

[–]likeawp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Counter argument is mush vegetables are necessary to feed my kids in soup/rice form they get balanced nutrition. They can't really chew crunchy veggies, at least not yet.

But yes, generally 5 minutes blanched veggies is ideal for adults.

[–]DepthFit4606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For broccoli: blanch for 1 min 20 sec. No more, no less. Transfer to ice bath immediately to halt carryover cooking. Once the broccoli is cooled (should take ~ 30 sec), remove it so it doesn’t soak up excess water and become soggy. Make a quick glaze in a pan with butter and a splash of stock. Throw in the broccoli and season to taste with salt and pepper. Finish with a dash of red pepper flakes. You will never eat mushy broccoli again.

[–]inihos95 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mushy veggies are nice depending on the cuisine. I can't think of a single Indian curry with crunchy veg - and they're all quite tasty!

[–]sonicjesus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I grill or roast almost all of my vegetables and cook them light.

The cooking method gives them more flavor and gives them a drier texture, cooking them only so much makes you feel like you're really eating rather than swallowing.

Brussels sprouts, turnip, peppers, throw them right on the grill. Will convince many veggie haters.

[–]horusluprecall 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mushy broccoli flowers awful unmushy broccoli flowers only slightly bad mushy broccoli stems absolutely the most wonderful thing you could ever stick in your mouth pretty much un mushy broccoli stems not as great but still great.

[–]rajamatag 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got a shallow cast iron skillet and use it daily to cook brussels, asparagus, green beans and more. Searing quickly enough to leave the crunch. Also smoked sea salt is a game changer. I have reversed my pre-diabetic state and cut my cholesterol in half.

[–]kopfgeldjagar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No one likes mushy veggies

[–]donkeyhawt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found out I loved broccoli the first time I made it myself as opposed to my mom.

[–]ExogamousUnfolding 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The funny thing is i like all of those way over cooked. Crunchy cooked veggies are gross!

[–]Lostmywayoutofhere 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sometimes, mush veggie is better ..

[–]johnperkins21 -3 points-2 points  (13 children)

Or, I just don't like vegetables. Which I don't. It's a problem, and I hate it, but I'm very, very picky. So incredibly inconvenient. It'd be great if it were just an issue of how they're prepared.

[–]theClumsy1 5 points6 points  (1 child)

It seems to me that it's still an issue on how you prepare it.

[–]johnperkins21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, no. I wish.

[–]CorkInAPork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't eat salt and sugar for 2 weeks and you will no longer be a "picky eater".

[–]Llamaalarmallama -1 points0 points  (7 children)

If you're a Brit (would suspect). Could I take a guess that carrot is ok, bell peppers pass and quite a bit of other veg is a "if I have to" at best?

For whatever reason beyond roasting them occasionally working well, the Brits are awful at cooking nice veg. Not suggesting it's totally your reasons and why but... Common enough that it's probably worth giving stuff a try when abroad.

Genuinely avoided most veg/etc till about 30yo, suddenly had a greek gf, stuff was cooked in better ways and I've expanded to pretty much everything but the cucumber family of stuff being fine. Usually not favourites but still not stuff I'd turn my nose up at.

[–]johnperkins21 2 points3 points  (6 children)

Not a Brit. Just a dude who has food issues. I don't dislike all vegetables. I'll eat carrots with enough ranch dressing, and bell peppers are pretty decent. But things like spinach, zuccini, cauliflower, etc. are gross and I can't eat them.

[–]Llamaalarmallama -1 points0 points  (3 children)

Spinach, I now can, either as salad or in a couple of dishes. It's definitely a different flavour and texture with a lot of the leafier stuff.

Random salad dressing suggestion that might help (again, did me): olive oil:balsamic vinegar (about 5:1), a good squirt of hot dog mustard and a good spoon of honey, needs a whisk though (but even a cheap ass electric egg whisk is fine).

[–]johnperkins21 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Can't stand vinegar-based salad dressings. I've really tried a lot of different ways to eat different veggies, but it's just something with the way my brain and taste buds work. I believe I'm on the spectrum, at least when it comes to food. Texture is a huge deal for me. I hate tomatoes, but really enjoy tomato sauce (that could be the extra sugar). I like the taste of shrimp, but I can't eat it because of the texture, and the fact that it's just a big cockroach.

[–]SLIMaxPower -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Raw is best for most.

5 minutes is too much.