What to Do With Asparagus. To prepare asparagus, you will need to rinse the spears and break off the tough ends. After that, how you cook asparagus is up to you. The George Mateljan Foundation is a notforprofit foundation with no commercial interests or advertising. Our mission is to help you eat and cook the healthiest way. Cooking asparagus until al dente is the general rule. This means approximately 3 minutes for thin spears and 5 minutes for the thicker spears. Asparagus Recipes 2. Ways to Cook Our Favorite Spring Veg. Fat or thin, green or white, tender stalks of asparagus are a sure and delicious sign that spring is here. It brings a delicately bright flavor and notes of subtle acidity to any dish. Here are our best asparagus recipes. In Season Asparagus is at its peak from February through June, though hothouse asparagus is available year round in some areas. What to Look For Thickness is a matter of taste. Marthas favorite is jumbo asparagus. Choose bunches with tightly closed tips and no flowering. Images/2011/09/101105992.jpg.rendition.largest.550.jpg' alt='Best Way To Cook Thin Asparagus' title='Best Way To Cook Thin Asparagus' />Stalks should be bright green and firm or pale ivory for white asparagus. How to Store Asparagus is best cooked the day its purchased, but it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days. Wrap the bottoms of the stalks in a damp paper towel and place in a paper bag store in crisper. How to Cook Watch Marthas primer on preparing asparagus. She covers everything from the different varieties and how theyre grown to how long to cook asparagus and the simplest way to serve it. Sarah Carey makes a case for her favorite asparagus cooking technique boiling. Whether youre in the mood to boil, steam, roast, grill, saute, or stir fry, look no further than these easy asparagus recipes. Best Way To Cook Thin Asparagus' title='Best Way To Cook Thin Asparagus' />A savory bacon and chive filling makes these quick asparagus rollups extraflavorful. Steps 4Total Time 45 minshttp hIDSERP,5457. Asparagus Recipes Cooking LightDont miss out on all the ways to enjoy one of springs brightest stars with these healthy asparagus recipes. Choose thick or thin spears. Thin asparagus cook quickly and tend to have a crisp exterior and soft center, while thick asparagus take a bit longer to cook. Healthy Thai Recipes more.