Green, white, or violet. Harvested or wild. When it comes to asparagus at the supermarket, it can be difficult to choose. Good for you and healthy, these vegetables are an integral part of any springtime menu! So you won’t have doubts about which ones to buy, here are the guidelines that are most important when choosing quality asparagus!
Harvested or wild asparagus?
The first important decision to make when choosing the best asparagus is whether you want wild or harvested asparagus. If you can buy them or go pick them yourself, we suggest the first variety; on average, they’re softer, tastier and easier to cook.
The tips and the stems
The ends are an excellent litmus test to assess the freshness of the asparagus. The small leaves on the tips must be well closed and the whole tip must be straight and firm. The stalks, on the other hand, must be rigid and spotless. The stalk is also very important; they should be round and not looking slightly flattened (with an almost oval shape we want to avoid). Another important criterion in the choice of asparagus is the crunchiness of the stalk; if bent, the stalk must break (and not bend) easily – if it bends, this indicates that the asparagus has lost water and it’s no longer fresh.
Using your senses to choose quality asparagus
If you are buying green asparagus, make sure it has a bright color, featuring zero grey spots. In fact, the greyer these vegetables are, the more oxidized they are – another indicator that they’ve ‘passed their prime.’ The diameter – even for white or the harvested variety– should not be too thick and the texture should be rigid, not soft. It is precisely this rigid texture that indicates if the asparagus is too old or if the transport did not occur properly. The final part (at the bottom) should be neither woody and fibrous and it shouldn’t be too dry, either. From an olfactory point of view, the nose knows: fresh asparagus has no odor whatsoever. Always avoid asparagus that is withered, damaged, stained or features blossoms – all these factors indicate a lack of freshness.