Place the broccoli florets in the steamer basket or into the water at the bottom of the pot. You can either blanch in boiling water for three minutes or steam for five minutes. Soaking the broccoli in vinegar water for about 5 minutes will ensure no insects lodged inside the florets remain. Raw broccoli can cause digestive system problems, including gas and stomach upset. Put all the broccoli in microwave-safe bowl and add water. Sprouts have a high amount of sulforaphane, which acts as an antioxidant and can help promote digestive and heart health. Bake at 450° for 12 to 20 minutes, until stems are fork-tender. In twenty minutes or less, it’s ready. This should take between five and 10 minutes, depending on how crisp or soft you like your vegetables to be. Broccoli—florets and stems—must be blanched for effective freezing. Broccoli is one of those vegetables that will actually last a while when stored properly; if refrigerated when fresh, broccoli can stay for up to 2 weeks. Step 3. Cover and steam for about 4 to 8 minutes (the cook time depends on the size of the florets), or until the stems are crisp-tender. Broccoli is a delicious and healthy vegetable that grows with large, flowering heads broken into sections called florets. But if you accidentally bought too much, or you're taking advantage of the season with farmer's market broccoli, or perhaps you're growing this vegetable in your own garden, you might need to freeze the surplus. Add the broccoli florets and cook until bright green in color and crisp tender, about 1 to 2 minutes. Prepping broccoli for roasting is easy. You can buy broccoli slaw mix that is already assembled at the store, but if you choose to make your own, you can experiment with mixing different types of fruit and vegetables. Bring the water to a boil. Bring the water to a boil. Arrange broccoli in a single layer. Steaming Step 1. Transfer broccoli to a bowl filled with 4 cups water and 4 cups ice to stop the cooking process, about 5 minutes. Fill a large pot with water and place it on the stove on medium heat. To prepare broccoli by boiling it, put some water in a pan and add some salt. Bottom Line: If you like broccoli, eat it raw: it's more nutritious. Bring water to boil and add in the broccoli stalks. The phosphorus in broccoli can start to build up in your blood if your kidneys don't work well. Some people prefer broccoli florets, but you can eat the leaves and stems, too.