How Long Do You Cook Asparagus

The culinary uses of asparagus can be traced back to the period of ancient Greeks and Romans. They consumed this vegetable in it's fresh or dried form. It is believed that this vegetable has diuretic properties and so it is used for medicinal purposes too. The health benefits of asparagus make it very popular and it is available in three varieties, which are green, purple and white. Among them, the green one is most commonly available, followed by purple and white. A very interesting fact about asparagus is that a recipe for cooking this vegetable is given in the oldest surviving recipe book, Apicius’s third century AD De re coquinaria, Book III. But even today, people are confused on how long to cook asparagus.

How Long to Cook Asparagus?
There are no set rules for cooking this vegetable, but overcooking can spoil the nutritional value and flavor. Do you cook asparagus? Then how long do you cook asparagus? To find out the answer, let's take a look at the various aspects of cooking asparagus and how long to cook asparagus. Asparagus can be cooked in many ways. Some people like to eat boiled asparagus, while some others love roasted ones. This vegetable can be pickled, steamed, stir-fried, and can be added to soups, salads and pastas. Whatever may be the method and mode of cooking, how long do you cook asparagus is very important as far as its nutritional value is concerned.

How Long to Cook Asparagus in Microwave?
The following are some guidelines, which may help you cook asparagus in microwave. Take a safe baking dish or a plate and lay the asparagus in a single layer. Now add some water to the dish, preferably ¼ cup and make sure that the water does not spill. Now cover the dish or plate with a lid, leaving a small gap for the steam to escape. If the asparagus is uncut, you have to microwave it for about 5 to seven minutes on full power. If it's cut into small pieces, then 3 to 5 minutes is sufficient. This time period is applicable for one pound of fresh asparagus. At the completion of the cooking time, remove the dish from the microwave and add the seasoning. Place the lid back on and let it remain for some time before serving.

Cooking Asparagus in Oven
To cook asparagus in oven, you have to preheat the oven to 400° F. Place the asparagus on a baking tray and spray some olive oil on it. Toss the asparagus to ensure that the asparagus is evenly coated with oil. Now sprinkle salt, pepper, and chopped garlic and toss again. Place the asparagus evenly on the tray and let it cook for around ten minutes. If you want to make it a deeper brown, keep it in the oven for another five minutes.

Cooking Asparagus in Pan
If you want to cook asparagus in pan, then start by adding some water to a pan. There should be enough water to cover the asparagus and place a lid on the pan. Let the water boil and it should take around five to six minutes for the asparagus to cook. You can check the asparagus with a fork. If it is tender, remove from the stove and drain the water. Now you can add butter in the pan along with the asparagus and let it coat the vegetable.

Other than these methods, if you want to use a skillet to boil asparagus, the cooking time should be around three to five minutes. The average time for cooking asparagus is around five minutes. You can increase or reduce it according to the specified asparagus salad recipes or asparagus casserole recipes, but refrain from overcooking to avoid the loss of its nutritional value.