Cocinar primero las verduras que crecen bajo tierra marca la diferencia al saltear
Al saltear varias verduras a la vez, empezar por las que crecen bajo tierra ayuda a que todas se cocinen al mismo tiempo.
Sautéed vegetables pair well with many dishes, either as a side or as the base of a main course. Achieving the right cooking time isn't easy: nobody wants mushy mushrooms, burnt broccoli, or raw potatoes.
When cooking several vegetables together, each one needs a different cooking time. According to The Spruce Eats, the rule is to cook those that grow underground, such as potatoes, carrots, and onions, before those that grow above ground, such as zucchini, peppers, asparagus, and cabbage.
Root vegetables are usually harder and denser than those that grow above ground. That's why those that grow underground, like sweet potatoes and carrots, take about 15 minutes to stir-fry, while those that grow above ground, like zucchini and squash, are ready in about five minutes.
To apply the rule, vegetables are grouped according to how they grow. With peppers, broccoli, carrots, and red onions, for example, carrots and red onions go in first, and broccoli and peppers are added later. Within each group, cooking times also vary: onions take less time than sweet potatoes, and cauliflower, which grows above ground, is denser than asparagus. The most reliable way is to consult the specific cooking times for each vegetable or check for tenderness by piercing it with a fork. Cutting them into similar-sized pieces also helps them cook evenly.
The rule of cooking from the root isn't limited to stir-frying. It applies to most vegetable cooking methods, such as roasting, grilling, air frying, and boiling. The difference in density is maintained, although root vegetables require more time in all cases.
Cooking time varies considerably depending on the method: homemade fries might be ready in 12 minutes in an air fryer, but require 25 minutes in the oven. Therefore, it's best to follow the times indicated in the recipe or consult the specific times for each vegetable. A good rule of thumb for efficient cooking is to start by preparing root vegetables first, while you prepare the vegetables that grow above ground.
