How To Cook Asparagus (6 Easy Ways)

Learn How to Cook Asparagus perfectly every time! We will show you six easy cooking methods that guarantees deliciously crisp asparagus full of flavor. Blanching or boiling, roasting, steaming, sautéing, grilling, broiling and pan roasting. Plus, how to buy, store and prep raw asparagus like a pro!

How To Cook Asparagus

Although I often get ask to share easy asparagus recipes, like this amazing spring asparagus salad, most often people want to know all the basics about this delicious and healthy vegetable! Questions such as:

• How to cook asparagus so they keep their vibrant green color?
• How to store asparagus so they last longer?
• Should I buy pencil-thin asparagus or ones with thicker spears?
• How long to cook asparagus?

Since asparagus season is around the corner, I want to answer all your questions about this healthy vegetable. You can call this the ultimate guide to asparagus! (with step by step photos).

🔎 When is Asparagus Season?

Although you can find asparagus at grocery stores throughout the year, their peak season is during spring. Bunches of fresh asparagus spears, tied up with a rubber band can be found at the farmers market from April through June. During this time you can find different varieties of asparagus, all in different colors and sizes and with the absolute best flavor.

🔎 How to Pick Asparagus?

• Pick fresh asparagus spears that are firm, smooth, straight and crisp with tight closed budding asparagus tips.
• Asparagus should look freshly cut and not limp or dry.
• The size of the asparagus has nothing to do with their maturity or age. Thin or thick asparagus, short or long, bright green stalks, white or purple means they are of different varieties.
• Usually thinner spears are snappy, less watery and have a more intense flavor. They don’t need to be peeled and are ideal for raw preparations.
• Thick spears have a higher water content and are usually milder in flavor. They can be woody tough ends and may need to be peeled.

How To Store Asparagus

• Option 1: A great way to store a stalk of asparagus is by placing the trimmed ends standing straight in a glass filled with about 1-inch of water -just like flowers. Loosely cover the tips with a plastic bag (I use a resealable bag), then place it in the refrigerator.
• Option 2: keep the asparagus bunch wrapped in a damp paper towel . Place the wrapped asparagus inside a plastic bag and store in the vegetable crisper area of your fridge.

How To Prepare Asparagus

• Using a chef’s knife or a paring knife, trim the woody ends of the asparagus.
• Thicker asparagus spears may have a dry outer layer that may need to be peeled with a vegetable peeler.
• Before cooking asparagus rinse them and pat them dry. (Don’t dry them if blanching or steaming).

✔️ Six Different Ways to Cook Asparagus

Blanched Asparagus / Boiled Asparagus

🔎 How to Blanch Asparagus? (Boil)

1. Bring a large pot of water with a tablespoon of salt to a boil, and set an ice bath by placing a bowl filled with ice and water near by.
2. Drop the asparagus into the boiling water and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes or until bright green and fork tender.
3. Using kitchen tongs, transfer the blanched asparagus to the cold water to stop the cooking. After about a minute, drain the asparagus from the iced water. Pat them dry, if necessary.

🔎 How Long to Blanch Asparagus?

Blanch asparagus for about 1 to 2 minutes or until crisp but fork tender. Thicker asparagus may take as long as 3 minutes.

✔️ Steaming Asparagus

Steaming is a healthy way to cook any veggie as it preserves most of the nutrients and allows the natural flavor to come through. You can steam asparagus whole or cut into smaller pieces. Steamed asparagus can be eaten with a bit of butter, salt and black pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and fresh lemon juice or with a sauce like this easy Hollandaise sauce.

🔎 How to Steam Asparagus?

1. Place a steamer basket into a pot and bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Using kitchen tongs, carefully put the asparagus in the steamer and cover.
3. Lower the heat to medium and steam until bright green and fork-tender.
4. Using kitchen tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to the iced water to stop the cooking. Drain and pat them dry, if necessary.

✔️ How Long to Steam Asparagus?

Steam asparagus for about 2 to 4 minutes or until fork tender. Exact times vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus.

✔️ Roasting Asparagus

Roasting is probably my favorite method to cook vegetables. Oven roasted asparagus are incredibly flavorful and make for a wonderful side dishes.

You can season the asparagus with basic ingredients like fresh or dried herbs, fresh garlic or garlic powder and a drizzle of olive oil. Balsamic vinegar, a squeeze of lemon juice or lemon zest are also great options. You can serve roast asparagus with some shredded Parmesan cheese.

🔎 How to Roast Asparagus?

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place asparagus on a parchment-lined baking sheet (or aluminum foil). Drizzle with olive oil, season and toss to coat.
3. Spread the green spears in a single layer and roast until the base of the asparagus can be easily pierced through with a fork, about 10 to 15 minutes for thin asparagus and up to 25 minutes for thicker ones. Remove from the oven and serve.

🔎 How Long to Roast Asparagus?

Roast thin asparagus for about 10 to 15 minutes or until fork tender. Thicker asparagus will need additional roasting time, about 18 to 25 minutes. The tips may get a beautiful golden brown color due to caramelization.

✔️ Sautéing Asparagus

Sautéing asparagus (or stir frying asparagus) is a very easy way to cook asparagus to tender perfection while adding mild charred flavors in a lot less cooking time than when oven roasting.

🔎 How to Sauté Asparagus?

1. Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add the asparagus and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned and tender. Season to taste and serve.
3. The same method can be used for stir frying in a wok over high heat.

🔎 How Long to Sauté Asparagus?

Sauté asparagus over medium-high heat for about 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned and tender.

✔️ Broiling Asparagus

This method cooks asparagus in a very hot oven producing charred, crisp and golden brown asparagus that are somewhat similar to grilled asparagus. Serve with a sprinkle of freshly squeezed lemon juice and grated Parmesan cheese.

How To Broil Asparagus

1. Set the oven rack to the upper position, about 6-inches away from the upper heating element and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
2. Set the oven to broil using the high setting, if available.
3. Place asparagus on a sheet pan and drizzle them with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper and toss to coat.
4. Spread the spears in a single layer and broil until the asparagus are lightly brown on the edges and tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Times will vary depending on your oven setting.

✔️ How Long to Broil Asparagus?

The exact broiling time will depend on the specific oven setting. Some ovens can be set to broil on high while others don’t give you that option.

Broil until the asparagus are tender and lightly brown on the edges, about 6 to 8 minutes.

✔️ Pan Roasting Asparagus

Pan roasting asparagus preserves most of the vegetable nutrients while also producing tender asparagus with a slight caramelized taste and golden brown spots.

🔎 How to Pan-Roast Asparagus?

1. Add the olive oil, water or broth, garlic and butter into a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
2. When the butter is melted, add the asparagus and using kitchen tongs, toss to coat.
3. Cover the pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until the asparagus are bright green.
4. Remove the lid and turn the heat to high. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Sear the asparagus, tossing them with tongs as needed until the asparagus are lightly browned on some spots, about 3 minutes.

✔️ How Long to Pan Roast Asparagus?

Pan roast asparagus until tender with a few golden brown spots, about 5 to 6 minutes. Thicker asparagus may take a few additional minutes.

🔎 Grilling Asparagus

Add char marks and smoky flavor to this amazing vegetable. Grill over high heat, directly on the grill grates. Grilling can also be done in a grill pan when an outside grill is not available.

🔎 How to Grill Asparagus?

1. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
2. Toss the spears with olive oil, salt and pepper.
3. Lay the asparagus on the grill in a row. You can use a vegetable basket or foil if needed.
4. Grill asparagus until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes, flipping or rolling halfway through. Remove from the grill and serve.

🔎 How Long to Grill Asparagus?

Grill asparagus over high heat for about 5 to 8 minutes or until tender.

Are Asparagus Healthy?

Asparagus – Asparagus officinalis, is a low calorie, nutrient dense vegetable with many health benefits. Asparagus is rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, B, A, E and K as well as calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium.

Asparagus are a good source of antioxidants and promote good digestion. Asparagus are also rich in folic acid and can support fetal development. It can also help fight cancer.

• Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Garlic Butter
• Asparagus and Pea Risotto
• Pasta with Asparagus in Lemon Cream Sauce
• Japanese Pasta with Shrimp and Asparagus
• Easy Asparagus Frittata
• Crispy Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus