Educational program: how long to cook cauliflower before frying?

It has long been known that cauliflower has an amazing, incomparable taste and a huge number of useful and even healing properties. The vegetable is available to everyone; it is very popular among adherents of proper nutrition, people who want to maintain ideal shape and good health. In order for fresh cauliflower to bring not only benefits, but also taste pleasure, you need to know how to choose it correctly, cook it, what to serve it with and how to preserve the valuable properties of the vegetable.

How to select and prepare cauliflower for cooking

In order for the prepared cauliflower dish to have a pleasant taste and retain all the beneficial qualities of the product, it is necessary to pay maximum attention to the choice of vegetables. The ideal option is to grow the product in your own garden; this will be a 100% guarantee of the absence of chemicals and various types of processing. If this is not possible, then when buying a vegetable at the market or supermarket, you should consider the following nuances:

A medium-sized head of cabbage would be ideal for cooking.
The leaves should be green, without fading or obvious damage.
Inflorescences are white, clean, without black spots or defects. You should not buy a head of cabbage from which the tops have been cut off; this is a sure sign that the product has begun to deteriorate and the damage was cut off to give it a marketable appearance.
The head of cabbage should be elastic, but not heavy.

How long to cook cabbage before frying

There are many dishes in cooking where cauliflower is the main or additional ingredient. This is a classic version of a fried vegetable in batter, simply boiled, marinated or with a special sauce. In any recipe, before starting cooking, fresh cabbage should be boiled. But this process is very scrupulous, because you need to know how long to cook it so that it does not boil over and lose its beneficial properties and taste. Cooking cauliflower:

7 minutes - in a saucepan before further frying the vegetable.
30 minutes - in a double boiler at full power.
15 minutes – cooking using a multicooker.
3-5 minutes - in the microwave.

How to cook cauliflower deliciously - recipes with photos

Cauliflower is a storehouse of useful microelements and vitamins. It is often used as complementary food for babies or as a dietary dish for people on a diet. It is possible to eat the vegetable raw if desired, but this option is to the taste of only some gourmets, so you need to learn how to deliciously prepare dishes from it, cook it correctly and serve ready-made culinary masterpieces. You can cook fresh cauliflower in several ways: classic (using a saucepan), in a slow cooker, double boiler or oven.

Classic recipe in a saucepan

For several centuries, fresh cauliflower, at the initial stage of preparation, is boiled in a saucepan. This provides it with the necessary softness and helps to reveal the best taste qualities. This process takes a minimum of time and effort, and the finished result can amaze even the most demanding gourmets. What you need for cooking:

Small enamel saucepan.
Table salt – a small pinch.
Water.

Step-by-step description of the process of how to cook cauliflower:

Cut the cauliflower head lengthwise and divide into small florets. It is advisable to make all parts the same size so that they cook evenly and at the same time.
Place the inflorescences in a container, add water so that it lightly covers the cabbage, and lightly salt.
Place on high heat and let it boil. Cook vegetables for 7 minutes.
If you cover the pan with a lid during cooking, the vegetables will turn yellow. To preserve the snow-white color, cook in an open container, and add citric acid, lemon juice or vinegar to the water at the tip of a knife.
After the time has passed, remove the inflorescences from the water. The remaining broth is rich in vitamins and beneficial properties, so it is ideal for making soup.

Steamed fresh cauliflower in a slow cooker or steamer

In order to preserve the maximum beneficial properties of the vegetable, you need to cook it in a slow cooker or double boiler. This processing method requires a minimum of effort, but the process is a little longer in time than, for example, cooking in a pan. Cooking cauliflower using modern kitchen appliances is a real pleasure, and the resulting tasty and healthy vegetable will be enjoyed by all your close or unexpected guests.

To prepare you will need:

Fresh cauliflower – 1 head.
Water.
Multicooker or steamer.
A small pinch of salt.

Step-by-step cooking process:

Soak the head of cabbage in cold water for fifteen minutes - this will help get rid of dirt and insects.
Divide the product into equal inflorescences.
Pour water into the bowl of a multicooker or steamer, place a steaming container on top, and place the inflorescences there.
Close the lid of the device, select the “Steam” mode. The cooking time depends on the capabilities and functionality of the equipment, but you should roughly focus on the following indicators: multicooker - 13-18 minutes, double boiler - 25-30.
At the end of cooking, put the product out and let it cool slightly before proceeding with further manipulations.

A simple way to boil until done in the microwave

It often happens that there is very little time to prepare dinner, but you really want to please your loved ones with something tasty and healthy. The ideal option is cauliflower, and to save time on boiling, this process should be done in the microwave. To prepare you will need the following ingredients and attributes:

Fresh cauliflower.
Water – 3-5 tbsp. l.
Salt – 0.5 teaspoon.
Microwave container. It is important to remember: metal utensils cannot be used for cooking - this can lead to equipment breakdown.

How to cook cauliflower step by step in the microwave:

Peel all the leaves, divide the head of cabbage into inflorescences and rinse thoroughly under running cool water.
Place the vegetables in a bowl, add a few tablespoons of water and a pinch of salt.
Cover the container with a lid and place in the microwave.
Turn on the microwave at full power and cook for four minutes, then stir the inflorescences and cook for another 3 minutes.
It’s very easy to check for readiness - the stems become softer and can be easily pierced with a knife.

Cooking cauliflower in the oven

The original way to cook cauliflower is in the oven. Not many people know it, but the resulting dish will not leave indifferent even a person with the most sophisticated taste preferences. In order to cook vegetables you will need the following ingredients and accessories:

Baking tray with high sides.
Fresh cauliflower.
Milk – 3 tablespoons.
3 chicken eggs.
Hard cheese – 150 grams.
Greens to taste (dill, parsley, herbs).

Step-by-step preparation:

Peel fresh cauliflower from green leaves and divide into inflorescences.
Rinse thoroughly under running cool water.
Place in an enamel pan, add salt, a little water, boil and cook for ten minutes.
Rinse under running water and place in a baking tray pre-greased with vegetable oil.
In a separate container, beat eggs with milk and add herbs. Pour the mixture over the vegetables, sprinkle with grated cheese.
Place in the oven for 20 minutes until completely baked.
An amazingly tasty and healthy snack is ready. This dish is suitable for a quiet family dinner or for a small celebration.

How to properly cook before freezing so as not to darken

In order to enjoy tasty and healthy vegetables in winter, they must be prepared in the summer by freezing. Ingredients:

Cauliflower.
Citric acid.
The water is boiling and cool.
Cooking container and storage bags.

To ensure that freshly frozen cauliflower does not darken and retains its best beneficial qualities, you must follow these steps, observing the following rules:

First of all, you need to carefully choose a vegetable: the head of cabbage should be dense, without visible dark spots, limp elements or other damage.
Divide the vegetable into inflorescences of the same size; do not make too large parts.
Thoroughly wash all inflorescences from possible dirt, insects and the results of chemical treatment.
In order to preserve the snow-white color of cabbage, you must perform the following steps:

Place the inflorescences in a saucepan with boiled water for a few minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the inflorescences and place in cool water or simply rinse with cold liquid.
You need to add citric acid to boiling water, the proportion is 1/3 teaspoon per liter of water. This mixture will help prevent vegetables from browning.
Place the inflorescences in boiling water with citric acid and simmer for about three minutes until they begin to float.
Place the vegetables in a colander and place on a paper towel to absorb excess liquid.
Pack vegetables in bags or plastic containers and place in the freezer.

Cauliflower is an excellent vegetable that not only combines many useful microelements and vitamins, but is also available at an affordable price, which makes it attractive to many housewives. And sooner or later everyone is faced with the question: how long should cauliflower be cooked in order to preserve all its properties? It is the correct cooking time that will be discussed in our article.

Fresh cauliflower

Not only its usefulness and taste depend on the correct cooking time. Well-cooked inflorescences have a characteristic delicate structure and pleasant taste.

Thanks to selective breeding, scientists have developed new varieties of cauliflower - orange, purple and green.

How long to cook fresh cauliflower depends on the method of its preparation:

How long to cook fresh cauliflower after boiling depends on whether it will subsequently undergo additional heat treatment - frying or baking. If this is expected, then it is better to reduce the cooking time by 2-3 minutes.

How to cook?

Frozen Cauliflower

This vegetable retains its beneficial properties well even when frozen. To prepare cabbage for freezing, you need to separate it from the leaves, cut off the dark spots, wash it thoroughly and divide it into separate forks. To avoid large accumulation of ice, after washing the vegetable, it is advisable to place it on a towel and let it dry a little.

How to cook frozen cauliflower? Yes, very simple. To prepare the vegetable, it is not even necessary to defrost it first. It is worth defrosting only if there is a large amount of ice on the cabbage. Another question is how long to cook frozen cauliflower. Here everything is similar to fresh, and the time depends on the method of cooking and its further use. For ease of preparation, it is better to try to make identical forks (inflorescences). In this case, there will be no possibility that some cabbage “flower” will not be cooked through, and the second one, on the contrary, will acquire a porridge-like state.

Tricks for preparing cauliflower for frying

Deliciously fried cauliflower is a wonderful side dish or an independent dish that cooks quickly. But do not neglect the recommendations for preparing vegetables for frying.

When choosing a head of cauliflower, carefully inspect it for dark spots - this is a sign of spoilage of the vegetable.
A bunch of fresh cabbage inflorescences must be chosen with whole green leaves - this is an indicator of freshness.
If you use frozen cauliflower for cooking, you do not need to defrost it before cooking. Vegetable inflorescences are immersed in cold water and cooked in the same way as fresh ones, only you can add 5-7 minutes to the boiling time.
Before frying the inflorescences, they need to be boiled and slightly salted.
If you like original aftertastes, then during the cooking process you can pepper the cabbage or add any other spices at your discretion. The boiling time will not allow the product to become heavily saturated with foreign tastes and odors, but some new flavor notes will still appear.
Some cauliflower fans advise boiling the vegetable in milk with a minimum percentage of fat content. But in this case, the cabbage should not boil for longer than 5 minutes, since the milk further softens it.
To check the cabbage is done, pierce the stem with a knife. However, it is worth considering that frying will add additional cooking time, so it is better to boil the vegetable until half cooked. Then, after frying, the inflorescences will retain their elasticity and will not fall apart.

Knowing how long to cook cauliflower before frying can speed up the roasting process. And, of course, to achieve maximum flavor of the healthy vegetable. The dish only benefits from pre-boiling, as it becomes softer and juicier. At the same time, in the process it can be enriched with new flavor notes if desired.

This vegetable is widely used for feeding babies, preparing soups, side dishes, and salads. It contains few calories, but is very healthy for children and adults. However, it is important to know how to properly cook cabbage inflorescences so that they remain healthy and tasty.

Cooking cauliflower

Before boiling, it is advisable to put the cauliflower in a saline solution, which is made at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. salt per 1 liter of water. This is done to get rid of caterpillars and larvae. Next, you need to cut off all the dark spots from the head of cabbage and divide it into inflorescences.

The easiest way to cook cauliflower, both fresh and frozen, is in a saucepan. This is primarily due to the opportunity to taste the readiness of the vegetable.

Cooking cauliflower can be divided into several stages:

The degree of readiness of the cabbage should be checked 2 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Depending on the specific variety, the time may be slightly increased or decreased.

Cauliflower is a low-calorie product, which is why nutritionists love it.

Despite its apparent simplicity, cauliflower can be prepared in many variations. It can be either a separate product or a component of a dish. Experiment, and ordinary borscht, but with cauliflower, will delight you not only with its appearance, but also with its unusual taste.

Tasty and crispy fried cauliflower in batter is a simple and quick to prepare dish that anyone can make at home, so in this article we will take a closer look at how long and how to fry fresh and frozen cauliflower in a frying pan.

Frozen

Place the frozen cauliflower in cold water, put it on high heat, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook until tender for 15-20 minutes.

In almost all stores today you can buy frozen vegetables. You can cook them, without preliminary defrosting, using any of the methods presented above. How long to cook frozen cauliflower depends on the method of preparing the product. The classic version on the stove requires 12-15 minutes. After which the vegetables are placed in a colander, oil, spices, etc. are added, depending on the specific recipe.

Most of the fresh vegetables in Russia are available only in the summer, especially if we talk about those that are grown in natural conditions, and not with huge portions of chemicals, so all cabbage is mostly bought frozen. The cooking process for such a product is no more complicated than for a fresh one, and the duration is slightly shorter.

We invite you to read: When to plant onions before winter in 2020 and how to prepare the soil

The algorithm of actions is the same as for fresh cabbage, only you no longer need to divide the head of cabbage into inflorescences:

Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan and add salt.
Throw in the frozen inflorescences, reduce the burner power to 75% of the maximum.
Cook for 10 minutes if you plan to serve cauliflower as a side dish, or for 15 minutes if you use it for sauces or pureed soup.

Often, frozen cauliflower loses to fresh cauliflower in terms of elasticity: even if you cook it for a short time, it will not have the same crunch, but will become quite soft, so there is no big difference between the result after 10 minutes and the result after 15 minutes. It will be ready for use after 10 minutes, so you don’t have to wait longer.

How long to fry cauliflower in a pan?

The cooking time for fresh and frozen cabbage is not particularly different, since before frying it must be boiled in boiling water so that after frying it is more juicy and tasty. Let's take a closer look at how long it takes to fry cauliflower:

How long does it take to roast cauliflower?
Cauliflower should be fried for 7-10 minutes on each side until golden brown.
How long should you cook cauliflower before frying?
Before frying fresh and frozen cauliflower, you need to cook it for 5-7 minutes after boiling water in a saucepan (dip the cabbage into already salted boiling water).

Having found out how many minutes to fry cauliflower, we will further consider the process of cooking it in order to know how to deliciously fry cauliflower in a frying pan at home.

How long does raw cauliflower last in the refrigerator?

Hints

How long does raw cauliflower last in the refrigerator? The exact answer to this question largely depends on storage conditions - after purchasing, always store cauliflower in the refrigerator.
To extend the shelf life of raw cauliflower, store it in a plastic bag; Do not wash until you are ready to use.
If stored properly, cauliflower will usually keep in the refrigerator for about 1 week.
Should I wash raw cauliflower before eating? Yes, cauliflower should be thoroughly rinsed in running water before eating.
How long does cauliflower last in the refrigerator after cooking? Cooked cauliflower usually lasts 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 10 to 12 months in the freezer.
Can cauliflower be frozen? Yes, to freeze: (1) Wash thoroughly, cut off leaves; (2) Divide the cauliflower into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces; (3) Blanch (immerse in boiling water) for three minutes and cool quickly in ice water; (4) Drain off excess moisture, place in airtight containers or freezer bags, and freeze immediately.
How long does cauliflower last in the freezer? If stored properly, it will remain at its best quality for approximately 12 to 18 months, but will remain safe beyond that.
Freezing times listed are for best quality only—cauliflower that has been stored frozen at 0°F will keep safely indefinitely.
How can you tell if cauliflower is spoiled or spoiled? Cauliflower that spoils usually becomes mushy and discolored; Discard cauliflower that has an unpleasant odor or appearance.

Sources: For detailed information on data sources used for food storage, click here

How to deliciously fry cauliflower in batter in a frying pan?

The most popular recipe for deliciously cooking cauliflower in a frying pan is frying it in batter, so let’s look at how to fry cauliflower in batter from eggs and flour step by step:

Thoroughly wash the selected cauliflower in cold water and cut into florets.
Pour water into the pan, add salt (half a teaspoon per 1 liter of water) and bring to a boil, then add the prepared cauliflower inflorescences and cook for 5-7 minutes.
Place the boiled inflorescences in a colander and wait until they cool down and the water drains from them.
Prepare the batter for cauliflower: beat 2-3 eggs into a deep plate (per 0.5 kg of cauliflower), add a little ground black pepper, salt to taste and 2 tablespoons of flour, then beat thoroughly with a whisk or fork.
Pour vegetable oil into a deep frying pan and heat it on the stove, after which each cauliflower inflorescence is carefully dipped in batter and placed on a heated frying pan.
Fry the cauliflower on each side until golden brown and place on a plate. Delicious fried cauliflower in batter - ready!

Note: you should not add a lot of flour to the batter, since the more liquid it is, the more crispy the crust will form on the cauliflower after frying.
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Cauliflower is a large dense head of cabbage, consisting of smaller inflorescences with leaves pressed to the head.

It is usually light green or white, but orange and purple varieties are also found.

This vegetable is of great value due to its content of minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins. The latter are present in it in the form of amino acid complexes. It is also worth noting that an impressive part of proteins is presented in the form of nitrogenous compounds, which are easily absorbed by the human body.

Cauliflower is a light dietary product that contains very little fat. It is excellent for feeding people on a diet, as well as for babies as a first food.

Preparatory stage

When choosing this product, you should pay attention to its appearance. The vegetable should not be crushed or limp, there should be no mold, blackheads or brown spots. It is best to use medium-sized cabbages.

Another important indicator is weight. The heavier the head of cabbage, the younger it is.

The preparatory stage includes the following actions:

The stalk is cut off. All leaves are removed. The head of cabbage is disassembled into inflorescences.
If dark, rotten spots are found, they should be removed (cut out).
Immerse the forks in salt water to get rid of caterpillars, larvae and other insects. The proportion is 2 tbsp. spoons of salt per 1 liter of water.
The inflorescences are washed under running cold water.

How to cook fresh cauliflower

A fresh head of cabbage is cleared of leaves and divided along the stalk into two or three pieces. All dark places and black dots are removed.
The vegetable is prepared for cooking: insects are removed, divided into inflorescences.
A suitable pan is selected, a sufficient amount of water is poured in and the container is placed on the fire.
Add salt to taste. The liquid is brought to a boil.
Inflorescences are placed in boiling water.
To prevent the cabbage from darkening during the cooking process, it is recommended to add a small amount of vinegar (a tablespoon is enough).
Boil the inflorescences for up to 10 minutes. If necessary, you can check the readiness to taste.
The finished vegetable is placed in a colander.

Technological features of cooking

Increasingly, when preparing various dishes, housewives use not only traditional means, but also kitchen assistants: a multicooker, a double boiler, a pressure cooker, a microwave oven. The cooking technology in them is slightly different from the traditional one - in a saucepan.

Multicooker

In this device, it is most convenient to cook cabbage in the “Steam” mode.

The vegetable is divided into small inflorescences.
The product is placed in a bowl, after which a sufficient amount of water is poured into it. The liquid should only cover the cabbage halfway.
The lid closes. The “Steaming” (or double boiler) mode is set for 20 minutes.

Video recipe for cooking cauliflower in batter.

Microwave

The cooking process in the microwave is somewhat different from the traditional one. 0.5 kg of cabbage is pre-cleaned and prepared.

The inflorescences are placed in a glass container or other suitable container so that the stems extend from the center.
A small amount of water is added.
The container is placed in the microwave and covered with a lid.
The power is set to 800 watts. Time 5-7 minutes.
After the time is up, the cabbage is taken out, salted and put back.
Additionally, it is cooked at the same power for 4-5 minutes.

Steaming technology

If you don’t have a steamer or a multicooker with a steaming function at hand, cabbage can be cooked in a simple device consisting of a saucepan and a metal sieve.

Water is poured into the pan, placed on the fire, and brought to a boil.
Pre-prepared and disassembled cabbage is placed in a sieve.
The structure is covered with a lid on top.
To understand whether a vegetable is ready, just use a knife or fork. When pierced, the vegetable should be soft.

After cooking, the cabbage needs to be salted.