Brilio.net - Broccoli contains nutrition and is good for the body. Reporting from webmd.com, the vitamin C and antioxidant content in broccoli can prevent various diseases such as anemia and heart disease, you know.
Broccoli can be processed into various delicious and appetizing dishes . Usually broccoli is cooked into various stir-fries, mixed with beaten eggs, until crispy fried.
But for those who want it simple, you can just process broccoli by boiling it. Boiled broccoli is no less delicious if eaten as a side dish or snack.
How to boil broccoli does look easy. However, if done carelessly, the results of boiling broccoli will actually be blackish in color. After investigating, this is because broccoli has been boiled for too long. Apart from its unattractive appearance, the nutrients in broccoli are also lost and nothing remains.
As a solution, you can add baking soda to the broccoli boiled water. The addition of this kitchen ingredient functions to maintain the green color of broccoli.
But don't just use baking soda, it turns out there are other methods that can be practiced when boiling broccoli so that the color remains bright green. Machel, a graduate of MasterChef Indonesia season 9, demonstrated the method in his social media upload.
"Actually, this is the restaurant's secret, why the appearance of their vegetables is so beautiful," he said, quoted by BrilioFood from Instagram @machelwie on Tuesday (12/3).
Tricks for boiling broccoli so that the color remains bright green.
First, dissolve one kitchen ingredient, namely 1 tablespoon of salt, in the water in the container. Stir then add the broccoli pieces into it.
"Apart from removing dirt, this can also help reduce pesticides," said the owner of the video.
photo: Instagram/@machelwie
Soak the broccoli pieces for 15-30 minutes. Once done, drain the broccoli. There was all the dirt and even caterpillars floating in the water used to soak the broccoli.
photo: Instagram/@machelwie
On the other hand, add water to the pan. Then add 1 tablespoon of salt to it and turn on the stove. Stir until the water boils. When it's boiling, just add the broccoli pieces.
"Adding salt can speed up the boiling process, and secondly it can help maintain the nutrients in the vegetables," he explained further.
photo: Instagram/@machelwie
Without needing a long time, immediately remove the broccoli when the texture is soft. Immediately transfer the broccoli to a container filled with water and ice cubes. Stir until the broccoli is completely submerged in the ice water.
"This helps keep the color of the food beautiful green," he said.
photo: Instagram/@machelwie
Broccoli that has been drained can then be served immediately. Because it is boiled in a salt solution and soaked in ice water, the boiled broccoli looks bright green.
photo: Instagram/@machelwie
So it's more tempting, right?
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How to store broccoli so it doesn't rot and lasts a long time.
Here are several ways to store broccoli so that it stays fresh, doesn't rot, and lasts a long time:
1. Store in a porous plastic bag.
Place the broccoli in a porous plastic bag or container that is airtight but allows air circulation. This helps reduce moisture that can speed up rotting.
2. Store in the refrigerator.
Place broccoli in the coldest part of the refrigerator, usually at the bottom or at the back. Make sure to store it away from fruits like apples and tomatoes which can speed up broccoli ripening.
3. Do not wash before storing.
Avoid washing broccoli before storing it. Only wet it if you are going to wear it immediately. Extra moisture can speed up rotting.
4. Cut and pack in an airtight container.
If you want to cut broccoli into pieces, make sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
5. Use paper towels.
If the broccoli is still wet, you can wrap it in a paper towel before putting it in a plastic bag. Paper towels will absorb excess moisture.
6. Using paper bags.
If you don't have a porous plastic bag, you can use a paper bag to wrap the broccoli. Make sure to leave some small holes for air circulation.
By following the steps above, you can extend the shelf life of broccoli and maintain its quality longer.