Asparagus is a delicious but delicate vegetable. If you buy it on a whim at the grocery store, but then decide not to use it that night, the result can be a mushy pile of green goo. The good news is that there are a few ways to store asparagus that will keep it fresh until you find just the right recipe for it.
How to store asparagus: There are a few ways to store asparagus so that it stays fresh until you are ready to use it. There are two ways you can store asparagus in the fridge. And while one takes a little bit more work, it does prolong its life much better. There is also a way to freeze asparagus. This, again, takes a few more steps but being able to take fresh-frozen asparagus out of the freezer and use it whenever you want will be a nice bonus for the future.
Ways on How to Store Asparagus
Asparagus is not a vegetable that keeps long. And it can be expensive. Throwing it out because you took too long to use it is a real damper on both your wallet and your stomach.
Do you need to refrigerate fresh asparagus?
Yes, you need to refrigerate fresh asparagus. While delicious, this is a delicate vegetable and is really best used the day that you purchase it.
While there are some ways to store the asparagus, do not leave it out on the counter. Otherwise, it will start to wilt in just a few hours.
How do you store asparagus in the refrigerator?
There are three main ways to store asparagus. You can place it in an airtight container, place it in a jar of water, or blanche and then freeze it.
How long can you keep asparagus in the fridge?
There are two ways to store asparagus in the refrigerator. If you simply place it in a container with damp paper towels, it will only last for 1 to 2 days.
However, if you place the bundle in a jar with water, it will last for 4 to 7 days.
Can asparagus be stored at room temperature?
Unfortunately, asparagus can’t be stored at room temperature. If it is left on the counter, it will quickly wilt and be inedible.
Furthermore, asparagus starts to quickly break down at room temperature. In fact, it can lose half of its Vitamin C content in just two days.
Asparagus needs to be refrigerated to be both eaten and retain all its vast nutrients.
Freezer
It takes a few extra steps, but freezing asparagus is a great way to not waste it and instead enjoy this vegetable at a later date.
There is one important step to freezing asparagus and that is to blanche it. Blanching is a cooking method where you expose food to boiling water, but only for a few seconds.
Blanching is used to preserve food as it keeps nutrients in and destroys any bacteria.
For asparagus, start with a large pot of boiling water. Your asparagus needs to be crisp. If it is already wilting, it is too late to preserve it.
Wash your asparagus and then trim the edges and sort the stalks by size. Thicker stems will need to be blanched for a longer time.
Next to your pot of boiling water, place a large bowl of ice water.
Place the asparagus spears into the boiling water. Thinner spears need about 2 minutes, while very thick spears need up to 4 minutes.
After the allotted time, place the asparagus into the bowl of ice water. Leave in the water for 2 to 3 minutes.
Afterward, simply drain the asparagus and place in a freezer bag or an airtight container. Label and date your containers. Frozen asparagus will last for up to 1 year.
Jar with Water
Storing fresh asparagus in water is a simple method of preservation. Simply trim the asparagus bottoms and place them, bottoms down, in a jar, just as you would cut flowers.
The jar should have about an inch of water in it. Place a rubber band around the spears and then loosely cover with a plastic bag.
Check the water daily. If you see that it is starting to get cloudy, change out the water and place fresh water in.
You will also want to clear some space in your fridge so that nothing interferes with the asparagus tips.
Asparagus will stay fresh in a jar with water for 4 to 7 days.
Ziplock
The unfortunate part of storing asparagus in a glass of water is that it can take up quite a lot of vertical space in your refrigerator. There is, however, an alternative.
Wrap your asparagus with damp paper towels. Then, place the whole bundle in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
Asparagus will only last 2 to 3 days with this method.
What is the best way to store asparagus?
While there are a few ways to store asparagus, there is one method that is better than the rest. This is when you place the asparagus in a jar with water and cover the asparagus with a plastic bag. It will allow you to keep the asparagus fresh for up to 7 days.
How can I tell if asparagus is bad?
Fresh asparagus is bright green in color and its stocks are nice and firm. Asparagus only stays fresh for a matter of days, and once it turns bad, it becomes quite obvious.
The once firm stocks become mushy and their color becomes a dull green. There may even be black spots on the stems, and in the worse case, white mold.
The best thing you can do is make sure you buy only fresh asparagus. Avoid asparagus that is rubbery when you bend it.
Conclusion
With just a few simple steps, you can store asparagus properly so that you can have a fresh vegetable ingredient in your food.
Whether you store it in your refrigerator or freezer, you can preserve the life of this delicate vegetable and not waste your money on a pile of green mush.
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