The Art of Steaming Asparagus

There are several methods of cooking asparagus, but steaming is the best option since it’s the healthiest choice and it is requires little ingredients. You need to learn how to steam asparagus correctly to get their full dietary benefits. To steam asparagus, you need a steamer basket or an asparagus steamer, water, normal kitchen utensils to arrange the asparagus, and salt and spices to taste. However, salt and spices are optional. Note that you would be able to buy an asparagus steamer that can make it possible to steam it upright. However, steamer baskets are cheaper and the outcomes are simply as good.

When shopping for asparagus, it is best to choose spears which are fresh and that have a bright green colour and compact tips. For asparagus that has wilted tips, it is best to firm them before cooking them. This can be performed by soaking them in water for some minutes. Hold the asparagus moist until you are prepared to steam it. If you have purchased frozen asparagus, it is best to preserve it in a freezer, but you shouldn’t defrost it until it is steaming time. To steam the asparagus, begin by washing it since it is often filled with sand because it grows in sandy soil. Next, cut off just a few inches of the asparagus stock. You may as well bend the spears until they break at their braking points. Bending the spears is the best option because it ensures the spears are good and tender and there is no waste. An important tip to steam asparagus is that younger and skinny spears are best because there is much less wastage in comparison with thick asparagus.

If you are using a steaming basket, tie the asparagus stocks using stings and place them upright. The steaming basket should have approximately two inches of water. You may flavor this water using lemon, shallots, garlic, and some other spices. After adding the asparagus, cover the steaming basket and let it steam for about 4 to 5 minutes or until the stalks have changes to vibrant green and have a tender feel. When learning how to cook asparagus, it is important to notice that the time taken to steam is dependent on the intensity of the heat and the stalks’ thickness. To check for tenderness, you should utilize a skewer.

Another choice to steam asparagus is using a microwave oven. After washing the asparagus, lay them in a rectangular dish. Add just one tablespoon of water to the dish. Cover the oblong dish with a plastic wrap, leaving a small vent in one of the corners by which steam can escape. The vent additionally helps stop the shrinking of the plastic wrap that makes it laborious to remove. Next, set the power level on the microwave oven to high and steam the vegetable for roughly 2 ½ minutes. Watch out not to be burnt by the steam. An important tip to steam is that it is best to never overcook the asparagus because it turns mushy and it will get an unappealing color. Asparagus is best served with a sauce and white rice.