Asparagus does not keep for very long after it’s picked, so be sure to eat it within two or three days from harvest. To store, bundle the spears together, wrap the stem ends of the spears in a moist paper towel, and place the bundle in a plastic bag. Store in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
How do you store asparagus after harvesting?
Immersing spears in cold water immediately after harvest and then refrigerating them will help maintain quality. Store asparagus spears at about 36°F (2°C) for up to 10 days. Wrap spears in a moist cloth or paper towel and place them in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper section of the refrigerator.
What happens to asparagus after harvest?
Asparagus is low maintenance after harvest, but it is not zero-maintenance. Postharvest tasks to keep the field healthy include moderate weed management, fertilization and, in some cases, irrigation. These tasks should not take much time, but ignoring them may decrease plant health and vigor the following year.
When should I stop cutting my asparagus?
Harvest of mature stands should stop about 6-8 weeks after initial spear emergence, once the spear growth and emergence slows down significantly, or when spear width is less than pencil size. In Minnesota, this is typically in late June.
How many times can you harvest asparagus?
Early in the season, you might harvest 7- to 9-inch spears every two to four days. As air temperatures increase, harvesting frequencies will increase to once or twice per day. You can have up to 24 harvests per season, after which you can allow crowns to fern and grow out.
Should you wash asparagus before storing?
Trim. Thoroughly wash your bunch of asparagus under cold water before storing. Dry them with a piece of paper towel or dishcloth. Trim away one inch from the bottom of the stalks or woody ends of the asparagus.
What is the best way to preserve asparagus?
If you are planning to use it right away, the best way to keep asparagus fresh is by wrapping the bunch with a few sheets of damp paper towel and placing it in a breathable plastic bag. Store it in the vegetable or crisper drawer of your fridge as soon as you come back from the grocery store.
How do you store asparagus for the winter?
Storing asparagus
Stand the bundle of asparagus in an inch of water in a jar in the fridge and cover loosely with a plastic bag. Asparagus will keep in the fridge for at least one week.
Do you cut back asparagus in the fall?
Answer: The asparagus foliage can be cut back to the ground after it has been destroyed by cold temperatures in fall. However, it is generally recommended that the dead foliage be allowed to stand over winter.
What part of asparagus is poisonous?
berries
Like the rhubarb, the part of the asparagus plant that we love – the young stems – are perfectly safe to eat. But the asparagus hides a deceptive, nasty secret: Its fruit, which are bright red berries, are toxic to humans.
Does asparagus grow back after cutting?
Yes, it does. Asparagus regrow after cutting. This is because perennial plants make a return year after year. The fact that a plant lasts 20 years is evidence that it does regrow after cutting.
What month is asparagus ready to pick?
Asparagus spears will be ready for harvest shortly after the soil temperature reaches 50°F (10°C) in early spring—that’s when spears will begin to emerge. Two weeks before spears begin breaking through the soil, pull the winter mulch back and cultivate the asparagus patch lightly loosening the soil and uprooting weeds.
Why can’t you eat asparagus the first year?
How to Harvest Asparagus. Don’t harvest any asparagus spears during the first two years that plants are in the permanent bed because they need to put energy into establishing deep roots. During the third season, pick the spears over a four-week period, and by the fourth year, extend your harvest to eight weeks.
Will asparagus spread on its own?
Yes, asparagus will spread as it grows. Asparagus roots can spread out up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) underground. Asparagus ferns (mature spears with foliage) can spread out 3 feet (90 centimeters) above ground. An older, more mature asparagus plant will send up more spears from its larger crown and energy reserves.
Does asparagus come back every year?
Asparagus is one of the first plants that greets us in springtime! It’s a perennial, which means that once it gets established, the tender spears will return year after year. In addition, its ferny foliage makes an excellent ornamental.
Can I freeze raw asparagus?
Technically, you can freeze raw, fresh asparagus by just placing the spears in a freezer bag and sealing tightly. However, I don’t recommend freezing asparagus without blanching it first. Asparagus easily loses color and texture, and the additional step of blanching prevents these losses.
Can you keep asparagus on the counter?
Can you keep asparagus on the counter? Not at all. If you want your asparagus to stay fresh, do not keep it on the counter. If you do, it will quickly become moldy and slimy.
Can you eat asparagus raw?
Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable that can be eaten cooked or raw. Because of its tough texture, cooking is the most popular preparation method. However, thinly sliced or marinated raw spears can be equally enjoyable.
What can I do with too much asparagus?
Here are nearly a dozen of our favorite asparagus recipes.
- Quick and Easy Asparagus. Alison Bickel.
- Creamy Asparagus Soup. Elise Bauer.
- Ham and Asparagus Strata.
- Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Pasta.
- Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus.
- Oven-Roasted Salmon, Asparagus and New Potatoes.
- Asparagus Frittata.
- Spring Minestrone Soup.
Do I need to blanch asparagus before freezing?
Blanching your vegetables before freezing asparagus is key for maintaining flavor, texture, color and nutritional content. Without blanching to stop the enzymes, the enzymes remain active, and the flavor, texture, color and nutritional content of the asparagus will be compromised.
What can you do with asparagus the second year?
Asparagus can be harvested over a three to four week period during its second growing season. In following years, asparagus plantings can be harvested until early to mid-June. Harvest asparagus by cutting or snapping the spears when they reach a height of 6 to 8 inches.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.