HOW TO STEAM GREEN BEANS IN THE MICROWAVE
Meal prepping for dinner doesn’t have to consume too much of your time. Thankfully, a microwave is a great tool to help you steam green beans and other vegetables quickly and easily, allowing you to enjoy the rest of your day.
CAN YOU COOK GREEN BEANS IN THE MICROWAVE?
Yes, you can cook green beans in the microwave. Simply prepare green beans and place in a container with enough water to cover the bottom up to ¼ inch. Add any other flavorings like garlic, butter and salt, then microwave for 4-6 minutes depending on the amount and how tender you want them to be.
In addition to green beans, a wide variety of vegetables can be steamed in the microwave with delicious results. The cook time for other vegetables, like carrots or broccoli varies depending on serving size and type of vegetable.
MICROWAVE GREEN BEANS RECIPE
This is a simple recipe that makes steaming green beans in the microwave a piece of cake. Ten minutes is all you need to prepare this quick and tasty side dish.
YIELDS
4 servings
INGREDIENTS
Water
Butter, to taste
Garlic clove
Salt, to taste
Green beans
TOOLS
Microwave-safe bowl or steaming container
Oven mitts
PREP TIME
4 minutes
COOK TIME
6 minutes
TOTAL TIME
10 minutes
STEP 1: PREP THE GREEN BEANS
Before steaming fresh green beans in the microwave you will need to wash them and prep your other ingredients. Cut the stem ends off the green beans, smash your garlic clove and cut up your butter.
STEP 2: PLACE IN MICROWAVE-SAFE BOWL AND ADD WATER
Put your prepared ingredients in a 2–2 ½ quart shallow, microwave-safe bowl, then add a cup of water. Season with salt, and then cover the bowl with microwave-safe plastic wrap or a loose-fitting lid.
If you’re using a Maytag® microwave with the Steam Cooking feature, add ½ cup water into the steamer base, then place your vegetables in the steaming container, close the lid and put the container in the microwave.
STEP 3: MICROWAVE GREEN BEANS
Place the bowl in the microwave and cook for 6 minutes. Once done, remove the bowl from the microwave and carefully pour out any excess liquid.
If you have a Maytag® microwave that has the steam option, place the container on the turntable and select the steam cook setting on your microwave’s control panel. Select the vegetable option on your microwave and press start. Once done, remove the steamer with oven mitts on your hands. Remember to leave the lid on until the container has been removed from the microwave, as the steam from the dish could set off the steam sensor in the microwave.
SHOP MAYTAG® MICROWAVES
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU STEAM GREEN BEANS IN THE MICROWAVE?
The time needed to steam green beans in the microwave varies depending on whether or not the green beans are frozen or fresh, and what recipe you’re following. Generally speaking, to steam fresh green beans in the microwave, it can take about 5-7 minutes. Frozen green beans in the microwave take at least 7 minutes to cook.
WHY DO FRESH GREEN BEANS SPARK IN THE MICROWAVE?
When steaming green beans in the microwave, you may notice some sparking. Dense vegetables like green beans often contain more minerals than other food items. These minerals can act like tiny pieces of metal and cause sparking in the microwave when heated. The sparking does not ruin the food, but it may prevent it from being heated thoroughly and could possibly damage your microwave. It is best to stop the microwave immediately if you notice sparks.
HOW DO YOU STORE COOKED GREEN BEANS?
Green beans have thin skin and therefore need to be stored in high-humidity drawers to keep them fresh. When green beans are cooked, you can store them in airtight containers or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Remember to keep your refrigerator organized to help keep produce fresh and ready to use.
Select Maytag® refrigerators have a crisper drawer which allows for adjustable humidity levels to help store green beans and keep other fruits and vegetables as fresh as possible.
EXPLORE MAYTAG® MICROWAVES
Maytag® microwaves have a wide variety of capabilities that can help make cooking a breeze. With features on select models like Sensor Cooking, Keep Warm Function and Dual Crisp, you can keep meal prep simple.
