Waterlogged Broccoli

[shel]

I've gathered a few recipes that call for blanching and then draining broccoli florets before adding a sauce to them. Unfortunately, even after draining, the florets contain enough water to dilute the delicious sauces and ruin an otherwise good dish. Any suggestions for drying the broccoli so I don't get a diluted sauce and an unappetizing puddle of sauced water in the bowl along with the broccoli?

Shel

[phatch]

Originally Posted by shel

Any suggestions for drying the broccoli so I don't get a diluted sauce and an unappetizing puddle of sauced water in the bowl along with the broccoli?

Shel

Toss it in a salad spinner. It should still be tough enough to with stand that.

If you don't have a salad spinner, as I don't, you can improvise one easily although it does spray water around. Load the rinsed and mostly drained vegies into a clean cloth towel. Pick up the towel at the corners forming a bag around the vegies. Step outside, or maybe the garage or a large shower stall. Hold the towel in one hand and twirl the towel in a large circle centrifugally spinning out the water. You can get a lot of water out in just 5 revolutions. More capacity than a salad spinner too.

Phil

[bluedogz]

This method also works best with slices of onions around your ears and a scuba mask on...

[Cat Man]

Shel
After blanching, try 'shocking' them in an ice bath to stop the cooking, then drain and I think you'll find they hold a lot less moisture

Cat Man

[shel]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

Shel
After blanching, try 'shocking' them in an ice bath to stop the cooking, then drain and I think you'll find they hold a lot less moisture

Cat Man

That's what I do ... the result has been as described.

Shel

[Cat Man]

Originally Posted by shel

That's what I do ... the result has been as described.

Shel

Then perhaps try draining in a bowl with paper towels to absorb the excess moisture. Maybe change the paper towels every 15 minutes until the moisture is gone

Cat Man

[Blueicus]

I suggest you shake harder and longer. How long is your blanch and shock?

[shel]

Originally Posted by Blueicus

I suggest you shake harder and longer. How long is your blanch and shock?

Blanch 2-3 minutes, shock about 1.5 - 2 minutes.