The best way to trim asparagus is also the most obvious way: with a chef’s knife and cutting board. Line up all of the spears in a row and slice off the ends all at once. You should cut right where the stalks turn from white into green.
What part of the asparagus is the stem?
The stems.
The stem of the asparagus starts about two inches (five centimeters) from the bottom, or where it begins to get tough. This part should be cut off with a straight and sharp knife for the vegetable to stay fresh longer.
How far up do you cut asparagus?
How to Trim Asparagus. The best way to trim asparagus is also the most obvious way: with a chef’s knife and cutting board. Line up all of the spears in a row and slice off the ends all at once. You should cut right where the stalks turn from white into green.
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.
Do you eat the whole asparagus stem?
Can you eat the whole asparagus spear? You can eat the whole spear except for the woody stem towards the bottom. Hold the asparagus spear on each end firmly. Gently bend the asparagus so that it bows out away from you.
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 are the woody ends of asparagus?
The closer to the tip of the asparagus, the more tender the flesh. At the other end is the “woody” end. Some place in between is the “natural breaking point”, the spot where the tender flesh magically separates from the woody end.
Why do you cut asparagus at an angle?
This exposes more of the tender inside of the asparagus while making it easier to grab with a fork. The cut is also useful when sautéing, because the large flat area browns beautifully when it comes in contact with a hot pan.
Are you supposed to cut back asparagus?
Ideally, asparagus should be cut back in the fall but it is important that you wait until all of the foliage has died back and turned brown or yellow. This will normally happen after the first frost, but it can happen without frost in areas that do not receive frost.
What is the correct way to eat 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.
What part of asparagus has the most nutrients?
In general, the longer the asparagus was blanched, the more nutrients it lost, though cooking it for too short a time resulted in hard stalks. Furthermore, the tip, middle and bottom sections of the spears had different sensitivities to blanching times, with the tip being the most likely to lose nutrients quickly.
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 do I do with the bottom of my asparagus?
Cut off the very end, taste, and if it is fibrous, cut off a little more and try again. When you find the point where it becomes tender, cut the bunch and save the ends to make asparagus stalk soup.
When should you not eat asparagus?
If there’s any fuzzy action on the spears, or there are black spots here and there, that asparagus is no good. It’s soft or mushy. The tips usually darken and go limp first, then the stalks go wrinkly. It’s a spectrum, of course – you can use somewhat softish spears, but if slimy residue sets it, they need to go.
Can you cook asparagus stems?
BOIL THE ASPARAGUS ENDS
Whether you’re using freshly trimmed asparagus ends, or frozen ones you’ve been saving for months, the first step is boiling them. You can do this in a large pot on the stove, or in a pressure cooker.
Should I boil asparagus before baking?
Nope! There’s no need to soak asparagus before cooking.
Should I let my asparagus flower?
Ferning out in asparagus is actually a good thing, as it indicates that photosynthesis is being promoted, therefore, nutrition production and absorption increases. During the ferning process, the majority of the energy produced is stored in the roots to facilitate new growth the next year.
How do you care for an asparagus bed?
Asparagus needs regular watering, especially while young; give it 1 to 2 inches of water per week during its first two growing seasons; give older plants about 1 inch per week. Give them a good start when you first plant them and you’ll have fewer problems in future years.
Do asparagus plants spread?
Remember, asparagus roots will spread over time but diminish in production. Divide them every three years or so for a non-stop harvest year after year.
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.