Broccoli problems, diagnosed

Mushy broccoli is usually overcooked or still cooking after you think the heat is off. Food Network blanches broccoli only until bright green and crisp-tender, then moves it immediately to ice water. Serious Eats testing similarly found that extra steaming and even time spent covered off heat keep softening the vegetable. For roasted broccoli, use a hot oven, evenly sized pieces and a single layer so it browns instead of steaming.