It’s asparagus season and I’m buying my spears on a weekly basis from local farmers in the Monterey Bay and Sacramento Delta. Asparagus, if you’ve grown them, are at their peak in after they’ve just been harvested. They begin to lose their flavor from there on in. The best asparagus that I ever had were ugly and stubby but grown from crowns I purchased from Kmart. It was a Martha Stewart thing.
Next to those are ones that are now coming into to season at many farmer’s markets. (Sorry to those of you in the Southern hemisphere. You had yours already and must wait.) For the tastiest asparagus, select the medium to large ones – their spears are about middle finger to thumb/toe width. Skinny spears are dainty but lacking in much flavor.
To keep asparagus fresh, as soon as I get the bunch home, I remove the rubber band and stick the spears in a jar of water. This method to keeping the asparagus ‘alive’ is much like a freshly-picked bunch of flowers. They keep well for a week and all I do is change the water every few days. You’ll notice that the asparagus bend toward sunlight. It’s their nature so don’t worry about it.
With store-bought asparagus that you don’t know the provenance or harvest time of, trim or break off the wooden ends, stick the spears in water and then refrigerate them. But not on the top shelf or back of the fridge or they can get freezer burn. There’s no need to cover the spears. You’re just giving them a florist-type of environment.
Grill, stir-fry or poach and serve with an Asian dressing, such as in the Easy Asparagus with Soy Sauce and Sesame recipe. Whatever you do, keep it simple to allow the asparagus to shine.
Enjoy!
MaryMoh says
I love asparagus. Thanks very much for the tip...very useful.
Dennis M Reed says
When I have the opportunity, I always check the toughness of the botton portion of the stem with my thumbnail to see if it is soft. If I get medium to large size tough stems (on sale) instead of breaking them off, I simply peel them with a potato peeler...sure save a lot of asparagus!
Dennis M Reed says
and thanks for the tip about saving fresh asparagus!
Andrea Nguyen says
Dennis -- great idea with the thumbnail! Thanks.
Nicole says
We live in Austin, TX and asparagus just made its market debut on Saturday. We bought purple and the standard green.
Thanks for the tips on keeping them fresh longer!
Amy says
Thanks for pointing out that fat spears are best! I've always been a bit puzzled when all the cooking bigwigs talk about choosing skinny spears. We grow asparagus and we've always been partial to the fatties because they contain so much flavor.
Have you had trouble with asparagus going bad/old when not kept like flowers? It's a great idea. I do have good luck with just keeping it loosely wrapped in a plastic bag in a vegetable drawer for two weeks or more. Maybe it's fresher when I get it though than at a market or store.
Cookin' Canuck says
Great tips. I bought some asparagus today and am going to put them in water right now.
Annie says
I am so missing asparagus right now Andrea! I saw some selling at the market here and they were definitely not fresh (they don't grow here in Malaysia) AND the price they wanted for them was astounding--RM25/kg. That's like eating gold...
Oh well...there are good local veggies to be had here, just not asparagus. Good thing I got my fill last spring at the farmer's market, sometimes buying up to 5 bunches at a go!
Jamieson says
I remember reading in "edible Sacramento" that in Belgium asparagus season is when they celebrate Father's Day. Laugh Out Loud!
travesti says
okey gene
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The best way to keep asparagus fresh, is to put them into big jar full of water, so it can grow smoothly!
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Stock Market says
Except for a couple of tips I was not aware of this tip to keep asparagus fresh. Definitely I'll try it to keep the asparagus fresh for a longer period.
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That was my thought,too.
Ronny says
Asparagus is easily my favourite vegetable, grilled stir-fried or on pizza, i love it.
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Dan says
I just Bought 11 lb.case of asparagus, medium size for $2.50 got to love that deal.
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Better late than never.
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If you would know the value of money , go and try to borrow some.
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Every day is not Sunday.
oldtimer says
I have been cooking for over fifty years & LOVE ASPARAGUS.
An easy way to keep asparagus fresh or revive it is to trim a small slice
off the bottom end, wrap the bottom end in a WET paper towel.. Secure the paper towel with a rubber band and place the asparagus into a plastic bag,
DO NOT COVER THE TIPS. and store in the refrigerator for about a week