What Should I Look For When Buying Asparagus?

Asparagus that’s past its prime gets smelly fast.

• Stalks should be plump and firm, and tips should be tightly closed.
• Color can be green, purple, or white, depending on the variety. Make sure the color is not faded.
• A good grocer will chill asparagus or store it standing upright in cold, fresh water.

How do you pick out good asparagus?

Avoid stalks that appear limp or wilted. The tips of asparagus should be closed and compact, free from spreading or softness. Color: Asparagus should be should be rich in green color, softly fading to white at the bottom of the stalk. Avoid those dull in color, as this indicates the asparagus is passed freshness.

Is thinner or thicker asparagus better?

— Thinness may be a top quality for supermodels, but a vegetable expert in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences says when it comes to asparagus, thicker is better.

What is the best month to buy asparagus?

While asparagus is luckily usually found year-round in grocery stores, like most produce, it has a peak season. You will find the best asparagus during spring. Asparagus season usually starts around late February and goes until June, but the peak months are in April and May.

How do you know if an asparagus is bad?

How to Tell If Asparagus Is Bad?

1. There’s mold. If there’s any fuzzy action on the spears, or there are black spots here and there, that asparagus is no good.
2. It’s soft or mushy. The tips usually darken and go limp first, then the stalks go wrinkly.
3. It smells funky.

When should I buy asparagus?

Asparagus is available year-round, but spring is the best season for this nutritious vegetable. Crops are harvested from late February to June, with April being the prime month and high season for asparagus.

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.

Why are my asparagus spears so fat?

It’s not as cut and dried as that, though, because the same plant will produce a range of sizes. Asparagus grows from a mass of roots, and each mass sends up scores of spears. Those that come up closest to the center, where the plant stores its nutrients, are fatter. Those farther out on the fringe are thinner.

Should you pick skinny asparagus?

When asparagus spears are looking thin, there is no need to fret. As long as you are maintaining good growing conditions and harvesting practices, the problem should work itself out. The good news is, even if you do end up with a season or two of skinny spears, they are still perfectly edible and quite delicious!

Is purple asparagus better than green?

2. Texture: Purple asparagus has a less fibrous texture than green and white asparagus. 3. Nutritional value: Compared to purple asparagus, green asparagus has higher levels of potassium, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

Where is the most asparagus grown in the US?

The United States produces around 20,000 to 25,000 acres of asparagus with a value of $70 to $100 million annually. The largest asparagus-producing states are Michigan, California, New Jersey, and Washington. Asparagus is produced on 4,900 farms in the United States and 75 percent of those farms have one acre or less.

Where does most asparagus come from?

China
Overall, Americans produce a very small percentage of the world’s asparagus. We grow 73,000 metric tons of asparagus each year while China, the largest producer in the world, grows 4.8 million metric tons. Most of the asparagus in American supermarkets, however, comes from Mexico or Peru.

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.

What does bad asparagus look like?

If the asparagus has begun to spoil, you will notice the tips become a progressively darker green until they are nearly black in color. The stalk will become limp and mushy and mold spots may begin to appear. It will begin to develop an unpleasant and pungent smell as decay sets in.

Should asparagus be refrigerated?

Does asparagus need to be refrigerated? Yes, it does. Otherwise, it will get moldy and lose its freshness quickly.

How long is asparagus good in fridge?

Asparagus tastes best when cooked the day you buy it. If that’s not in the cards, store them as you would store cut flowers: Trim the bottoms and stand the spears up in a glass or jar with about an inch of water. Cover with a plastic bag then refrigerate them for up to 4 days.

Are purple tips on asparagus OK?

They should be firm and tightly closed. If they have a hint of dark green or purple color to them, that’s a sign of quality. If the tips are dried or yellow in color, it’s a sign that the asparagus is old. Mushy tips should be avoided as well, as that’s a sign the asparagus is on its way to spoiling.

How do you keep asparagus fresh for a week?

Stand the asparagus up in a glass or jar with about an inch or two of water, making sure all the ends are sitting in the water. A 2-cup measuring cup is a great container for storing asparagus. Loosely cover the asparagus with a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Why do you put asparagus in water before cooking?

Sometimes boiled vegetables lack flavor or come out soggy: but not here! You’ll boil the asparagus in just 1 inch of water until it’s crisp tender. This method makes the most of this bright green spring vegetable.

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.

Is Miracle Grow good for asparagus?

Yes, using Miracle Grow is a good choice for your asparagus growth.