A delicious spring vegetable, asparagus is bright green with a slightly sweet but earthy taste that pairs well with almost everything. Use this asparagus guide to learn when and how to choose the best, freshest asparagus and unique ways to prepare it. With different varieties of asparagus, you’ll also find some delicious, new recipes to whip up!
Asparagus is a stalky, green vegetable packed with nutrients. Some that it’s highest in are:
- Vitamin B6
- Folate
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Magnesium
How To Buy Asparagus
Learning what to look for in asparagus is key to ensuring that you get the best possible stalks for your recipes. Use the information below when shopping for asparagus.
When Is Asparagus in Season?
Typically, asparagus is in season in the United States from February until June with its peak being in April and May. This is when it is freshest and normally sourced locally.
Outside of this time of year, if you see it in the grocery stores, it’s most likely to come from somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere such as Peru.
Though it’s fine to purchase outside of peak season, it will have had to travel a significant distance to get to you which means that it won’t be as fresh.
What To Look for In Fresh Asparagus
When you’re heading out to buy a bundle, look for asparagus with tips that are tightly closed. You also want the stalks to still be a lovely, bright green color with the bottoms every so slightly white. If you find the bottoms look very depleted in color, appearing almost “woody”, steer clear.
Make sure that it’s firm to the touch and that the asparagus doesn’t look limp or wilted which would signify that it’s past its peak in freshness.
Types Of Asparagus
Though green asparagus is the most common, there are actually three different varieties:
- Green asparagus
- Purple asparagus
- White asparagus
The process of choosing asparagus is the same regardless of the variety. However, there are slight difference in taste among them.
Though white asparagus tastes similar to green, it’s been grown underneath the soil or sand, so it’s depleted in color. This can add a fun fresh look to your spring salads and other dishes.
Purple asparagus is a bit sweeter than the green and white varieties as it has a higher sugar content. This makes it extra tasty when seasoned simply. However, because of its potent pigment, it contains higher amounts of some vitamins.
How To Store Asparagus
The goal when storing asparagus is to keep it as fresh as possible. If you’re not eating your asparagus within a day or two, trim the ends off and place it upright in a shallow glass of water.
You could also stand it upright wrapped with a damp cloth and place it in the refrigerator.
Stored like this, asparagus will stay fresh and crisp for up to a week in the fridge.
How to Prepare Asparagus
Before you do anything else, snap or cut the tough ends off of each spear of asparagus. Then, wash the stalks under cold water to remove any sand left over.
Eating It Raw
Asparagus is so delicious it doesn’t even need to be eaten cooked! It’s wonderful when shaved with a vegetable peeler and added to spring salads like this lemon and parmesan asparagus salad.
Cooking Asparagus
This spring vegetable is extra versatile and can be boiled, steamed, grilled, or roasted. In fact, try it air-fried and wrapped in bacon for the ultimate side dish.
Learn more about how to cook asparagus for all the details on cooking this early spring vegetable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asparagus
Before cooking your asparagus, you’ll want to trim the ends off. Aim to cut off 1-2 inches of each stalk, look for the tough, woody parts at the bottom. Depending on how fresh the asparagus is, this will be more or less.
No! The outside of the asparagus can be eaten and is in fact, very healthy. There is no need to peel the asparagus before eating it.
Asparagus is a low-calorie vegetable that’s a great addition to any diet. It’s high in antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin E, and many more nutrients we need to take in throughout the day.
Much of this is personal preference, however, thicker asparagus tends to be more tender than the thinner stalks. They’re also higher in soluble fiber. So, when possible, aim for the larger stalks for your asparagus recipes.
The Best Asparagus Recipes
Check out everything asparagus has to offer with these 18 asparagus recipes that cover everything from sides to soup and mains courses to salads. Find a new asparagus recipe to make the most of this delicious spring vegetable!
Baked Asparagus Fries
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Garlic Balsamic Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
Asparagus Omelette Soufflé
Lemony Asparagus Salad
Bacon and Asparagus Fried Couscous
Instant Pot Asparagus
Shaved Asparagus Blood Orange Salad with Toasted Quinoa
Lemon Roasted Asparagus
Leek and Asparagus Quiche With Almond Meal Crust
Pasta Carbonara w/Asparagus, Pancetta, & Lemon Herb Breadcrumbs
Asparagus Frittata For Two
Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza
Flavorful Smoked Asparagus
Roasted Asparagus Salad with Poached Eggs
Vegan Creamy Roasted Asparagus Soup
Asparagus Risotto – Delish Knowledge
Asparagus Noodles With Alfredo Sauce And Bacon
Check out these other spring vegetable guides:
A Guide To Radishes
A Guide To Artichokes
A Guide To Leeks
A Guide To Peas
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I didn’t know there were three kinds of asparagus. I’ve seen green asparagus at the store before but I haven’t seen purple or white asparagus and it would be interesting to try them.
I love asparagus season! There are so many good recipes in this post! Thanks for sharing. I made the frittata over the weekend and it was fantastic. I can’t wait to try more.
Oh wow! This is a super helpful resource. Thank you putting it all together in one place. It is worthy of bookmarking!
Such a fantastic resource! This guide really helped me with my asparagus recipes. I loved the pasta carbonara and omellette souffle! So good! Thanks for making this list and I appreciate the tips.
I love asparagus and am eager to try some of these recipes! I appreciate your tips, too, and kept some asparagus with the ends in water like you suggested and it kept fresh and fabulous for a week! Win!
Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies! It’s such a versatile ingredient! I tried your asparagus fries recipe and it was so good! Saved this post so I can try the other dishes!
This Roasted Asparagus Salad with Poached Eggs was a delicious twist to my usual salad routine. The asparagus was perfectly roasted and the poached eggs added a creamy richness. So yummy! Trying the Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza next for our pizza night with friends.
I am starting to feel as if spring will never arrive! But I love asparagus and cannot wait to eat it. And I look forward to the rest of your series!
Love that you are doing this, and can’t wait to read more of the series!
Asparagus is one of those foods for me that I can only eat if I have a good amount of seasoning on it. I know its really healthy so I try hard to like it.
But, maybe I will try this recipe and see if its any better. It looks good from the picture – you take such good photos!
Thanks, Sara :)