How To Steam Vegetables In The Microwave: 9 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Steam Vegetables in the Microwave PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Jerran Boyer

Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Approved

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  • Preparing the Vegetables
    • |
  • Placing Veggies in a Bowl for Steaming
    • |
  • Steaming the Vegetables
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Jerran Boyer. Chef Jerran Boyer is a Nutrition-Focused Professional Chef and the CEO of Health Nut Chefs. Chef Jerran has over 20 years of experience as a private chef. She and her team specialize in providing healthy, fresh-prepared meals designed with each client’s taste and dietary needs in mind. She and her team offer both personal, part-time chef services and private, full-time chef services in New York, New Jersey, and the Los Angeles area. Chef Jerran received her BS in Business Administration from the University of South Florida, a degree in Culinary Arts from Florida Culinary Institute, and a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate through Cornell University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 91,526 times.

Steaming vegetables is easy, and doing it in a microwave is even easier. Steaming softens the texture of vegetables, making them tender enough to stir-fry quickly or eat by themselves. If you’d like to steam your veggies in the microwave, you’ll need to place them in a large bowl, along with a thin layer of water. Cook the veggies on high until they’re tender.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Vegetables

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  1. Step 1 Thaw frozen vegetables. 1 Thaw frozen vegetables. If you’re planning to steam veggies that are currently in the freezer, pull the box or bag of vegetables out and set it on your counter to thaw. This may take a few hours, depending on the density of the frozen veggies. If you’re in a hurry, you could fill a bowl with warm water and let the box or bag of frozen veggies soak for about 30 minutes.
    • If you’ve bought fresh vegetables, then they won’t need to be frozen and are ready to be washed.
  2. Step 2 Wash your veggies. 2 Wash your veggies. The vegetables should be largely clean, and probably only need a light rinse.Hold the individual vegetables under your kitchen faucet and rinse them with lukewarm water. If you’ve bought very fresh veggies (e.g. at a farmer’s market), dirt may be caked on the stalks or stems. Use a kitchen scrubbing bad if necessary to remove the dirt.
    • If you’ve thawed frozen, packaged vegetables, they won’t need to be washed. Frozen vegetables are cleaned and cut before they’re packaged.
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  3. Step 3 Cut the vegetables into serving sizes. 3 Cut the vegetables into serving sizes. Using a sharp kitchen knife and a cutting board, chop or cut your veggies into serving-size chunks, not more than 2 inches (5 cm) long. Cut sections will steam more quickly than whole vegetables. Plus, this way, if you’re going to serve the veggies in a stir fry or other dish, they’ll already be cut into bite-size pieces.[1]
    • If you’re steaming multiple types of vegetables—e.g. broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and asparagus—try to cut them all so they’re roughly the same size.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Placing Veggies in a Bowl for Steaming

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  1. Step 1 Put the cut vegetables into a large, wide bowl or dish. 1 Put the cut vegetables into a large, wide bowl or dish.[2] Arrange the veggies so that they’re spread into a single layer at the bottom of the bowl. The bowl should be microwave-safe (no thin plastic). You could also use a glass baking pan for this step.[3]
    • If you have more vegetables than can be spread in a single layer, plan to steam them in separate batches.
  2. Step 2 Add a thin layer of water. 2 Add a thin layer of water. Pour in enough tap water so that the bottom of the bowl is covered.[4] Since the veggies will be cooked with the steam produced by the water once it’s heated, you only need a small amount of water. As a rough reference, pour in enough water so that the vegetable pieces are about 1/8 submerged.[5]
    • Thin, leafy veggies like spinach will barely need any water added. Start with 1 tsp (5 mL). Thicker veggies like carrots will need a more substantial layer of water.
  3. Step 3 Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the bowl. 3 Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the bowl. Tear off a layer of plastic wrap, and spread it over the top of your bowl or glass dish. So that the built-up steam doesn’t pop the plastic wrap, make sure to leave a corner of the dish uncovered.
    • If you’d prefer not to microwave plastic wrap, you could substitute a large porcelain, stoneware, or ceramic plate.[6]
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Steaming the Vegetables

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  1. Step 1 Microwave on high for two minutes. 1 Microwave on high for two minutes. Place the covered dish of veggies in your microwave, and alter your microwave’s settings so it’s set to “high.” Set the microwave for two minutes, and let it run.[7]
    • The amount of time needed to fully steam vegetables will vary based on the number of veggies you’re steaming and the thickness or density of the individual vegetable pieces.
  2. Step 2 Test the veggies and steam more as needed. 2 Test the veggies and steam more as needed. If the veggies are still firm or uncooked, use a fork to turn the veggie pieces over in the bowl. Then place them back in the microwave. This time, set the microwave for four minutes. If the vegetables are still firm after the four minutes, turn them again and steam for another four minutes.[8]
    • Repeat this process until all of the veggies are fully steamed.
  3. Step 3 Serve your vegetables once they’re tender. 3 Serve your vegetables once they’re tender. You can determine if you’ve steamed your vegetables sufficiently by poking them with a fork. The steamed veggies should be easily pierced by the tines. Their texture should be tender, and the veggies should be moist.[9] [10]
    • Or, if you’re planning to incorporate the steamed veggies into a dish, you can begin preparation on that item now.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How can I season vegetables? Maggie Peterson Maggie Peterson Community Answer You can season vegetables with salt and pepper or herbs like oregano, basil, and parsley. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
  • Question I am using a small plastic container to steam all my vegetables, but it is too narrow to have all the veg lying on the bottom. Will all the different vegetables steam at the same time? Community Answer Community Answer The pieces that aren't laying flat could cook a bit quicker than the others. If you're frequently steaming lots of vegetables at one time, invest in an inexpensive large dish from the dollar store. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
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Tips

  • Be careful not to burn yourself when removing the steamed veggies from the bowl. They’ll be very hot, so handle with caution. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Things You’ll Need

  • Vegetables
  • Kitchen knife
  • Cutting board
  • Large bowl
  • Glass baking pan (optional)
  • Plastic wrap
  • Large ceramic plate (optional)
  • Microwave

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References

  1. ↑ https://spoonuniversity.com/school/tcu/how-to-steam-veggies-in-the-microwave/
  2. ↑ Jerran Boyer. Nutrition-Focused Professional Chef. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/the-best-way-to-steam-vegetables-in-the-microwave/
  4. ↑ Jerran Boyer. Nutrition-Focused Professional Chef. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/the-best-way-to-steam-vegetables-in-the-microwave/
  6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-broccoli-in-the-m-47176
  7. ↑ https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/the-best-way-to-steam-vegetables-in-the-microwave/
  8. ↑ https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/the-best-way-to-steam-vegetables-in-the-microwave/
  9. ↑ https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/the-best-way-to-steam-vegetables-in-the-microwave/
More References (1)
  1. ↑ Jerran Boyer. Nutrition-Focused Professional Chef. Expert Interview

About This Article

Jerran Boyer Co-authored by: Jerran Boyer Nutrition-Focused Professional Chef This article was co-authored by Jerran Boyer. Chef Jerran Boyer is a Nutrition-Focused Professional Chef and the CEO of Health Nut Chefs. Chef Jerran has over 20 years of experience as a private chef. She and her team specialize in providing healthy, fresh-prepared meals designed with each client’s taste and dietary needs in mind. She and her team offer both personal, part-time chef services and private, full-time chef services in New York, New Jersey, and the Los Angeles area. Chef Jerran received her BS in Business Administration from the University of South Florida, a degree in Culinary Arts from Florida Culinary Institute, and a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate through Cornell University. This article has been viewed 91,526 times. 2 votes - 100% Co-authors: 6 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 91,526 Categories: Food Preparation Article SummaryX

To steam vegetables in the microwave, first prepare the vegetables by thawing them if frozen, then washing and cutting them to your desired serving sizes. After they're prepared, put the cut vegetables into a large, microwave-safe bowl or dish. Arrange the veggies in the dish so that they're spread out into a single layer. Then, add just enough water such that the bottom of the bowl has a thin layer of water and the vegetable pieces are roughly 1/8th submerged. Cover the bowl with a sheet of plastic wrap, but leave a corner of the dish uncovered so that the built-up steam won't pop the wrapping. Place the covered dish of veggies in your microwave and run your microwave on it's "High" setting for two minutes. You may need to adjust the exact duration based on the thickness and density of the individual vegetable pieces you're using. If the veggies are still firm or uncooked, turn them over with a fork and put them back in the microwave for a few more minutes. Repeat until your veggies are tender. Once they can easily be poked with a fork, they're ready to eat! Read on to learn how to prepare your vegetables for steaming. Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Jerran Boyer Co-authored by: Jerran Boyer Nutrition-Focused Professional Chef Co-authors: 6 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 91,526 100% of readers found this article helpful. 2 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote Amanda Callisaya

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