How long should I cook asparagus for?

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

  2. Place asparagus into a mixing bowl; drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Arrange asparagus in a single layer in a baking dish.

  3. Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes depending on thickness. Sprinkle with lemon juice just before serving.

    Rita

Tips

To remove woody ends, grab stalk of asparagus at either end and bend until it snaps. It will naturally snap where it starts to get tough.

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 188
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 18g 24%
Saturated Fat 8g 42%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 525mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 7mg 36%
Calcium 36mg 3%
Iron 8mg 43%
Potassium 247mg 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved

While asparagus is luckily usually found year round in grocery stores, like most produce it still has a peak season. You'll find the best asparagus during spring. Asparagus season usually starts around late February and goes clear until June, but the peak is in April. Here, we give you a primer on the myriad ways to cook it to its utmost potential! 

Asparagus is a versatile spring vegetable that can be cooked however your heart desires. But it's also perfect when cooked on its own, with just a little salt and pepper. Which method you decide to choose depends on your mood and circumstance. 

First, trim them. There are two methods for trimming asparagus. 1. You can simply snap off the woody ends wherever they naturally break. This is super easy, but there is some waste. 2. Peel the woody outer bits with a vegetable peeler. Not only will they look beautiful, but you'll be saving some of the asparagus you would otherwise be throwing away!

If you're lazy AF, you should roast it. It's a no prep situation and in the end, the asparagus will be perfectly tender and charred (which is always a good thing). We <3 roasted asparagus, whether it comes in the form of caprese asparagus or dreamy roasted asparagus carbonara.

If you're in a hurry, sauté it. All you need is a hot skillet + EVOO + salt + pepper. Just stir 'em around occasionally and in 5 to 7 minutes they'll be tender in delicious! We like using this method in our ridiculously good lemon, asparagus & chicken pasta.

Trying to eat healthy? Blanch it. It takes 3 minutes and doesn't require any oil or butter. Plus, the stalks will be the prettiest shade of bright green.  We use this method in our cream of aspargaus soup and it makes the puree the most beautiful color.

If it's nice out, grill it. Grilled asparagus is one of life's greatest snacks. Make our caesar grilled asparagus and never look back.

Gadget Guru? Air Fry those stalks! Air frying combines the convenience of roasting with the speed of sautéing. It takes only 7 minutes in the air fryer to make asparagus crispy and delicious.

Leftovers? If properly stored in an airtight container in the fridge, asparagus can keep up to 5 days. AND you can freeze the stalks in plastic bags for up to 8 months.

The ultimate asparagus topping: You can obviously just grate some parmesan over your asparagus but our favorite (and most indulgent) topper for asparagus is buttery, lemony hollandaise. 

Regardless of which route you go, make sure to CUT OFF THE WOODY ENDS FIRSTThe bottom tips of asparagus are extremely tough, so you want to remove where the asparagus starts to turn white, usually about the bottom inch. Refer to tip #1 for methods. 😉

Need some inspiration? Check out our 67+ Ways To Cook With Asparagus. 

Made this yet? Let us know how it went in the comments below! 

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Ingredients

  • 1

    large bundle asparagus

  • Extra-virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Directions

  • Roasted Asparagus

    1. Step 1Preheat oven to 400º. On a large baking sheet, toss asparagus with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
    2. Step 2Roast until tender and slightly charred, 25 minutes.
  • Sautéed Asparagus

    1. Step 1In a large skillet over medium heat, heat a thin layer of olive oil. Add asparagus and cook until tender, 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.
  • Blanched Asparagus

    1. Step 1Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then add chopped asparagus and cook until tender, 3 minutes. 
    2. Step 2Immediately add to a large bowl of ice water and let cool.
  • Grilled Asparagus

    1. Step 1Heat grill (or grill pan) to medium-high. In a large bowl, toss asparagus lightly in oil, then season with salt and pepper. Grill until tender and charred on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally.

Nutrition (per serving):  36 calories, 2 g protein, 3 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 2 g fat, .4 g saturated fat, 161 mg sodium

How long should I cook asparagus for?

Ethan Calabrese

This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Makinze is currently Food Editor for Delish, where she develops recipes, creates and hosts recipe videos and is our current baking queen.. Reigning from Oklahoma, she's also our go-to for all things regarding Midwestern cuisine. She's also our expert pie crimper. 

This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

How long do u put asparagus in the oven?

Directions.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C)..
Place asparagus into a mixing bowl; drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. ... .
Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes depending on thickness..

How do I cook asparagus?

Fill a pot with a few inches of water and insert a steamer basket or insert. Lay the asparagus in the steamer and cook until it's bright green and crisp-tender, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Then submerge the asparagus in a large bowl of ice water to quickly stop the cooking.

Can you cook asparagus too long?

Asparagus can be cooked using several methods. Whatever method is used, it is important to not overcook the asparagus. Overcooking will deplete the flavor and the texture of the asparagus will become mushy. Cook it only to a crisp-tender.