5 EASY Ways to Cook Asparagus | What's the BEST Method?
What is the best way to cook asparagus to retain the nutrients? Here are just 5 simple ways for you to try when cooking your asparagus and see which outcome you like the best. We'll show you how to bake, boil, pan sear, steam, and microwave asparagus.
Baked Asparagus:
Baking asparagus is one of the best methods for crisp and even heat. This is a better option for cooking for a crowd. We’re using the Wolf convection wall oven. Compared to traditional bake methods, the convection process means even heat from the top and bottom. The fan gives you continuous airflow, and uses all three cooking elements: broiling, baking, and convection.
We’re going to start by adding oil for a little of fat. Then ¼ teaspoon of pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. The salt will draw out the moisture in the asparagus, and the oil will give it a nice caramelization. This is optional, but you can add a ¼ teaspoon of Montreal steak seasoning for a peppery, fiery finish. Make sure to spread the asparagus out. We don't want them sitting on top of each other because we want them to all cook evenly. We will bake these for about 10 – 15 minutes.
Your finished product when using convection will be crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Ingredients:
- 12-15 Asparagus (1 bunch snipped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon of pepper
- ¼ teaspoon olive oil
Optional:
- ¼ teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
Method:
- Preheat oven to 375
- Add salt, pepper, and Montreal steak seasoning
- Bake for 10 – 15 minutes
Boiled Asparagus:
Boiling is a quick and easy method for cooking asparagus. We’re using the Wolf induction cooktop which we preheat on 80%. How induction works is it has two magnets that come together and create energy to heat the pans. It will only create a burner to the size of the pan, so you can safely cook.
While the water is boiling, add 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Also add ¼ teaspoon of olive oil to the water before adding the asparagus. It takes about 90 seconds for the water to boil. Which is faster than any other cooking surface. After adding the asparagus, it will take roughly 3 minutes to cook entirely.
Once finished, you can put these right into an ice bath to shock them which retains nutrients and preserves them.
Ingredients:
- 12-15 Asparagus (1 bunch snipped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon of pepper
- ¼ teaspoon olive oil
Optional:
- 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
Method:
- Add a teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of olive oil to the water
- Add asparagus to water
- After 3 – 5 minutes the asparagus should be fully cooked
Pan Seared Asparagus:
A tried-and-true classic cooking technique is pan searing. A great option for pan searing is the Wolf two burner induction. We made this asparagus on the induction cooktop, in a cast iron pan. How it works is the cooktop creates energy and heat with the pans making for an even and efficient cook surface.
Start it off by heating the pan on 80%. After adding the asparagus, top them with ¼ teaspoon of sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Toss them to coat evenly.
This is going to take 2 to 3 minutes. We're going to get a nice crisp crust on the bottom. They’ll be tender in the center. Then you want a little caramelization on the top, so add butter to finish. This add a little bit of shine and richness.
Ingredients:
- 12-15 Asparagus (1 bunch snipped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon of pepper
- ¼ teaspoon olive oil
Optional:
- ¼ teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
Method:
- Preheat pan on high
- Add salt, pepper, and Montreal steak seasoning to asparagus
- Cook for 2 – 3 minutes until tender
Steamed Asparagus:
One of the best ways to make veggies is in your steam oven. Steam oven cooking promotes better preservation of nutrients. We’ll make asparagus in the steam oven to test this theory out. The typical setup for the steam oven consists of the solid pan under a perforated tray to catch drippings. For this, I’m using the Wolf steam oven which is up to 212 degrees on full steam.
Before going to the steam oven, add ¼ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of pepper, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil for some additional flavor. This should steam for about five minutes, depending on the size of your asparagus.
Chef’s Tip: You want to achieve the perfect asparagus by checking it with I call the “bend test”. This means being able to bend the asparagus without it snapping apart. This results in the best texture and flavor for a perfectly steamed end result.
Ingredients:
- 12-15 Asparagus (1 bunch snipped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon of pepper
- ¼ teaspoon olive oil
Optional:
- ¼ teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
Method:
- Preheat steam oven to 212 degrees
- Add salt, pepper, and olive oil to asparagus
- Steam for 5 minutes until tender
Microwave Asparagus:
We’re going to cook in the microwave today. Yes, that’s right. We are going to test out the Wolf Gourmet microwave’s fresh vegetable setting with a bundle of asparagus. Make sure you have a microwave safe plate. If you don’t like a mess, cover the plate and asparagus with paper towels. This also ensures the moisture stays in our asparagus. Put the asparagus on top of the paper towels, then add ¼ cup of water to help the steaming process. To this I will add ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon of oil. Fold over the paper towels and make a pouch to lock in moisture.
The gourmet settings are an added feature to this microwave drawer. These are designed to help the consumer to quickly determine the right cooking application for their dish. In the microwave it will take about 5 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 12-15 Asparagus (1 bunch snipped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon of pepper
- ¼ teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ cup of water
Optional:
- ¼ teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning (optional)
Method:
- Place your asparagus on a microwave safe plate lined with paper towels
- Add a cup of water onto the plate
- Season the asparagus with salt, pepper, and olive oil
- Cook on high for 5 minutes or until tender
These were just 5 quick ways to cook your asparagus. You can cook these using any appliance in your kitchen. Hopefully this helps you determine how you want to cook your asparagus, and what's easiest for you.
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