White Asparagus Delivery or Pickup

Once springtime has come, you no doubt have seen an abundance of green asparagus in your local grocery store, but what about white asparagus? White asparagus is a much rarer item to find in the produce section, but it is essentially the same vegetable as its green counterpart. The main difference between the two varieties is how it is grown. White asparagus is grown underground so as never to be touched by the sun. Sunlight kicks off the photosynthesis process, which in turn creates chlorophyll that turns the vegetable green. Green asparagus is grown in the sun, while white asparagus is grown in the dark. 

White asparagus has a milder and slightly more bitter flavor when compared to green asparagus. It can be used just the same way as you would use the green variety with a slight variation in its preparation. The stalks of the white asparagus are thicker and more fibrous, so they should be peeled and cooked thoroughly before eating. You can typically peel a stalk about two-thirds of the way up from the bottom and then cook as usual. In Europe, many will use tall thin pots filled with water to boil the bottom part of the asparagus and have the steam from the water cook the exposed tops. Once cooked through, white asparagus can be used in various dishes, the most popular of which is on their own dipped in hollandaise sauce.

White asparagus has several unique health benefits. It is a good source of vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B9, which help maintain healthy homocysteine levels in your blood. Healthy homocysteine levels help prevent heart disease. White asparagus is also rich in vitamins C, E, and K. These are important for building bones, providing antioxidants, and helping your blood clot properly.

White asparagus is a rare item to find because it is mostly an imported item and due to its short growing season. The best time to start looking for it is mid-April up to mid-June. Ask your Instacart shopper to keep their eye out for it in your next springtime order!

White asparagus has a very short harvest season, so it is difficult to find in your typical grocery store. It is also mainly grown in Europe, so it must be imported, which raises its price. If you find it fresh, keep in mind that it has most likely traveled some distance and been out of the ground for some time. Therefore, you should make an effort to eat it soon after purchase. Try to find ones without dried-out ends if possible. However, if you cannot find it in the fresh produce section, white asparagus is often available year-round in jars.

White asparagus is commonly grown overseas and has a short life span once it has been imported to your local grocery store. If you are able, try to plan to use your white asparagus the day you get it from the store. If that's not possible, you can use a glass jar to store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. Fill the jar about a third of the way with water and place the white asparagus stalks upright in the jar. Use a plastic produce bag to cover the tips and secure the bag with the rubber band previously holding the asparagus bunch. This will help the stalks to stay hydrated, and the humidity within the bag keeps the tips from drying out.