Today, we are offering a kitchen tip on how to choose an asparagus bunch and keep your asparagus fresh. Asparagus (asperges) are often a sign of Spring and is typically in season through the end of June. Did you know that Louis XIV (le roi soleil – the sun king) had asparagus harvested in the château de Versailles? Louis XIV, known as quite the gourmet, demanded that his royal master gardener Jean-Baptiste La Quintinie managed to get asparagus on the royal table as early as December! So said the king and asparagus were cultivated in the “potager du roi” (king’s kitchen garden) right on the grounds of the palace of Versailles. Now, not all of us are blessed with a royal potager so if you pick your own asparagus at the grocery store or farmer’s market, check out our Art of the Home tips below to see how to pick them and preserve your asparagus for a few days if needed.
Art of the Home Tips —
- The first step is to pick the freshest asparagus you can find so feel free to examine the asparagus bunch to pick the freshest one. Fresh aspargus are straight, firm, and the tip should be tight. Except for the bottom ends of the asparagus shoot which should be whitish, the color of aspargus should be pretty uniform.
- Wrap unpeeled asparagus in a humid cloth and place at the bottom of the fridge. Your asparagus will stay fresh for two to three days. Enjoy and bon appétit!