Can You Cut Thick Asparagus In Half?

Chopped asparagus can be used in a myriad of dishes. Asparagus can also be cut into smaller pieces to make it easy to add to many different recipes. Line up the spears on your cutting board and cut the stalks into roughly 1/2-inch to 2-inch cylinders.

What is the ideal size to cut an asparagus?

½-inch
The woody part may be white, pale green, and/or purple, while the rest of the spear is bright green. However, that’s not always the case. As a result, it’s usually best to snap or slice off at least ½-inch from the bottom of all spears to cover your bases.

Why are my asparagus spears so thick?

As the asparagus plant matures, less growth is dedicated to producing crude fiber and the spears thicken with soft, soluble fiber and other nutrients.

How do you halve asparagus?

Instructions

1. Line up the asparagus spears on a cutting board.
2. Grab half of the stalks with your non-cutting hand. Using a large chef’s knife, slice off the bottom tough parts of the stalks just where the color turns from white to green.
3. Repeat with the other half of the stalks.

What happens if you don’t Trim asparagus?

THE BOTTOM LINE: You’ll throw away more asparagus if you snap off the ends, and the spears won’t look as long and elegant. For many reasons, we think trimming and peeling is worth the effort. SNAPPED: Snapping the natural breaking point means losing half the weight of almost every spear.

What part of asparagus should you not eat?

You can eat the whole spear except for the woody stem towards the bottom.

How do you cut the woody ends of asparagus?

How to Trim Asparagus

1. Here’s a step by step breakdown of what to do:
2. Pick up one stalk and hold it in the middle and at the end.
3. Bend the stalk until it snaps.
4. Line up the tip of that stalk with the tips of the remaining stalks.
5. Slice off the ends of the remaining stalks so they’re flush with the snapped stalk.

Should you trim asparagus?

It is not necessary to trim asparagus. On some spears, especially fresh, pencil-thin stalks, the woody ends may not tender once cooked. But on larger stalks, the ends of the asparagus are often woody and dense. This makes them difficult to chew, no matter how soft the asparagus is after cooking.

How do you cut long asparagus?

How to Cut Asparagus

1. Line up asparagus spears flat on a cutting board. Using a knife, cut off the woody, fibrous bottom of the stalk.
2. Alternatively, asparagus will naturally bend at the spot that should be removed. You can snap it off.
3. If desired, trim asparagus into smaller, bite-size pieces.

Can you eat thick asparagus?

People seem to have the mistaken impression that thick stalks of asparagus are going to be woody or texturally unpleasant, but in reality, when you prep and cook it correctly, thick asparagus is one of the best vegetables around.

Is thick asparagus good?

Thicker stalks are usually higher in fiber, according to Peter Ferretti, professor of vegetable crops at Pennsylvania State University. But whether thick or thin, asparagus stalks of all sizes are nutritious and delicious. Asparagus is high in folic acid and is a good source of potassium, vitamins B6, A, and C.

How big is too big asparagus?

As the asparagus reaches and exceeds the 12-inch mark, the tightly-closed tips of the shoots will begin to open up. This is the beginning of the process called “ferning,” which is simply the plant coming to maturity as it’s supposed to.

Are the ends of asparagus poisonous?

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 can I do with the woody part of asparagus?

You can blanch, boil, sauté, grill, roast, simmer or fry it. And once asparagus is cooked, it can easily be added to risottos, salads, frittatas, pastas, soups and noodle bowls. To store in the fridge, place the stalks in mason jars filled with water.

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.

How often should you eat asparagus?

Asparagus is a nutritious and delicious vegetable that can be eaten every day. Low in calories and packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it’s great to include in a fiber-rich diet to keep your digestive system healthy.

How do the French eat asparagus?

Asparagus in France is traditionally steamed, and often eaten as a first course with a vinaigrette, but this year we are eating our asperges sautéd, or lightly fried.

What is the proper etiquette for eating asparagus?

Eat asparagus with your fingers. Pick it up from its larger end, not from the spear. Eat asparagus with cutlery if it is served with sauce, or with melted cheese, or as an accompaniment to a dish. Do not eat the larger and tougher end of the asparagus.

How much of the asparagus stalk is edible?

The amount of edible asparagus stalk is about six inches (or about 15 centimeters). This includes its fleshy stems, young spears, and tender shoots. In most recipes, the bottom ends and the roots are then disposed of. However, you can still use the bottom of the stalk in other ways, such as juicing or composting.

Do I need to blanch asparagus before roasting?

Blanching is key to perfectly grilled asparagus
Failing to blanch the asparagus before adding it to the grill could result in dry, unevenly cooked vegetables that are overcooked on the outside but undercooked in the center.

Why is my asparagus tough?

But the spears also lose much of their sugars, using them to toughen their wounded ends with an increasingly fibrous sheath, which lies just under the green skin and quickly becomes too stringy to chew. Most of this loss of sweetness and toughening happens in the first day after harvest.