Asparagus Delivery or Pickup

Many people have mixed feelings about eating asparagus. The vegetable is incredibly nutrient-dense. It has high levels of vitamins such as: 

The flowering plant, a part of the lily family, also has flavonoids and polyphenols, which have strong antioxidant properties. It also contains both soluble and insoluble fiber, which aid in digestion. Fiber is also essential for gut health. 

Some people do not care for the intense smell asparagus can have on your urine. This happens because of asparagusic acid. The acid breaks down to sulfur-containing compounds in the digestive tract, which can be volatile and odoriferous. 

While hundreds of different asparagus plants exist, only around 20 of the varieties are for human consumption. Some varieties are grown to be ornamental flowering plants, while others are hazardous to eat.

 Asparagus grown in the United States is the green variety you most often see in stores. However, it's possible to find some purple asparagus here and there. Europe is known for growing white asparagus. Farms in Europe put the asparagus under soil, sand, or even tarps to stop the plant from producing chlorophyll, thus keeping its white color. Due to this process, the spears also become fatter and have a less intense flavor. 

Asparagus is a seasonal vegetable. Traditionally it's available from February through June, but it's internationally available year-round. Most often, asparagus is green, but there are purple and white types as well. The size will vary based on when the asparagus was picked. The longer it grows, the wide the spears become. 

Choose asparagus that's bright green, as this is the freshest.  The tip of the asparagus should be dark green and can have purple coloring. The tops of the asparagus should not be open, and the skin should be smooth and make a rubbery sound when you squish the bunch together. Do not pick stalks that seem wilted or wimpy. 

To keep your newly purchased asparagus fresh, you need to keep the tips nice and dry, while the stems need to be kept damp. To maintain this balance, don't wash your asparagus as soon as you get it home from the store. Instead, trim the bottoms off the stalks. Then, take a damp paper towel and wrap it around the bottom. Place the asparagus in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator in a large bag. If you have room in your refrigerator, you can also place the stalks in an inch of water using a large glass or bowl. Asparagus can be stored like this for up to 4 days. 

There are many ways to cook asparagus, though some may be healthier than others. Asparagus can be: 

The nice thing about asparagus is that it can complement almost any meal and doesn't take very much effort to cook. Make sure you cook thicker spears longer, and thinner spears for a shorter time. Always wash the asparagus before cooking, and gently dry it with a towel. If you want to remove some of the skin or any rough spots, use a vegetable peeler. 

If eating asparagus by itself does not appeal to you, there are many ways to incorporate it into a dish, where it is less noticeable.