Asparagus
Asparagus is a versatile vegetable that is commonly steamed, grilled, sauteed or roasted and can be used in a variety of dishes. Garden Asparagus is a perennial plant related to the lily. The young shoots are used as a spring vegetable. The spring temperatures and thawing of the ground allow the young spears to come up from the ground. The stalks will start out thin, thickening as the season progresses and then thin out again once the season is near its end. The spears are harvested when they are approximately 6-8 inches tall.
Storage
Asparagus is best stored by trimming off the stalk end and placing upright in a container with a small amount of water in the bottom. Alternatively you can also wrap a wet paper towel around the bottom of the stalks and store in a plastic bag upright or in a paper bag in the crisper drawer. Asparagus can be blanched and then frozen if longer storage is needed.
