How to Cook A Whole Artichoke (without a steamer basket)

How to cook a whole artichoke without a steamer basket, no special equipment required. Step by step instructions with photos provided!

Course Side Dish, Vegetables

Cuisine American

Keyword how to cook a whole artichoke, how to cook a whole artichoke without a steamer basket, how to cook artichokes

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Servings artichokes

Calories 60kcal

Author Kelli Shallal MPH RD

Cut the Top Off. Next, you'll cut the very top of the artichoke off. This will vary by artichoke, but you'll probably want to cut around one-quarter of the top off.
Cut the Stem Off. You'll cut the stem off, creating a flat bottom so that the artichoke will sit flat in the pan.
Snip the Remaining Pointy Ends. You should have a few rows left of whole leaves. You'll want to snip the pointy ends, so they don't poke people when they try to remove them and eat them!
Pull-Apart Artichoke. Now that you have them prepped, you'll want to slightly pull at the sides to widen them and create space, making them cook more evenly.
Boil Water. Fill a pan with a lid about one-quarter of the way full. Salt the water and bring to a boil.
Cook Artichokes. Using tongs, add your artichokes into the boiling water, reduce heat to medium, and cover with the lid. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your artichoke, but most need at least 30 minutes. Larger artichokes can take up around 45-55 minutes.
Check For Doneness. The outer AND middle leaves should pull off VERY easily like you barely pull, and they come off. A fork or skewer should also easily pierce the bottom.