How to Store Asparagus

It’s best if you cook it the same day as you bought it, but that isn’t always feasible. I will go over how to store asparagus so that it stays fresh for a few days.

Asparagus is almost a delicacy as it is a seasonal springtime vegetable. Ok, a delicacy might be a stretch but, at other times of the year, it can be hard to find good fresh asparagus.

There is nothing worse than picking up a bunch of asparagus only to go and cook it up and realize it has already gone bad. It doesn’t last long so it’s important to cook it up sooner rather than later.

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How to store asparagus

For starters, it is important to always store your asparagus in the refrigerator. This is not one of those vegetables that can be left out at room temperature.

Because it goes bad so quickly, here is how to tell if asparagus has gone bad before you get started. It is imperative that you store it correctly so that you have a chance to enjoy it before it’s too late. Storing asparagus is much like storing fresh-cut flowers or herbs.

Buying asparagus

When you are buying asparagus it’s important to find the freshest bunch that you can. Look for stems that are about as thick as a pencil or a little bigger and should be firm.

You’ll want to avoid asparagus with thick stems that are dime size or more. It makes it hard to cook all of the stems evenly if they aren’t relatively the same size and will make these thicker ones tough and chewy.

The tops should be dry buds tightly grouped together. Bright green or violet tips and lighter green bottoms are a good sign of freshness.

1. Trim

Before you store asparagus in the refrigerator you want to cut off the bottoms just like you do when you get flowers. This allows for the vegetable to be able to soak up a little water and keep fresh for a few days.

You will want to keep the bunch banded and just cut off a 1/4 inch of the bottoms. You don’t want to trim them as if you were prepping them. Just enough for the end to be fresh-cut.

I have a simple step-by-step guide on how to cut asparagus.

2. Refrigerate

Now that you have cut the bottoms of the asparagus it is important to keep them moist. Stand the stems up in a jar with about an inch of cold water.

You want to make sure that the ends stay moist but not the whole stem. Wrap the heads loosely with a produce bag or saran wrap. This will keep asparagus fresh for 4-5 days in the fridge.

If you want to prolong it a couple of days you can wrap the bottoms in a wet paper towel and then stand them in the jar.

Will will gain a day or two but the longer you wait to cook it up the more flavor loss you will have. Another great way is to freeze asparagus.