Steaming Artichokes: Using Your Rice Cooker For Creative Veggie Dishes

Artichokes are a delicious seasonal side dish that can be steamed, grilled, or cooked in an Instant Pot. While they may seem intimidating to cook, they are quite simple to prepare. One unique way to steam artichokes is by using a rice cooker. This method is convenient as it frees up a burner on the stove and allows you to focus on other parts of the meal. The process is similar to cooking rice on the stovetop. After prepping the artichokes, you simply place them in the rice cooker with some water and let them steam. The end result is tender artichoke leaves that can be dipped in butter, mayonnaise, or a vegan sauce.

How to prepare artichokes for steaming

Preparing artichokes for steaming is simple, but it does require a few steps to ensure the best results. Here is a guide on how to prepare artichokes for steaming:

Firstly, select fresh artichokes that look plump, firm, and heavy for their size. The leaves can be green or purple, but they should be tightly closed. If there are brown spots near the tips of the leaves, it means the artichoke was touched by frost, but this does not impact its flavour. Ensure the stem is firm, as a limp or droopy stem indicates an old artichoke.

Before steaming, use a serrated knife to slice off the top third of each artichoke. You can also use kitchen shears to cut off any remaining spikes from the outermost leaves. Trim the stems so that the artichokes can sit upright, and peel off the tough outer leaves. You can also trim the sharp tips of the leaves with scissors to make them less prickly to eat.

To prevent the cut edges from discolouring before cooking, rub them with lemon juice or brush them with lemon juice. You can also place the prepared artichokes in acidulated water (water with lemon juice added) until you are ready to steam them.

Once your artichokes are prepared, you can then place them in your rice cooker or steamer basket. If using a rice cooker, pour in about 1/2 cup of water per artichoke. Place one or two artichokes, stem side down, in the rice cooker. Cover and turn on the cooker, cooking for around 20-25 minutes. The artichokes are done when a leaf can be pulled out easily, or when you can slide a sharp knife into the stem end without resistance.

If using a steamer basket, fill a large pot with enough water so that it reaches just below the basket. Add lemon juice and salt to the water and bring it to a boil. Place the artichokes in the steamer basket, stem-side up, cover the pot, and steam for 25-35 minutes, or until the heart is tender.

How long to steam artichokes for

Steaming is the best and easiest way to prepare an artichoke. It brings out the delicate, nutty-yet-sweet flavour of the vegetable and allows you to pluck the leaves from the heart and eat the edible flesh with your teeth.

The traditional way to cook artichokes is to simmer them in water for 25 to 40 minutes, or until the hearts soften. However, using a rice cooker doesn't speed up the cooking time but it does free up a burner on your stove.

To steam artichokes in a rice cooker, first prepare the artichokes in the same way you would if you were cooking them on the stovetop. Cut off the stem and top one-third of each artichoke. Trim the sharp tips and peel off the tough outer leaves. Brush the cut surfaces of the artichoke with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Pour 1/2 cup of water per artichoke into the rice cooker. Place one or two artichokes, stem side down, in the bowl of the rice cooker. Cover and turn on the rice cooker. The artichokes will take 20 to 25 minutes to cook.

There are two ways to test if the artichokes are done: pull a leaf from the centre—if it comes out easily, the artichoke is fully cooked. Alternatively, slide a sharp knife into the stem end. If you don't feel any resistance, the centre is soft.

Remove the artichokes from the rice cooker and serve immediately. They will be extremely hot, so use tongs to handle them.

How to tell when artichokes are done

Artichokes are done steaming when the leaves can be pulled out easily and the hearts are tender. Here are some ways to test this:

• Pull a leaf from the centre. If it comes out easily, the artichoke is fully cooked.
• Slide a sharp knife into the stem end. If you don't feel any resistance, the centre is soft.
• Pull a leaf away from the body of the artichoke. If it pulls away easily, it's typically done.

Artichokes can be served hot or cold. To eat, pull off a leaf and scrape the meat off the tender end with your front teeth. When you reach the centre cone of purple prickly leaves, remove it. This is the choke that protects the heart. Now, scrape away the thistle fuzz covering the artichoke heart. The heart is the meatiest part of the artichoke.

How to eat steamed artichokes

Steaming is the best and easiest way to prepare an artichoke. It brings out the delicate, nutty-yet-sweet flavour of the artichoke and means you can pluck the leaves from the heart and eat the edible flesh with your teeth.

To steam artichokes in a rice cooker, first prep the artichoke by cutting off the stem and the top third of the artichoke. Trim the sharp tips and peel off the tough outer leaves. Brush the cut surfaces with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Pour half a cup of water per artichoke into the rice cooker. Place one or two artichokes, stem side down, in the rice cooker. Cover and turn on the cooker. Cook for 20-25 minutes. To test if the artichokes are done, pull a leaf from the centre. If it comes out easily, the artichoke is fully cooked. You can also slide a sharp knife into the stem end—if you don't feel any resistance, the centre is soft.

Remove the artichokes from the rice cooker and serve immediately. Use tongs as they will be hot. You can serve the artichokes with a dipping sauce like Hollandaise, melted butter, or a vegan alternative. To eat, pluck the leaves from the heart and eat the edible flesh with your teeth. When all the leaves are removed, you can eat the best part—the artichoke heart! With a spoon, scrape out and discard the fuzzy choke covering the heart. Cut the remaining bottom of the artichoke into pieces and dip into sauce. Enjoy!

Other ways to cook artichokes

Artichokes are a versatile vegetable with a rich "meat" and tender core. They can be cooked in a variety of ways, including steaming, boiling, roasting, grilling, and more. Here are some detailed instructions on alternative ways to cook artichokes:

Boiling Artichokes

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the artichokes by cutting off about an inch from the top of the bulb and removing the small, dark leaves near the base. Use kitchen shears to trim the sharp points from the leaves. Rinse the artichokes and place them in the boiling water. Reduce the heat and cook for 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of the artichokes. They are done when an outer leaf can be pulled off without much effort.

Roasting Artichokes

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut off the top third of the artichoke and trim the stem, leaving it edible. Remove the tough outer leaves and use kitchen shears to trim the thorny tips from the remaining leaves. Peel the stem and the bottom of the artichoke and rub with lemon to avoid oxidation. Cut the artichoke in half, lengthwise, and remove the fuzzy choke and purple-tinted leaves. Toss the artichokes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and place them cut-side down on a baking sheet. Cover tightly with foil and roast for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and tender.

Grilling Artichokes

First, steam or boil the artichokes as described above. Preheat a grill to medium heat (350-375 degrees Fahrenheit). Prepare the artichokes as above, then gently toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the artichokes cut-side down on the grill grates and grill for about 10 minutes, covered, flipping them halfway through.

Air-Frying Artichokes

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut off the top third of the artichoke and trim the stem, leaving it edible. Remove the tough outer leaves and trim the thorny tips from the remaining leaves. Peel the stem and the bottom of the artichoke, and rub with lemon. Cut the artichoke in half and remove the fuzzy choke and purple leaves. Toss the artichokes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and place them cut-side down in the air fryer. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until golden and tender.

Instant Pot Artichokes

Add 1 cup of water and any desired aromatics (such as woody herbs, garlic cloves, or lemon wedges) to your Instant Pot. Place a steamer insert into the pot and add your prepared artichokes. Set the release valve to "Sealing" and place the lid on the pot. Press "Manual" and set to high pressure for 20 minutes. Quick-release the pressure and carefully open the lid when the float valve drops. Remove the artichokes and allow them to cool slightly before serving.

Microwaving Artichokes

Place a prepared artichoke in a microwave-safe dish with a small amount of water. Cover with a microwave-safe lid and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes, or until tender. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

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