Storing asparagus properly will help the vegetables stay fresher for longer. We give you tips for white and green asparagus and also show you how to store asparagus dishes.
How long you can store asparagus depends on its condition: peeled, unpeeled, or already cooked. In this article, you will find out how best to store white and green asparagus and what you should pay attention to when storing prepared asparagus dishes.
Vegetable asparagus is one of around 200 species from the genus asparagus. You can find the young shoots of the plant in stores. Germany is the largest asparagus producer in Europe and one of the five largest asparagus producers in the world.
The asparagus season in Europe runs from April to the end of June. In order to avoid long transport routes and to protect the environment and climate, you should only buy asparagus regionally and seasonally. Buy organic asparagus to be sure they are free of synthetic chemical pesticides.
Store white asparagus correctly
In the trade, you usually get white asparagus packed in bundles that are fixed with a rubber band. To keep the white asparagus fresh for a long time, proceed as follows:
- Remove the rubber band from the asparagus. The rubber cuts into the asparagus spear and prevents fluid exchange between the cells. This will dry out the asparagus faster. Tip: Don’t throw away the ribbons, but keep using them, for example to make Easter eggs.
- Check all asparagus spears for rotten or moldy spots and cut them off if necessary. Pay particular attention to the sensitive asparagus tips and the cut.
- Remove spoiled asparagus spears.
- Wrap the asparagus in a damp, clean kitchen towel to keep it fresher longer.
- It is best to keep white asparagus unpeeled and lying flat in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator.
Stored in a damp cloth in the refrigerator, white asparagus stays crisp for up to 4 days.
Tip: You can freshen up slightly dried-out spears by cutting off the dry ends and briefly placing the asparagus spears in cold water.
Store green asparagus correctly
Green asparagus stays fresh best when stored upright.
As already described for the white asparagus, remove the rubber band from the asparagus.
Check all asparagus spears for rotten or moldy spots and cut them off if necessary. Pay particular attention to the sensitive asparagus tips and the cut.
Remove spoiled asparagus spears.
Place the asparagus spears in a vase or jug of cold water.
You can also wrap the tips in a beeswax wrap to protect them from wilting. Tip: You can also make oilcloths yourself.
Place the “bunch of asparagus” in a cool place out of direct sunlight. The refrigerator, the cellar, or the pantry are also suitable for this.
Green asparagus will keep in a cool vase for 3 to 4 days.
Store peeled asparagus correctly
You should prepare peeled asparagus within a few hours.
Store peeled asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Process the peeled asparagus within 3 to 4 hours.
If you have already peeled the asparagus and then prefer not to cook it, you should freeze the asparagus to prevent spoilage. Fill the cut asparagus in portions into freezer cans or into a glass dish with a lid. Tip: Freeze food in a jar: this is how it works
Frozen asparagus will keep for up to 6 months. Use frozen asparagus for your meal without defrosting it first.
Recipe ideas for the preparation of asparagus
Asparagus can be prepared in many different ways as a starter, soup, salad or main meal. You can find recipes for it here:
- Shelled asparagus soup
- Asparagus Cream Soup
- Recipe ideas for asparagus salad
- Asparagus risotto
- asparagus bake
- Asparagus quiche
- Springlike asparagus tarte flambée
- Asparagus strawberry salad
- Fried noodles with asparagus
- Asparagus casserole: classic from the oven
- and more asparagus recipes
You can eat asparagus raw, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Or get creative with the following cooking methods:
- Grilled asparagus
- Roasted asparagus
- Cooked asparagus
- Asparagus from the oven
Store asparagus dishes correctly
Asparagus dishes should be eaten as fresh as possible. Even cooked asparagus only stays fresh to a very limited extent. If you store cooked asparagus for too long, bitter substances will develop.
If something is left over, do the following:
- Pack the asparagus dish in a well-sealable tin. Alternatively, you can store asparagus sauce or asparagus soup in a small saucepan with a lid.
- Store the asparagus dish at refrigerator temperature.
- You should eat the asparagus dish within a day.
- Reheat the dish fully before eating.
- An exception is the asparagus soup, which stays fresh for up to two days.
Tip: If you know that you won’t finish your asparagus dish within a day, simply freeze the meal in portions.
