Cooking Fresh Vegetables
side dish.
There are several basic ways to cook fresh vegetables -- on the range top (cooking or steaming), in the oven, and in the microwave oven. Keep in mind that cooking and steaming timings may vary, depending on the particular vegetable. The amounts given on the chart yield enough cooked vegetables for four servings, except where noted. Wash fresh vegetables with cool, clear tap water; scrub firm vegetables with a clean produce brush. To steam vegetables, place a steamer basket in a saucepan. Add water to just below the bottom of the steamer basket. Bring to boiling. Add vegetables to steamer basket. Cover and reduce heat. Steam for the time specified in the chart or until desired doneness. To microwave vegetables, use a microwave-safe baking dish or casserole and follow the directions in the chart, keeping in mind that timings may vary depending on the microwave oven. (Downloading chart requires Adobe Acrobat software.)
