How To Store Fresh Asparagus
Not unlike herbs, it’s best to store asparagus standing up in a cup of water in the fridge until ready to cook. Makes sure to trim the ends first and cover the upright spears loosely with a plastic bag.
Best practice is to use asparagus soon after buying, as the sugars naturally found in the stalk will migrate to the ends and can make the spears tough and stringy, but the water glass technique can make fresh asparagus last three to five days. Want to store it for longer? Try freezing it.
How To Cook Asparagus On The Stovetop Grill Or Oven
We know that spring has officially sprung when we see the first bunches of freshly picked green spears lining the stalls at the farmers market. Suddenly, how to cook asparagus every which way is the only thing on our collective minds.
Were biased, but with its vibrant green color, earthy yet sweet flavor, and exceptional versatility , we think asparagus may be our favorite spring vegetable. It isn’t hard to turn it into something simple and spectacular, whether you blanch the freshest stalks and pair them with something creamy or throw the spears on the grill. We also think it makes great party food: portable and delicious, hot or cold. Hello, patio season. Ready to dive into how to cook fresh asparagus so that it shines for months in all your spring salads, platters, and main courses? Us too.
Asparagus is at its seasonal peak from April through June on the East Coastyoull find it earlier on the West Coast, typically February through May. Year-round Peruvian asparagus lives on, but theres nothing as verdant and delicious as the spring stuff.
You could skip cooking altogether and shave raw asparagus into a ribbony salad.
Purple spears have a high occurrence of anthocyaninsthe same element that shades purple cabbage and cauliflower. The color will fade to green as it cooks, so enjoy the saturated hue while you can. Treat purple asparagus the same as green.
How Do I Choose Asparagus
The best Baked Asparagus starts with fresh asparagus! Look for asparagus that are firm and straight and not limp and saggy.
Look for asparagus that are bright green with a small amount of white towards the base. The tips should be compact and firm instead of loose and starting to spread or sprout. When asparagus is going bad, the tips are the first indicator they will turn a very dark green and will become mushy when touched.
When selectingasparagus, size isnt always an indicator of flavor, so for this Oven Baked AsparagusRecipe, you can use any size of asparagus spears, you will just need to adjustthe cooking time accordingly.
I like to use mediumsize spears as opposed to small spears because that way there is a little more room in betweenthe asparagus when they are lined up so they caramelize better.
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Bacon Wrapped Baked Asparagus
- Par cook thick bacon by lining a plate with a few layers of paper towels. Line with half of the cut bacon in an even layer, and top with a layer of paper towels. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes . You want the bacon mostly cooked but still soft and PLIABLE. Dont overcook or it will break when wrapping.
- Season the asparagus and drizzle with olive oil.
- Wrap 1 slice of bacon around 2-4 asparagus stalks depending on their thickness to create a bundle. You want the bacon to go up the asparagus so its in a single layer. Place the bundle on the prepared baking sheet, seam-side down.
- Bake until the bacon is crisp and the asparagus is tender.
How To Broil Asparagus
Similar to roasting but even more of a time-saver, broiling asparagus is a great technique to keep in your back pocket, with a short prep time and an even shorter cook time. Heat your broiler on high and arrange asparagus in a single layer in a broiler-safe pan or sheet pan. Toss with a bit of oil and salt and cook for 5 to 8 minutes total time until charred in spots and crisp-tender.
Eat it just like that as a side dish, or dress it up with a citrusy bagna cauda with fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, anchovy, and crunchy almond topping a la this charred asparagus dish.
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Ingredients For Baked Asparagus
This recipe makes a large batch, but can easily be cut in half to feed a smaller crowd.
- Asparagus youll need 2 bunches , with the ends trimmed
- Lemon we squeeze half of a lemon over the asparagus before baking and slice the other half into rings.
- Unsalted butter to dot the top of the asparagus spears and it adds rich flavor.
- Olive oil to drizzle the asparagus and keep it moist
- Salt & Pepper these simple seasonings are all you need.
- Parmesan cheese added at the end of cooking to creating a cheesy crust over the asparagus.
How To Bake Asparagus In The Oven
Baked asparagus is such a simple cooking technique. Its an incredibly easy and healthy side to have in your cooking repertoire. Simply:
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How To Bake Asparagus
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. We want a very hot oven to produce a very hot pan that caramelizes the natural sugars of the asparagus for that signature nutty roasted flavor.
- Prepare baking sheet: You can bake your asparagus directly on the baking sheet or line it with foil for easy clean up. In either scenario,spray the surface with nonstick cooking spray. I do NOT recommend parchment paper because it does not promote caramelization.
- Trim asparagus: trim as previously discussed, snapping off all of the tough, woody ends no one wants to bite into chewy asparagus that just doesnt chew!
- Dry asparagus: Rinse and dry asparagus. This is the first time you are rinsing your asparagus. You never want to rinse it before storing. Dry the asparagus very well with a kitchen towel or salad spinner so the asparagus will caramelize and not steam.
- Toss ingredients together: Add asparagus, olive oil, lemon juice and seasonings to the baking sheet and toss to evenly combine. I like to toss all the ingredients together on the baking sheet because then you only have one dish to clean up! I like to use my hands because I feel like it combines everything more evenly than a spatula, but feel free to use a spatula if thats more your thing.
- Add Parmesan: Evenly sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan all over the asparagus. I focused the Parmesan more in the center for this recipe, but that was just for aesthetic reasons.
- Bake: Bake asparagus for 7-10 minutes depending on size.
Do You Have To Peel Asparagus
You dont have to peel asparagus. But, you do want to trim the end off of the asparagus stalk, as its very tough, woody, and inedible. You can either snap it off with your hands, cut it with a chefs knife or peel it with a vegetable peeler.
Some recipes call for peeling the asparagus if its part of a shaved salad or a topping of for pizza. Its a great option to switch up the cooking technique, but in this baked asparagus recipe, were not peeling it.
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Asparagus In The Oven
This Baked Asparagus recipe is so simple, youll wonder why you never started roasting asparagus before. All it takes is 5 simple ingredients for you can make time and time again.If you were ever looking for a healthy way to cook asparagus, along with tips and tricks on how to prep and store, you have come to the right place. Serve this simple green side dish for dinner along meat, chicken or veggies. Or whip up some eggs for a spectacular brunch soiree.
This oven-roasted asparagus recipe is created for one reason and that is because I am always looking for simple, straightforward ways to incorporate more greens into my diet. And side dishes, especially vegetable side dishes, give me an excuse to do so.
Cooking asparagus in the oven delivers a quick and healthy side dish that is easily customizable. Plus, I think it is the easiest way to cook it. Once you learn all there is to know about prepping, storing and cooking, the fun part comes in the seasoning and serving.
Add this baked asparagus to your recipe book. I promise you that itll be one youll turn to over and over again. If youd rather cook asparagus on the stove, be sure to check out my Sauteed Asparagus Recipe, and if you want to try your hand in cooking it in the air fryer be sure to try my Air Fryer Asparagus recipe as well.
What To Serve With Roasted Asparagus
This asparagus recipe makes a great veggie side dish for chicken or fish, and is especially tasty as a side to an egg dish for a spring brunch. But Ive also been known to snack on it directly from the pan its that good! You can even add a drizzle of hollandaise sauce if you like.
Here are some simple meals to pair with easy asparagus recipes like this one:
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Which Side Of Asparagus Do You Cut Off
The key to being able to properly cut asparagus is to know which side you should cut off. There are three different sides of asparagus, and it is important to choose the one that will be easiest for you to chop. If you are not sure which side to cut off, try cutting them all in half and watching which side falls off first.
Can I Freeze Asparagus
Yes you can freeze asparagus either before or after baking without losing any flavor, but it will be missing the firm texture. Thicker stems will hold up better, but still wont be as crisp. As the asparagus freezes, small ice crystals puncture the cell walls resulting in a somewhat mushy texture. This makes frozen asparagus ideal for adding to casseroles, sauces, quiche, and soups, but not so much for stand-alone adoration.
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How Do I Make Oven Roasted Asparagus
To roast vegetables, make sure to start with a preheated, hot oven. I use 425 degrees, but if you are cooking other parts of your meal at the same time, this temperature can be adjusted a little up or down either way and you will still get a great result.
In addition to the preheated, hot oven, make sure your vegetables are not crowded on the pan. Overcrowding can cause the vegetables to steam, as opposed to roasting.
To prepare Oven Roasted Asparagus, snap the bottom ends off the spears about an inch from the bottom. You can also choose to cut off the bottoms with a knife if you prefer. Often this is where the whitish end turns green. The whitish bottoms can be tough and slightly stringy.
Place the Asparagus spears on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Turn to coat them and then sprinkle kosher or sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Roast them in the preheated oven for 10 minutes and your result will be a juicy, tender but still slightly crisp Asparagus Spear.
When making Oven Roasted Asparagus, I usually choose a thicker stalk. Sometimes only pencil thin Asparagus is available. This is fine, but slightly less time in the oven may be necessary if a tender, crisp result is desired.
Oven Roasted Asparagus is the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes. I really love it with seafood dishes like my Pan Seared Salmon with Cream Sauce or Baked FRESH Salmon Cakes. These Sticky Asian Barbecue Ribs and Spatchcock Roasted Chicken are a few other great ideas!
How To Prepare It For Roasting
Star by cleaning it. To do so, Gently rinse under cool running water to remove any dirt or debris. Then, thoroughly dry the spears with a clean kitchen towel. The dry surface and hot oven ensure maximum crispness every time.
The best way to prepare asparagus is to snap off the ends one-by-one. This is the natural break between tender asparagus and the woody stem. The woodsy part should snap off easily.
If this is a task that seems too tedious, simply snap one spear. Then, bunch the asparagus spears together, line up the ends and cut at the point where the one asparagus spear was broken.
You can toss the ends or save them for later to use next time you make vegetable or chicken stock.
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Should Asparagus Be Soaked Before Grilling
Asparagus is a type of vegetables that is usually eaten boiled, grilled, or in a salad. Grilling asparagus can be done by using indirect grilling techniques or by using a grill pan with oil and heat. It is important to soak the asparagus before grilling because doing so will help prevent some of the bitterness from coming into contact with the other meats or vegetables on the grill.
How To Freeze Asparagus:
For the best-frozen asparagus, start with the very freshest asparagus you can get, and work quickly after blanching to reduce mushiness later. Uncooked asparagus needs to be blanched before freezing, to help preserve the color and texture. For cooked asparagus, skip straight to the flash freezing:
- Blanch small spears for 2 minutes, medium spears 3 minutes, and large spears 4 minutes by placing in boiling boiling water and transferring to an ice bath.
- Thoroughly dry the asparagus then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Flash freeze for 1 to 2 hours, then transfer the asparagus to freezer bags or containers. Push out as much air as possible to help preserve the texture. Freeze for up to 10 months.
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How To Freeze Cooked Asparagus:
For packaged freezing, place spears into freezer bags and remove as much air as possible. Dont overpack bags, but work to keep spears in a single layer for quickest freezing. Freeze bags as flatly as possible. Once bags are frozen, pack them into your freezer to maximize space use. For best quality, use frozen asparagus within eight to 12 months
Why Is My Grilled Asparagus Soggy
Grilled asparagus can be a difficult dish to cook, but if done correctly it can be an amazing source of flavor and nutrition. However, if done incorrectly, grilled asparagus can become soggy and wet. To prevent this from happening, make sure to follow these tips:
-Use a tong to guide the asparagus onto the grill tray. This will help keep them in position while cooking.
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The Best Baked Asparagus On Your Table In 15 Minutes
Parmesan Baked Asparagus boasts all the nutty, caramelized flavors of roasted asparagus plus the nutty, salty goodness of Parmesan and tantalizing buttery, crispy panko! You are going to want to make this easy, addictive dinner side your entire meal! This Baked Asparagus recipe takes just minutes of prep or it can be prepped ahead of time and just popped in the oven when ready . It is a quick, easy dinner side, extremely versatile and healthy too, loaded with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals!
How To Cook Asparagus In The Oven
This section shows how to roast asparagus, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.
The process for how to roast asparagus in the oven is super easy!
FYI: There are a couple of ways to trim asparagus.
The simplest way is to just line up the stalks parallel to each other and cut off the woody ends using a knife. But, if you want each stalk trimmed at the optimal spot, simply bend each asparagus stalk gently until the end snaps off.
TIP: Make sure that each piece touches the pan.
This will help your roasted asparagus brown a little and cook evenly.
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