Asparagus - courtesy Aleksandra P. stock.xchng

The Key to Cooking Asparagus

Whether you’ll be steaming, boiling, or grilling the key to cooking asparagus is preparation. You can even cook asparagus is the microwave or it can even be cut into small pieces and used in stir fry. Many will also process it for use in a vegetable dip. The key to getting the best taste out of you asparagus is its freshness. After purchase you can maintain peak freshness for up to three days if it is stored properly.

The best way to trim asparagus is by using your hands and bending the stalk until it snaps. The snapping is the key, if it just bends without breaking you’re not going to get that fresh flavor. When cooking asparagus some cooks will peel the outer layer in preparation. This is not essential, but it can really make the stalks extra tender. Even though the majority of the fiber is inside the stalk it’s still important that you soften the outer layer. One good technique is to not peel the whole thing, but instead a few spots on the outer layer. This will allow enough heat to cook the asparagus completely through.

If you want to peel prior to cooking asparagus lay to stalk on a flat surface such as a counter or cutting board. Then use a vegetable peeler starting at the top of the stalk and work your way down. Like mentioned before you may want to peel it completely, but if you’re hurried then peeling just one side will do.

When Cooking Asparagus Make Sure the Stalks Are Facing the Same Direction

Once you have trimmed and peeled the stalks to your liking they’re ready to be placed in a pan with roughly one inch of water on the bottom. If necessary you can trim the asparagus from the bottom to make sure they all stand up vertical. Using kitchen string tie the bunch of them together to keep them from separating and to ensure they all cook evenly. Don’t be afraid to use one string at the top and another at the bottom just to make sure when cooking asparagus. The cooking time will depend on the thickness, but 5 – 10 minutes is usually enough.

If you’re going to boil the asparagus make sure you use just enough water to cover them and face all the stalks in the same direction when you lay them down. When cooking asparagus with this method it will take roughly four to six minutes. If you choose to grill them make sure you use a cooking screen over the fire. You can also use skewers to make sure the asparagus doesn’t fall through the grating. When cooking asparagus with this method it is fast and only takes about 30 – 60 seconds depending on the size.

If you decide that cooking asparagus should be done by roasting, then lay them flat on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. It only takes about two to three minutes at this temperature and gives you a tender stalk with a wonderful roasted taste. You can the season with salt and pepper as you desire.