How to Preserve Asparagus

With proper storage, asparagus can be kept in the refrigerator for a week or more. Asparagus stems are similar to flower stems, they need to be kept upright and kept moist to stay fresh. You should learn how to store fresh or cooked asparagus to keep asparagus as long as possible.

Table of Contents

Preserving fresh asparagus

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Choose the freshest asparagus possible. Fresh asparagus should be bright green and firm from the tip to the tip. Check the end (root) of the asparagus shoot: the hard and brown roots mean the asparagus is not freshly cut. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Avoid buying asparagus that changes color or has brown spots.
Do not choose asparagus that looks squishy.

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Leave the elastic band around the bunch of asparagus. Asparagus is usually tied into bundles with elastic bands. This makes it easier to store asparagus upright and keeps them fresh. Therefore, you should leave the elastic band intact until you are ready to cook the asparagus.

Prune the roots if necessary. When you bring home asparagus, you may need to trim about 1.3 cm from the base of the shoot. Use a sharp knife to trim the slightly hard wood-like roots. Discard the freshly cut asparagus.

Fill the bag or jar with water by 2.5 cm. The size of the glass jar is usually the right size for a bunch of asparagus. Empty jam jars or pickles can also be used. If you want to save space in the refrigerator, you should use sturdy plastic bags to preserve food. Fill the bag or container with enough water to cover about 1.3 cm of water, enough to cover the base of the bamboo shoot.

There’s no need to fill the entire bag or container with water, just enough to keep the asparagus moist.
Another convenient method is to moisten a paper towel and wrap it around the base of the asparagus stalk. You will need to change the paper towels daily as they will dry out over time.

Store asparagus upright in a bag or container. Upright storage helps the asparagus absorb water from the container, keeping the shoots fresh and firm. If using a storage bag, you should tie an elastic band at the mouth of the bag, around the bunch of asparagus so that you can store the asparagus upright in the refrigerator door without spilling water.

Cover with a plastic bag. Use a thin plastic bag (the kind used to preserve vegetables at the grocery store) to cover the tops of the bamboo shoots and the container. This keeps the asparagus fresh; If there is no plastic bag, bamboo shoots will be covered with odors from other foods stored in the refrigerator. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Replace when the water is cloudy. Check the water every few days and replace it when it’s no longer clear, just like changing the water for flowers. Water should be changed no more than 1-2 times within about a week before serving asparagus.

Frozen Asparagus

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Choose fresh and thick asparagus buds. Sticks thicker than a pen will keep longer than asparagus with thin buds. Choose asparagus that is fresh and in season, not wilted or hard like wood. Avoid buying asparagus that is brown or discolored because the asparagus will not taste good after freezing.

Cut off the hard end like wood. Cut about 2.5 cm at the base of the shoot. The chewy texture of bamboo shoots doesn’t taste good, especially after freezing. So you need to make sure to cut off all dry or hard wood like stumps.

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Bring the water to a boil and prepare the bowl of ice water. To retain flavor, asparagus must be blanched before freezing. This is the process of blanching asparagus for about 30 seconds and then taking it out before the asparagus loses its crispiness. The asparagus is then soaked in ice water to stop ripening. Heat a large pot of water and prepare a large bowl of ice water.

Cut the asparagus into 2.5cm lengths. In order for asparagus to cook evenly, it is best to cut the asparagus into smaller pieces. You can also leave the shoots intact, but the flavor of the asparagus may be affected.

Blanch the asparagus for about 1 minute. If the shoots are a bit thick, you should blanch longer; If the shoots are thin, you only need to blanch for 30 seconds. Watch carefully so the asparagus doesn’t get overcooked. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Transfer asparagus to bowl of ice water. Use a spoon with a hole to pick it up and then immediately put the asparagus in a bowl of ice water to let it cool and stop cooking. Soak asparagus in a bowl of ice water for the same amount of time as blanching. Then, pour the asparagus into the basket to dry and drain.

Quick freeze asparagus. Arrange asparagus on a tray, cover with cling film, and place the tray in the freezer. Freeze asparagus for about 1 hour until each segment is slightly frozen. Rapid freezing of asparagus before long-term storage will help keep the shoots from sticking together.

Transfer the asparagus to a freezer-safe container. Place each frozen asparagus chunk into a freezer-safe plastic bag or container. Pack or cover the box tightly to remove most of the air in the bag or box. Put a storage date label on the bag or box.

Frozen asparagus can be stored for up to 1 year under suitable refrigeration conditions.
There is no need to defrost asparagus before processing; Just add asparagus to soups or other frozen dishes.

Preserving processed asparagus

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Do not overcook asparagus. Overcooked asparagus will become mushy and inedible if you try to reheat it after storage. If you want to store cooked asparagus, make sure the asparagus is still slightly crunchy after cooking.

Blanching or steaming asparagus is a great way to get the best flavor while preserving the crunchy texture.
Sauteed and grilled asparagus can also be preserved if not overcooked.
Boiling asparagus often results in a mushy texture, so you should avoid cooking this method.

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Store asparagus in an airtight container. Cooked asparagus will last the longest if stored in a container with as little air as possible. Plastic or glass food storage containers with tight-fitting lids are best.

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Store asparagus in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Cooked asparagus tastes best when stored for several days. After that, cooked asparagus loses its freshness and firm texture. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Steps

Preserving fresh asparagus

Frozen Asparagus

Preserving processed asparagus

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