Asparagus will keep fresh for a week or more if you store it properly in the refrigerator. The stems of asparagus are similar to those of flowers: they need to be kept upright and moist to keep them fresh. Find out how to properly store raw or cooked asparagus to make them last as long as possible.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Store Fresh Asparagus
Step 1. Choose the freshest asparagus available
They must be of a nice bright green color and firm from the base to the tips. Check the base of the stems - if it's hard and brown in color, it means they haven't been picked recently.
- Avoid those with dark or light spots.
- Don't choose those that look limp to the eye.
Step 2. Do not remove the elastic that holds them together
Asparagus is generally sold in bunches and held together with a rubber band. In this way they will remain vertically more easily, to preserve their freshness, so do not remove the elastic until it is time to cook them.
Step 3. Trim the stems at the base if necessary
After selecting and buying them, you may need to shorten them by about an inch at the base. Take a sharp knife and trim the stems to remove the hardest, most woody part. Throw away the scraps.
Step 4. Fill a container or bag with one inch of water
Preserving jars are generally the appropriate size to comfortably hold a bunch of asparagus. Save an empty jam or pickle jar for this purpose. If the refrigerator is full and you want to save space, you can use a sturdy plastic bag. In any case, pour about an inch of water into the container, it must be enough to submerge the lower ends of the asparagus.
- There is no need to fill the container to the top, a quantity of water is sufficient to keep the asparagus moist.
- Another suitable way is to soak a paper towel with water and wrap it around the cut ends of the asparagus. In this case, you will need to replace the napkin every 2-3 days or when it has dried.
Step 5. Store the asparagus vertically in the container of your choice
While standing they will be able to absorb the water at the bottom, so they will keep themselves fresh and firm. If you have decided to use a bag, tighten it in the center with a rubber band so that the water does not come out while holding it in the refrigerator door vertically.
Step 6. Cover them with a plastic bag
Use one where you buy fruit and vegetables from the supermarket and place it on top of the asparagus tips and around the jar. It will help keep them fresh, and will also prevent them from absorbing the odors of other foods in the refrigerator.
Step 7. Change the water in the bowl when it becomes cloudy
Check it every two days and change it when you notice that it is no longer transparent, just like you would to care for a bouquet of flowers. You shouldn't change the water more than 1-2 times before eating asparagus, which means it's best cooked within a week or so.
Method 2 of 3: Freeze the Asparagus
Step 1. Choose the freshest and thickest asparagus available
Those that are wider than a pen will withstand the cold of the freezer better than those that are thinner. They must be fresh and in season, with no soft or woody parts (an indication that they are old). Avoid those with light spots or brown spots, as they won't taste good when thawed.
Step 2. Trim the wood ends
Shorten them by about an inch at the base using a sharp knife. The stringy texture of the lower extremities is unpleasant in the mouth, especially after the asparagus has been thawed, so make sure you get rid of any dry or woody parts completely.
Step 3. Put a pot full of water on the stove and prepare a bowl full of water and ice
Before freezing the asparagus it is necessary to blanch them, to ensure that they retain their delicious flavor. Basically you have to boil them in boiling water for about 30 seconds only, so that they remain firm and crunchy; then you have to dip them into ice water to stop cooking. Boil the water in a large pot and prepare a bowl full of water and ice.
Step 4. Cut the asparagus into centimeter-long pieces
It's best to cut them before blanching to make sure they cook evenly. If you prefer to keep them whole, you can, but be aware that the flavor may be affected.
Step 5. Boil the asparagus for one minute
If the stems are very thick, allow them to boil longer, while if they are thin, remove them from the boiling water after only 30 seconds. In both cases, do not lose sight of them so as not to risk them being overcooked.
Step 6. Transfer the asparagus to ice water
Drain them from the hot one with a slotted spoon and immediately immerse them in the frozen one, to stop cooking and let them cool. Leave them to soak for a period of time corresponding to that of cooking, then put them in a colander and let them drain from the water until they are dry.
Step 7. Freeze the asparagus briefly keeping them separate from each other
Arrange them neatly on a baking sheet, cover them with cling film and then place them in the freezer. After about an hour they should have hardened. This pre-freezing serves to prevent the asparagus from sticking to each other in the next phase, becoming a single solid block.
Step 8. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container
Transfer the frozen asparagus to a food bag or Tupperware-type container. Make sure they are as close together as possible to limit the amount of air between them. Label the container or bag with the freezing date.
- Asparagus will keep in good condition for a long time, up to one year, as long as the freezer is working properly.
- There is no need to defrost asparagus before cooking - you can add it directly to a soup or other still frozen recipe.
Method 3 of 3: Storing Cooked Asparagus
Step 1. Do not cook them more than necessary
When they are cooked for too long, asparagus becomes mushy and if you try to reheat them after storing them in the refrigerator they would probably have a really unappetizing texture. If you want to keep them after cooking, it is important that they keep some of their pleasant crunchiness.
- Blanching the asparagus or steaming them allows you to enhance their taste without alternating their firm consistency.
- You can also brown them in a pan or roast them before storing them in the refrigerator, but be careful not to cook them for too long.
- Boiled asparagus is usually quite mushy, so it's best to use another cooking method if you don't intend to eat it right away.
Step 2. Store the asparagus in an airtight container
Even after cooked they will last a long time, if you take care to store them in a closed container with as little air as possible. The ideal is to use a plastic or glass container whose lid ensures an airtight seal.
Step 3. You can store the asparagus in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days
Once cooked, it is best to eat them within a short time, as over the days they tend to lose flavor and firmness.
