So while you CAN steam vegetables in an Instant Pot without a steamer basket, I don’t recommend it. Watch this video to learn a genius trick to steam vegetables and other foods with just a bit of tinfoil and a heatproof plate. Here's how to steam vegetables without a steamer. Put the carrots in a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle 1 tbsp. A sprinkle of kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, and perhaps a drizzle of melted butter are all it takes to dress these delicious, simply prepared carrots. Season the cooked carrots with melted butter, salt and pepper, and serve. 4. Plug in the electric steamer. Steaming is a wonderful way to enjoy carrots. Some of these tools and methods are a little … let’s say, creative, but they’ll get you to where you want to go. In the case of steaming veggies, a steamer basket is certainly handy, but you don’t necessarily need one. Steam with the lid on until crisp tender, taste testing with a fork to assess doneness. I'm not a big fan of single-use tools, especially ones that don't get used particularly often. Steam until tender to the bite, about 5 minutes for crisp-tender and up to 10 minutes for full-size carrots. If using a steamer basket without a handle, add it to the pot now: the water surface should be right under the basket. Whether you want to know how to steam vegetables for an easy weeknight side dish or if you're making a big batch on Sunday night to use ... We Tested 4 Ways to Steam Without a Steamer … This should take 10-12 minutes, depending on how thick the carrot chunks are. Steaming broccoli and carrots in an electric steamer typically takes about 16 to 22 minutes. Steam the carrots … For some veggies, boiling might actually be better than steaming. But if you don’t happen to own a steamer of some kind, it’s still super easy to make wonderful steamy veggies! And I'm especially not a big fan of seldom used single-use tools that take up a large amount of space. Of course one of the easiest ways is to get a small little device that holds things up an inch or two from the bottom of the pan.