FOOD FACTS

Buying and Storing

Look for straight, crisp spears with green or purple tips with tight heads. It's freshness, not size, that's important. One pound (500 g) makes from two to four servings, depending on use.

Although best eaten fresh, asparagus can be refrigerated for two or three days. Wrap stem ends in damp paper towels, then cover entire bunch with plastic wrap. Or stand straight up in a jug of water.

Preparing

Wash in cold running water to remove sand or grit. Then snap off and discard tough, woody ends.

To keep nutrients, flavour and crisp texture, don't overcook: thin spears may need less than three minutes. To speed cooking of thick spears, cut an "X" in the bottom of each stalk.

To cook asparagus, add enough water to saucepan to just cover asparagus. Add 1 tsp (5 mL) salt. Cook until tender crisp, drain well.

To serve hot, use immediately. To serve cold or use in a recipe, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.

Other methods of cooking include steaming (4 to 8 minutes, tightly covered), drizzled with oil and oven-roasted (at 500°F/260°C for 8 to 10 minutes) microwaving (covered with 2 tbsp water on High for 4 to 6 minutes) and stir-frying.

Cooked asparagus is often served with melted butter or hollandaise sauce and paired with boiled or scrambled eggs. It can also be lightly dressed with olive oil, steamed and wrapped in thinly sliced ham or prosciutto, or sautéed with garlic and wild mushrooms.