How (and why?) do green vegetables become BRIGHTER when being cooked?

Question

Plants and grasses mostly seem to wilt and die when exposed to high heat, why is it that green vegetables, when steamed and heated in a pan, turn brighter and seemingly more vibrant?

In: Biology

Answer 1

It’s pretty, right? Broccoli goes from that waxy deep green to bright almost grass like. Heat weakens the plant walls around cells and you can see the chloroplasts better.