How to Cook Asparagus
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables and fortunately it is very easy to cook. My favorite method is roasting asparagus, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes, but you can also steam asparagus, toss it on the grille or sauté it in a pan.
In case you've never cooked asparagus before, I'll quickly outline what you need to do to prepare it for cooking and then list a few simple methods of how to cook asparagus and you can take your pick. All of these are very simple ways to prepare asparagus and you can always mix things up a bit by adding some garlic or a little marinade to the stalks.
Before you cook your asparagus, you need to first rinse it off to get any extra sand off of it (it grows in sandy soil) and then you need to remove the woody stems which are not very tasty since they are rather fibrous.
Preparing Asparagus for cooking
You can either cut off a couple of inches of the stalk or, preferably, you can simply bend each spear until it breaks at its natural breaking point. Using the breaking method will make sure that you end up with nice tender spears of asparagus without any waste.
You'll find that you lose more of the stalk with thicker asparagus than with the young thin spears
Vegetable Steamers
How to Steam Asparagus
Steaming asparagus is quick and easy. If you want to get fancy though, you can buy a special asparagus steamer that will allow for steaming the asparagus upright. A steamer basket will also do the trick nicely though and costs a lot less.
Once you have removed the woody stems and washed your spears, place them in the steamer basket, put some water in the bottom of your saucepan and place the steamer inside it. Put the lid on and let them steam. Depending on how tender you want your spears, they should be ready in about 2-3 minutes. They'll be done when they've turned bright green and are fork tender.
If you don't have steamer basket, you can bundle the asparagus together with some twine and stand them upright in a pot with about an inch of water in it. This will ensure that the tips of the asparagus are steamed and not boiled.
Asparagus cookbooks
How to Roast Asparagus
My favorite method for cooking asparagus is roasting and eight times out of 10 this is how I will cook it. The other two times I will grille it :)
Here's what I usually do:
Quick Roasted Asparagus
- Preheat oven to 400
- Dump asparagus spears on baking tray
- Drizzle with plenty of olive oil
- Toss asparagus spears to coat in olive oil
- Spread them out on baking tray evenly
- Sprinkle sea salt (or kosher salt) on asparagus
- Grind pepper over aspargus
- Sprinkle bits of chopped garlic over asparagus
- Stick in the oven and cook for about 10-15 minutes
I usually let them cook until the asparagus is sizzling in the oil and there's a bit of browning. If you like yours a little crisper, you can take them out after they've turned bright green.
Once they are out of the oven, you can squeeze some lemon on them or shred some parmesan cheese over them or sprinkled some balsamic vinegraite or caesar dressing.
Check out the video below for a nice Roasted Asparagus recipe that's easy to follow.
Easy Roasted Asparagus
Ina Paarman's Fresh Asparagus
Pan Seared Asparagus
Other Ways to Cook Asparagus
For grilling, I basically do everything exactly the same as for roasting, except I lay the asparagus out on some aluminum foil and then place the whole thing on the grille. Be sure to put your grille lid down while cooking.
Grilling should be faster than roasting if your grille is nice and hot. So check the asparagus in about 3-5 minutes.
Alternatively you can spear stalks together with some wooden spears to form a raft and lay them on the grille and just brush some warm butter across them and maybe a little garlic.
There's a ton of other quick and easy methods for cooking asparagus as well. You can also sauté in pan, boil them or do a stir fry.
To get some more ideas, check out the additional videos for Ina Paarman's method of pan frying asparagus that looks delicious and the video for pan seared asparagus that looks very yummy.
Comments
Asparagus is also one of my favorites, especially when roasted. I usually add a little balsamic as well, but there are endless ways to dress it up!
I had asparagus at a potluck, and it had been roasted like you did, but they had drizzled a Hollandaise Sauce over it. Yummy!!!
Excellent roasted!
I've never cooked or tried asparagus before i am trying tonight with fush hope it taste as good as ye made it sound and look xxxx :D
I usually cook them by steaming them in a big frying pan covered with a lid and just a little bit of water. They do not boil and cook really fast. I put 2 spears down first then put the others on top at right angle to elevate the spears above the water. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes. I will try roasted method.
We had never cooked asparagus before. We tried your roasted recipe and it is the best. We loved the great taste. THANK YOU for posting this video
Awesome tips! I prepared this tonight for my family and was considered a local hero for it! Never have we had asparagus that was so good. Thank you!
i work as a cook at nursing home and they changed my menu for today to asparagus and ive never cooked it before so thx for the roasting tip because it looks easier to do for 100 ppl, im using this technique today so wish me some luck!
I've never before cooked asparagus so I tried the roasted recipe...omg...the asparagus was so good!!! My family absolutely loved it!! Thanks.
hey this was really helpful, thanks for the tips :)
Roasted as per your directions and my husband said it was the best he ever had. Thanks for the info.
White asparagus prep as the green one and even more delicious. As a side dish, no need for the cheese but I use fine chopped parsley.
This was my first time cooking asparagus and it turned out great. The recipe was so easy and it tasted great! I will be using this recipe allot!
thanks for the tips, im going to roast asparagus tonight!
this recipe turned out great!!! best tasting asparagus i have yet had!!!
Just realized my husband loves asparagus. Went to the market buying asparagus, not knowing how to cook it. Googled "how to cook asparagus". And God spoke to me through you. Will roast tonight, wish me luck. Love your video that helps.
All you need to do is 1> Chill the can in refridgerator for about one hour, 2> Open can and drain, 3> Slide can contents onto a saucer, 4> Spread a little mayonaise on them and EAT!! I could never wait long enough to cook them myself.
- AUTHOR
Margaret, my guess is you could do it either way.
just came back from spain and in a tapas bar we had asparagus with bacon wrap round it was delicious but wasn't sure whether it was grilled or roasted. can you help?
Wow great recipe. It was quick, easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing. My husband and kids loved it as well.
Great hub, I love asparagus and have been looking for some recipies. I will try the roasting method, sounds very nice.
i am going to cook it for the first time. I hope my husband will eat it. knowing him he will call it a tree lol
I just roast the asparagus, it was delicious. Thank you very much.
OMG! This is the first time I've roasted asparagus! Delicious! I tossed them in evoo with salt and pepper, roasted for 10 mins and then drizzles in balsamic vinegar! I wanna eat them all but unfortunately I have to save some for my husband! Thanks for sharing this cookin technique!
I tried roasting them and it was Fantastic!!!!!!
PARTY IN MY MOUTH!!!
Great Job!
Grilling asparagus is the bomb!!! Wash and cut the stalks, thinner asparagus is more tender. I grill mine in foil, adding a mixture of homemade lemon butter sauce, and some sea salt with black pepper for taste. Yum!! Try this for your next cook-out!
This sounds so delicious. I am hungry right now and I wish I had some asparagus to cook!
Never cooked it before trying to eat healiter.....It turned out really great!!!!
i tried the roasted asparagus last night, and they were as good as any restaurants
I just tried the roasted asparagus and it was amazing, Two thumbs up on this recipe!!!
i like them alot
I like my asparagus crunchier, so I only cooked it for 15 minutes, which was still too long for me. But though kinda soft, it was still delicious.
My other favorite way to cook asparagus is to pan sauté it with some minced garlic and olive oil.
I've never cooked it before, but it sounds great. I'm trying it tonight.
I have never cooked asparagus but now I know how...thanks so much!
Tried roasting asparagus after seeing your video... Awesome!!Thanks :)
reading the ways to cook asparagus makes my mouth water....awesome...
Great advice on putting it in the over. I'm trying it right now.. just minus the fresh garlic. I just don't have any handy, so I'm using garlic salt.
I'm gonna sear it sometime, never even knew you can do that!
HI THERE! I WAS GOOGLING 4 AN ASPARAGUS RECIPE,,,,VOILA` I CAME ACROSS U,AND UR'S!!! NOW I NOT ONLY HAVE 3 GREAT RECIPES~I JOINED,SO I COULD THANK YOU,AND NOW MAY BECOME A **HUBBER**, THIS IS SO FUNNY. I WAS ONLY LOOKING FOR A RECIPE,AND HAVE ENTERED A WHOLE NEW WORLD~~YAYAY!! THANKS EMBITCA!!! OH! I AM ALSO NOW FOLLOWING YOU~~ ;-)
I love your page, also have never cooked asparagus before and I googled and your page came up!! I am really impressed by your simple recipes and all of the positive comments! I am roasting it right now, I can't wait to try it! Thanks!! :)
Thanks so much for the fantastic video! I'm not a natural in the kitchen, so all the extra helpful hints are very useful :D Can't wait to make this for dinner tonight!
Good job...I will try it tonight with some chicken parm. for my wifes birthday dinner....
I normally steam mine in the microwave but I tried your roasting techn tonight and it was awesome! I will never steam it again and will never buy canned again! Thanks! Yummy :-)
For your potato chip recipe would be even better if you sprinkled oregano with salt over all the chips both sides.
Great to know - never cooked it before - will roast it tonight!
Thanks soooo much for such an easy to use site and great video. I am going to roast asparagus for the first time tonight. Yay.
thanx for the tip will try roasting in oven. will let you know how i get on. bear in mind i am the worlds worst cook!
Very useful hub, thanks! I just googled how to cook asparagus and your hub came up second on the list. It's now steaming away, and soon we will be enjoying it with some butter. :)
I recently bought some fresh asparagus and had no clue how to cook it. Thanks to your page, I am roasting some right now. Your page is very well set up. Thank you!
Great and delicious sounding idea. I will try that this week. Olive oil salt pepper and garlic. Yummy. I usually boil them for a minute or two but your way sounds tastier.
Just included this wonderful hub of yours in my latest article about asparagus. I hope I hope I have your blessings otherwise I am getting rid of your link in my hub.
roasted asparagus is wonderful. also try roasted or grilled cactus (prickly pear or nopalitos) for a similar taste sensation. que bueno!
Thanks for the Tips. Me and my grandmother tried it today.. They came out real good! :D
THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO COOK! LOVE THE ROAST METHOD! THANKS FOR SHARING!
i have cooked it tonight in the oven and my picky 14 yr old loves it i do to i think we have found another veggie that we can cook for dinner
Thanks for sharing this...this is exactly what I was looking for as I was unsure about how to trim it correctly. I appreciate it!!!
Im gonna try the asparagus in the oven tonight. The only other way i know how to cook it is in the ziplock steam bags but i think this is going to be better.
Asparagus is yummy!
I was searching for vegetarian dishes when I found your hub. Good stuff.
Thank you so much for posting. Tonight was my first time ever cooking asparagus! I must say....it turned out FANTASTIC! I roasted them in the oven. They were so sweet. Thank you again.
Thanx, love asparagus : )
I Love Love Love the videos you've attached! Im a beginner cook so its much more helpful to see it rather then just reading directions! I'm adding this page to my favorites! :)
Awesome! I'm gonna use the oven method tonight! Thank you!
Very informative. I especially like how you added more then one way to cook them and the videos and pictures add even more depth to the whole article. Great job
Great tips! Asparagus rocks.
I love asparagus and I roast mine, but add a little Parmesan cheese on top too - so yummy
ok, im 66 years old, love asparagus and believe it or not, i have never fixed it, ..so i came on this computor to find how to cook it and tonight i shall be roasting them in the oven, ,,now what do i prepare with it,,???? i have cfs and fibro so i dont feel like cooking very often so when i do i want something special...lobster,,i guess, dont have any, not going to the store so what else.--hummmmmmm,checked the freezer, im guessing hot dogs wont work,,,lol..,,
Yum, I love asparagus and your roasting it sounds delicious too. I used to pick wild asparagus on the way home from school and my mother would fix creamed asparagus on toast for breakfast next day. I loved it!
I like crunchy veggies like asparagus. Though I don't cook it because I don't know how. Thanks to your hub, I can buy raw asparagus and cook them as per your instructions--and get the crunchiness that I taste from restaurant-bought asparagus.
Loved reading your hub. my aspargus often come out soggy when i steam them. Ive got to try your grilling method
Thank you for a great new way to cook asparagus! I've roasted plenty of other vegies, but never thought of asparagus!
- AUTHOR
Hahha! No, unfortunately I think we are stuck with that distinctive odor :)
I love asparagus. BBQing is my favorite method, though I put it in a comlete aluminum foil pouch (with olive oil and lemon). During the winter we steam it - there the key is not to oversteam it. I actually clicked through to this hub because I thought you might have the secret to preparing it so that it didn't result in the distinctive smell later on :) any ideas on that?
I enjoyed reading about the Asparagus the roasted asparagus sounds excellent I was wondering if you ever tried letting them cool down all the way and dipping them in real mayo (mayonaise)just using the tips try it its great
I love the video. I recently received word that asparagus can cure cancer. First, you have to cook the asparasus in water. After it is cooked, puree the asparagus and put the puree in the fridge. Take two tablespoons in the morning and two tablespoons in the evening. Viola and you will be cured.
'Asparagus for Cancer' printed on Cancer News Journal, December 1979. Discovered by Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S.
Case 1.Hodgkin's
I too, love asparagus and munch them raw down the stalk til it's no longer tender,,,YUM
Your hub is very well laid out and prepared...thank you!!
- AUTHOR
I agree with you, Bob. Best way to eat is with the fingers :)
Sally, roasting is really delicious. You should definitely try it out. I like the really thin spears too!
I have never roasted asparagus, but the video and your instructions are awesome, and I will try that. Seems as though the roasting brings out a special flavor.
My favorite way to eat this delicacy is to buy the thinnest spears (I used to grow them but that was a long time ago), bend them to take off the woody parts, as you say, and then steam them for about 2 minutes, starting with the water boiling already. Then chill them quickly in a large pan of water and ice cubes, turn them out onto a towel, and serve with ... nothing!
Like Bob says, finger food.
Great hub!
Great asparagus tips, one of the reasons I like asparagus is that it is finger food, you can just pick it up and eat.
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