If you have always wondered ‘How long do asparagus last?’, you are in the right place. In this blog post, you will learn all about asparagus from how to cook them and how to preserve them.
I have always wanted to go vegan. When I finally got the courage, I have never looked back. My favorite pastime is going to my local grocery to hunt for new delicacies. Together with beets, Asparagus is my new favorite vegan dish. The only problem is I found myself wasting most of the root. I can only eat the edible part of the plant which is half of it. The other half ended up in the trash until I discovered a secret for getting more out of asparagus.
What is Asparagus?
Asparagus is a young shoot plant consumed as a vegetable. This root plant is a lot different from other vegetables. Most vegetables get harvested when fully grown. Farmers harvest asparagus before it matures into a plan. The shoots are edible at this stage.
Asparagus resembles a tiny spear hence the name given to its edible form. This plant comes in a grin color with red or purple accents at the shoot’s tip. It is possible to find the vegetable in full white color especially those grown in Europe.
European farmers grow the plant in banked soil to prevent the green color from forming. This also makes the plant fleshy to eat. There is a variant of asparagus that has an all-purple color. It is still as tasty as the green or white asparagus.
How to buy fresh asparagus
Unlike other vegetables, asparagus perishes fast after harvesting. The plant loses its flavor as well when preserved for too long.
As you shop asparagus in groceries stores, ensure they are freshly stocked. Go for grocery stores that stock their asparagus directly from local farmers. Fresh asparagus has the following features;
- A smooth and shiny skin
- The stalk is firm and fleshy
- Bright green, white, or purple color
- Compact tip
- Fresh cut ends
If it is still difficult to tell fresh asparagus from the head or stalk, always look at the harvested end. You can easily tell if it was recently cut or not. The best grocery stores keep their asparagus chilled or in fresh cold water.
How do you prepare and preserve Asparagus?
A lot of people consume the top part of the vegetable and throw away the rest. While this only leaves the soft sweet part to enjoy, I found that it is possible to enjoy part of the bottom stock as well. It all boils down to how you prepare your asparagus.
Breaking the soft part off is the easiest way to enjoy this vegetable. What most people do not know is that peeling asparagus allows you to enjoy most of the stalk. The downside is that it takes time to peel the shoot and not many people have the time or patience.
To peel asparagus, first, you have to cut off the bud from the shoot. Line your asparagus on a flat surface and cut the buds off. It is the fastest way to trim off the dried bottom. If the asparagus is freshly harvested, you do not need to go through this stage.
The next step is the longest and most tiring. You will have to peel the skin of every stalk. Use a carrot peeler to remove the hard skin of the asparagus spear. This should leave the white-green part which is soft and sweet to eat.
You will break a sweat peeling each individual spear. It may be a bit harder if you are working with asparagus that have a soft stalk. In the end, you only throw the peeled skin away leaving most of the spear intact.
How long do they last?
How you store your asparagus determines how long they maintain their flavor. The best way to make asparagus last is to keep them dipped in cold water just like flowers. This ensures the stalk does not dry out fast losing flavor.
An alternative way of preserving it is keeping the vegetable chilled. Wrap the asparagus in a plastic bag and refrigerate. This should keep the shoots fresh for a while.
Ensure you consume the vegatble when fresh.Though chilling and dipping in cold water keep them fresh, they still lose their flavor with time.
Benefits
Asparagus is rich in minerals and vitamins that are necessary to keep the body healthy. these nutrients help fight free radicals in the body that cause aging or malignant growth. This vegetable also helps drain excess fluids in the body. If you want to feel all sweaty after a workout, just consume this vegetable before hitting the gym.
Asparagus is also a rich source of vitamin C which helps in boosting our immune system. In matters love, this plant acts as a natural aphrodisiac thanks to the rich folate and vitamin B content in it. Want to spruce up your love life, just add more in your salad.
Final Word
We hope you no longer have to wonder “how long do asparagus last?”. Keep the vegetable chilled or leave them in dipped in cold water overnight. I would recommend that you consume asparagus sooner to enjoy its full flavors and nutrients.
FAQ
What does asparagus taste like?
When fresh it has a mild earthy flavor. When overcooked or stale it will have a bitter taste
Are there any side effects of consuming the vegetable?
Too much of it can give you smelly urine. There are other side effects of eating asparagus but they are not life-threatening.
How do you eat asparagus?
You can steam or stir fry it with other vegetables. Roast the stalks if you want a rich smoky flavor.
Can you eat asparagus raw?
It is safe to eat the vegetable raw. Add it to your salad and enjoy a healthy meal.
