Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (2024)

by Steamy Kitchen Team | Buddha Bowl Veggies, Microwave Recipes, Microwave Vegetables, Recipes | 17 comments

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Learn the secrets to microwaved steamed carrots, ready in just minutes! This 3-minute recipe is one-bowl for easy cleanup, and saves space on the stovetop. Top the steamed carrots with a pat of butter, flaky salt, freshly ground black pepper and your choice of minced herbs.

Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (1)
The simplest method for steaming vegetables is in the microwave!Microwave steamed vegetables are the easiest, quickest, and most energy efficient way to cook pretty much any vegetable. You only need a few simple things to make these steamed carrots in the microwave; a microwavable safe bowl and lid (or large plate can be used as a lid) carrots of your choosing, and a little bit of water!

Why This Microwave Steamed Carrots Recipe Works

  • Microwave cooking is more energy efficient because it sends nearly all of its energy into the food. It also retains the vegetable’s overall nutrients better than stovetop or oven cooking.
  • Steaming carrots in the microwave is quicker! No need to wait for water to boil, dirty a pot and take up a stove burner.
  • Our recipe testers say,
    • “I used the herby flavor combination and it was fabulous!”
    • “Done in 1:30 seconds for me since I have a higher voltage microwave and they turned out absolutely perfect. This will be a go to side dish year round.”
    • “Don’t skip out on the maple butter combination, so much YUM!”

Ingredients For Steaming Carrots

  • Carrots of your choice (baby carrots, sliced carrots, carrot sticks or regular carrots)
  • Water
  • Butter, salt, black pepper, and minced herbs for seasoning (see below for more ideas)

Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (2)

What kind of carrots to use?

  • Rainbow Carrots –A little sweeter than regular carrots and even more beautiful!
  • Baby Carrots –We love this option because all you have to do is slice them right in half!
  • Carrot Sticks –Slice your carrot sticks in half or in thirds if they are a little larger.
  • Regular Large Carrots – Easy to find and the cheapest, especially when they come form your own garden!
  • Carrot Coins – Prepared carrot slices are the quickest method because all of the prep work is already done!
  • Carrots with the Tops –We don’t suggest steaming the carrot tops with the carrots, but save them to make a delicious Carrot Top Pesto so nothing goes to waste.

Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (3)

How to Steam Carrots in the Microwave

  1. Chop your large carrots into ½” thick rounds. Because carrots are round and tend to roll around on the cutting board, I do my best to make sure my cutting board doesn’t slide, so I like to use my favorite sharp knife and place a damp paper towel under my cutting board.
  2. Place carrots into a microwave safe dish, like a pyrex and then add just couple tablespoons of water.
  3. Cover the dish with a microwave safe lid or a largeplate and microwave on high for 3 minutes.
  4. Check for doneness. If carrots are still a little crunchy, continue cooking in 30 second intervals. Then drain, once tender.
  5. Transfer the carrots to a serving dish and top with a pat of butter, flaky salt, black pepper and minced herbs for the best microwave steamed carrots.

Tools Used in This Recipe

Great Flavor Combinations

Take the sweet route! Try sprinkling in a little brown sugar or maple syrup with your butter for a sweet version.

Switch up the liquids! Instead of water or both, try different flavorful variations for the cooking liquid like bourbon or white wine, and even fruit juice. All will pair well with butter too!

Go herbal! Minced herbs such as tarragon, thyme, mint, and chives are the perfect fresh addition to steamed carrots. Pair your herb with butter and any number of spices that go well with carrots, like garlic, cumin, paprika, and even sweeter spices like cinnamon and allspice.

Make it zesty! Nothing brightens up a dish quite like citrus. Use a zester to peel off your citrus and gently stir it in with some butter and salt.

Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (4)

Faqs

How long to microwave carrots?

Well, this depends on your microwave wattage! After the first initial 3 minutes, open your microwave and give them a little poke with a fork every 30 seconds until they have reached your desired tenderness.

Why is it taking longer than 3 minutes to cook?

All microwaves operate a bit differently. There are both low and high voltage microwaves, so the timing of your carrots will likely depend on your specific microwave. A lower voltage microwave sits around 700 while a higher voltage microwave sits around 1,000+. If you have a lower voltage microwave, you will likely need an extra full 1-2 minutes.

Can you steam baby carrots in the microwave?

Definitely! I recommend cutting the baby carrots just in half rather than slicing them into small coins. Baby carrots are initially a little softer than large carrots, so the cooking time may vary just a bit. Remember, check in intervals!

Can I steam my carrots in broth?

Absolutely and I highly recommend you giving it a try if you haven’t before. The carrots take on a really nice subtle flavor and give it a little extra flavor overall. Chicken and vegetable broth are my go-to’s!

Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (5)

How to Steam Carrots in the Microwave

Steam carrots in the microwave in just minutes! Depening on how many watts your microwave is, cook time may vary.

4.67 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 minute min

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 4 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 3 cups sliced carrots in 1/2" thick rounds
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp butter to taste
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place carrots and water in a microwave safe dish. Cover with a plate or lid and microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Check for doneness. Microwave in 30 second intervals until desired doneness. Drain. Transfer to serving dish, mix in the butter to melt, and season with salt and pepper.

Keyword buddabowl, buddha bowl, carrots

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Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (6)Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!

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  1. Viola kavanaugh on 9/26/23 at 4:29 pm

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (8)
    All sounds great way in fixing carrots will be trying them all I for sure like carrots

    Reply

  2. maryam on 8/2/23 at 4:44 pm

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (9)
    I usually prefer to listen to music while cooking, and one of the sites I usually use to listen to music is AhangVideo

    Reply

  3. Painters Rockbank on 4/13/23 at 2:05 am

    Great blog thanks for this content i really like it this type of blogs.

    Reply

    • maryam on 6/5/23 at 12:16 pm

      Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (10)
      hi, So easy and so delicious! Al dente carrots with salt, pepper, and a little bit of oregano. I also added a teeny bit, maybe a teaspoon, of brown sugar.

      Reply

    • Connie hale on 6/24/23 at 7:58 pm

      Put in a pot 6 minutes on med heat perfect

      Reply

  4. Cindy S on 3/6/23 at 9:27 pm

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (11)
    So easy and so delicious! Al dente carrots with salt, pepper, and a little bit of oregano. I also added a teeny bit, maybe a teaspoon, of brown sugar.

    Reply

  5. Marshall on 7/22/22 at 12:34 am

    I haven’t tried it yet, but will tomorrow and give a comment. Sounds great and delicious?

    Reply

  6. Patricia Neville on 6/27/22 at 6:26 pm

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (12)
    Thank you. Purchased a fresh carrot (it was really big) peeled it and cut it in angled wedges. Then I put the cut up carrot it in a big bowl with t few tablespoons of water, covered the bowl with a paper plate and microwaved it for 3and one half minutes. Strained the carrots, added a tablespoon \of vegan butter and some maple syrup. Sprinkled the carrots with some cinnamon and Yummy !!!! Thank you

    Reply

    • Steamy Kitchen Team on 6/28/22 at 1:01 pm

      Sounds delicious with vegan butter and maple syrup! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  7. Zee on 8/22/21 at 8:00 am

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (13)
    Love love streamed veggies. Yummy.

    Reply

  8. Marsha Atkins on 8/11/21 at 8:09 pm

    Thank you. This was very helpful.

    Reply

  9. Glad on 5/25/21 at 9:27 am

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (14)
    I cut 1 large carrot at an angle 1/4 inch thick with small amount of broth. Covered it and microwaved at 1000 watts for 3 minutes. Pouredoff the broth and topped it with butter and touch of maple syrup. It was fantastic!!

    Reply

  10. John on 3/4/21 at 11:19 pm

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (15)
    Just did this for an evening snack. Seven carrots, two stalks celery, butter and water as directed. Six minutes gave me delicious al dente carrots. Thanks.

    Reply

  11. Daniel Drezdzon on 2/25/21 at 8:28 pm

    Worked great. 1:30 min for 1 small carrot. Easiest way to make carrots ever!

    Reply

  12. Jojo on 1/4/21 at 3:12 pm

    Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (16)
    It took 20 minutes for the carrots to be tender enough to pierce with a fork. It takes ALOT longer than 3 minutes. Unless you want to eat raw wet carrots .

    Reply

    • Stuart on 1/15/22 at 2:10 pm

      not in the microwave. I have done them 6 minutes in there and they’ve been pappy.

      Reply

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Microwaved Steamed Carrots Recipe • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to steam carrots in the microwave? ›

  1. STEP 1: WASH AND PEEL CARROTS. Start by washing your carrots. ...
  2. STEP 2: PLACE IN MICROWAVE-SAFE DISH. Add water to your dish, ensuring that it is enough to cover the bottom. ...
  3. STEP 3: COOK THE CARROTS. Generally, you will microwave your carrots on high for 3-5 minutes or until they're tender. ...
  4. STEP 4: SEASON AND SERVE.

Why are my carrots sparking in the microwave? ›

Dense vegetables such as green beans, carrots, and green peppers have a higher amount of minerals in them than other food items. These minerals include iron, magnesium, and selenium. The minerals act like tiny pieces of metal and create arcing effects in a microwave.

Is it better to steam or bake carrots? ›

No matter which way you cook them, carrots are a healthy choice. Steaming is a slightly better pick since the carrots don't lose as many of their nutrients to the water. (Steaming is also more environmentally friendly since it uses less water.)

How long does it take to steam carrots without a steamer? ›

Cover the pot with a lid, such that most of the steam gets trapped inside. Cook for 5-6 minutes and then check. Toss the veggies and close the lid again. On an average, vegetables usually take 8-10 minutes to steam, but it also depends on the type of vegetable and can take lesser time as well.

Do you cover vegetables when steaming in microwave? ›

Add 1-2 tablespoons of water (a little more if you're steaming multiple portions). Place in the microwave and pop a lid on top to keep the steam in. Microwave on high! Firmer vegetables like turnips or potatoes may take 6-8 minutes, and softer, moister veg like broccoli will take less – around 4 minutes.

Are carrots good in the microwave? ›

If you're looking for a quick and easy side dish that's both healthy and delicious, microwaved steamed carrots might be your best bet. While simple steamed carrots can be delicious on their own, you can also spruce them up with your favorite spices and flavors.

What vegetables shouldn't you microwave? ›

Leafy greens: When microwaved, leafy greens like spinach or kale can become dry and lose nutritional value. It is best to steam or sauté them on the stoveto.

Why are my carrots sweating? ›

Remove carrots from plastic packaging to avoid the 'sweating' that leads to mould formation. Carrots should be kept loose in the vegetable drawer of your fridge. Shrivelled or 'rubbery' carrots can be 'revived' by soaking in cold water. If your carrots come with the leaves intact, cut these off before storing.

Why does peanut butter make my microwave spark? ›

Peanut butter can spark in the microwave due to the high oil content and the presence of small particles of peanuts or salt. These particles can act as tiny conductors of electricity, creating arcing, or sparks, when they are heated.

What vegetables should not be steamed? ›

Veg to avoid steaming:

Any large chunks of hard veg, such as potatoes, squash or celeriac.

What cooking method is best for carrots? ›

Some healthy ways to prepare carrots include: Roasting: Roasting carrots brings out their natural sweetness and makes them tender and flavorful. To roast carrots, simply toss them in a little bit of oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake at 400°F until they are tender and caramelized.

Are steamed carrots still healthy? ›

Your body has an easier time absorbing the carotenoids in carrots if you eat them cooked rather than raw. Cooking breaks down the vegetable's cell walls, making its nutrients more available. Of course, how you cook them matters—boiling vegetables can leach out nutrients, so it's better to steam, sauté, or roast.

How do you steam in the microwave? ›

The microwave is a great option for steaming vegetables when you don't have the equipment or inclination to do it on the stovetop or in your Instant Pot. For small frozen vegetables, such as peas or corn, I put them in a bowl with just a tablespoon or so of water, cover with a plate and microwave until they're done.

Can you steam carrots in a Ziploc bag? ›

directions. Put baby carrots in medium or large Ziploc steamer bag. Microwave for 6 minutes. Carefully open bag (the steam is very HOT!) and add the butter sprays, seasoning mix and cheese.

Why are steamed carrots so good? ›

Although raw carrot slices go well with a dip, cooked carrots are softer and easier to chew. But that's not the only benefit of heating the vegetable. Carrots provide more antioxidants when boiled or steamed than when eaten raw, according to a January 2008 report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Is it better to boil or microwave carrots? ›

Microwave cooking is more energy efficient because it sends nearly all of its energy into the food. It also retains the vegetable's overall nutrients better than stovetop or oven cooking. Steaming carrots in the microwave is quicker! No need to wait for water to boil, dirty a pot and take up a stove burner.

How do I steam carrots if I don't have a steamer? ›

In a Frying Pan

Add about 1 inch of water—just enough to create steam—to a large frying pan with a fitted lid. Add a dash of salt to the water and bring it to a boil. Carefully place the carrots into the water. Then, cover the pan with the lid and leave to simmer.

How many minutes does it take to soften carrots? ›

Boil Until Tender

Make sure the water level is high enough so the carrots are completely submerged. Add sliced carrots to the pot of water and bring the water back to a boil over high heat. Boil sliced carrots for 4-5 minutes, baby carrots for 6-7 minutes, and whole carrots for 10-15 minutes.

What is the healthiest way to cook carrots? ›

Sautéing is one of the healthiest ways to cook carrots.

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