Tag: Asparagus

Asparagus plants, both male and female, produce flowers in the early summer after the shoots have turned into tall stalks and leafed-out. On female plants, and occasionally males, the flowers develop into small, red seed-pods, resembling berries. Is asparagus a leaf or flower? Asparagus, or garden asparagus, folk name sparrow grass, scientific name Asparagus officinalis, […]

Credit: Rebecca Firkser. Rebecca Firkser. Crosswise is simply slicing in the opposite direction—like the lines of latitude on a globe, or going around the circumference of a sphere. Crosswise cuts are typically called for when you want to make rounds of even thickness, like onion rings or tomato slices for a bagel. How do you […]

For many people, the easiest way to eliminate these woody stems is to break them off by bending them until they snap in two. The conventional wisdom is that this natural snap-off point is where the unpalatable toughness ends, and the tender asparagus begins. How do you bend asparagus? A lot of sources will tell […]

“In supermarkets, shoppers will see thin spears of asparagus bunched and marketed as ‘tender gourmet’ style,” says Peter Ferretti, professor of vegetable crops. “In reality, spears that are larger than a half-inch in diameter are more tender and higher in soluble fiber and vitamins than the thinner spears.” Which asparagus is best? The best asparagus […]

A lot of sources will tell you that asparagus has a built-in natural breaking point: Hold a spear up horizontally, and break off the end where you see it start to droop—or, even simpler, bend it yourself in your hands, and it’ll break precisely where you need it to. So you bend, and snap! When […]

They’re very tender, overcooked even, and soggy. Throwing them on a grill will just cause them to steam and become soggier. Their high moisture content will prevent any color development, meaning they won’t get char or grill marks, and they might not develop any grill flavor. Why can’t you eat asparagus ends? You don’t eat […]

If the spears are looking a bit limp, but not old and mushy, it can be rehydrated. Simply trim off a bit of the tough ends, place in 1 inch of water, cover the tips with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The spears should firm up and regain its texture. How do you revive a […]

Here’s the most important thing to know about asparagus. The thick bottom part of the spear is white or light purple in color: it’s very tough and not meant to be eaten! Contrary to what you might think, the easiest way to remove it isn’t just to snap it off. The best way is with […]

An added plus is that asparagus lowers uric acid, known to be high in Polycystic Kidney Disease. Nettles also lowers uric acid Asparagus is alkaline producing though it will make the urine acidic. When eating asparagus, I often notice that my urinary pH registers acid, a pH of 5.5. What does asparagus do to your […]

“However, burning vegetables can form carcinogens like benzopyrene, which is found in larger amounts in cigarette smoke.” Still, putting asparagus, squash, onions, and other vegetables on the grill is a healthy option. To avoid incinerating your produce, always grill your vegetables over indirect heat. Are charred vegetables unhealthy? They don’t contain the chemicals that lead […]

Asparagus. Asparagus doesn’t just give your pee a funny smell, Jones says. It’s a food that can throw off your pH balance, which could cause a funky odor — although it will go away after a couple of days. What vegetables are good for pH balance? 8 Bites for Your Bits: Your Vagina’s Favorite Foods […]

Sexual stage of the fungus (Pleospora herbarum) produc- es overwintering structures (pseudothecia), appearing as small, black dots on asparagus plant debris from previous season. Pseudothecia release ascospores via rain splash and wind, causing the primary infection for the new season. What are the brown spots on asparagus? Rust, Puccinia asparagi. This disease is caused by […]

Fortunately, it is easy to clean fresh asparagus without significantly adding to your prep time. Remove the woody part of the spears. The best way to clean asparagus is to start by snapping off the woody part at the bottom of each stalk. Rinse the asparagus under running water. Pat the asparagus dry. Do asparagus […]

Asparagus can be steamed, roasted, grilled, broiled, boiled, blanched, dried or pickled. Combines well with: garlic, lemon juice, nutmeg, honey. Fine herbs: rosemary, basil, dill, marjoram, Mediterranean oregano, thyme, cilantro, etc. What flavors are good on asparagus? Asparagus is relatively delicate in flavor, but pairs particularly well with the following: eggs, cheese (parmigiano-reggiano), lemon and […]

Asparagus is rich in folate, known as vitamin B, and deficiencies with this vitamin have been strongly linked to insomnia. The chromium mineral, an essential trace element, is also found in asparagus which is good news if you’re managing your blood sugar levels. Can I eat asparagus before bed? Sleep enhancing superstars Lean sources of […]

This negative geotropism doesn’t harm the eating quality of asparagus, just its straightness. 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. Why is my asparagus chewy after cooking? […]

Choose spears with tightly closed tips (if they’re starting to look loose or flowery, this can mean that they’re old and likely to be tough). Fat spears are no more likely to be tough than thin spears. To prepare the asparagus for the grill, snap off the bottom of each stalk, and then lightly coat […]

Asparagus will keep fresh for up to 5 days if you store fresh trimmed asparagus in a jar filled with an inch of cold water loosely covered with plastic. Do I need to wash asparagus before storing in the refrigerator? No, it is best to wash it right before using it in your recipe. Why […]

Place them in a microwaveable container and heat them up for 1 minute 30 seconds. Place the asparagus in a plastic bag so they lay one next to the other and freeze them! How do you blanch in microwave? Pause the microwave, uncover the dish and stir the vegetables. Cover the dish and microwave for […]

A lot of sources will tell you that asparagus has a built-in natural breaking point: Hold a spear up horizontally, and break off the end where you see it start to droop—or, even simpler, bend it yourself in your hands, and it’ll break precisely where you need it to. So you bend, and snap! Are […]