Easy Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook and eat asparagus? ›

Asparagus is great quickly stir-fried or sautéed over high heat. You could sauté spears in butter or olive oil with delicious results, but throwing some chopped herbs or sliced chiles into the pan adds wonderful flavor. Both of these methods produce juicy asparagus that retains its crunch.

Overcooking It

Because it only takes a few minutes to cook, keep a close eye on it to avoid soggy, limp stems as the outcome. To avoid overcooking, take it out of the oven or off the stove a minute or so before you think it's done. Another way to prevent overcooking is to shock the asparagus in an ice bath.

But spears that come from small farms or your garden require extra care. Soak in cold water for about 15 minutes, gently agitating every so often to loosen any sandy soil trapped in tips or "fins"; then lift asparagus from the water, leaving grit behind.

Try adding shredded, raw asparagus to pasta dishes and salads. Alternatively, enjoy the spears lightly steamed or sautéed in a frittata, or as a stand-alone side dish. Asparagus is a nutritious choice, regardless of whether it's cooked or raw. Try eating a combination of the two for maximum health benefits.

This is not strictly true, because the spear snaps at its weakest point, and the stalk is edible and tender far below that point. The best way to judge where to cut off the stalk is by tasting it. Cut off the very end, taste, and if it is fibrous, cut off a little more and try again.

Asparagus makes a healthy accompaniment to meals and can be simply boiled, grilled or steamed.

Asparagus can be purchased as whole stems or spears (the tender, top part of the stem). Before cooking these pre-trimmed asparagus tops, all you need to do is give them a simple wash and they are ready. Whole asparagus needs slightly more preparation - due to their tough 'woody' ends.

Cover and cook, shaking occasionally, until bright green but still crisp, about 3 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until the asparagus is tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 5–10 minutes more (the thicker the spears, the longer the cook time). Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Lignin is not softened by heat, so it remains fibrous and tough after cooking. To eliminate lignin, snap (don't cut) the end of each spear just before cooking. It will break right at the point where the stalk becomes tender. Do this just before cooking so you leave no time for asparagus to accumulate yet more lignin.

Fine grit can lurk in asparagus tips. To get rid of it, fill a bowl with cold water and soak the asparagus for a few minutes, then rinse off. That should rid the stems of any unpleasant sandiness.

How do you cook asparagus so it's not stringy? ›

Simply pan-fried until tender, and enjoy! How do you cook asparagus so it's not stringy? To prevent asparagus from being stringy, it's important to trim the tough woody parts off of the bottom of the asparagus spears and cook until perfectly tender. If it's overcooked, it can be stringy and soggy.