How to Store Asparagus in the Refrigerator or Freezer

When shopping for fresh asparagus at the grocery store or farmers’ market, look for spears with bright green or violet tips. Avoid asparagus that has already become limp.

Fresh asparagus usually has a shelf life of three to five days in the refrigerator. However, if you refrigerate asparagus in a glass jar with a little bit of water, it can stay fresh for up to ten days.

When the ends of your asparagus spears become dark green and mushy, it’s time to throw them away.

Most home cooks store asparagus in their fridge's crisper drawer in the plastic produce bag from the grocery store. However, storing your asparagus in a container will help it stay fresh for longer. Follow these steps to help keep your asparagus fresh in the refrigerator:

1. 1. Trim. Thoroughly wash your bunch of asparagus under cold water before storing. Dry them with a piece of paper towel or dishcloth. Trim away one inch from the bottom of the stalks or woody ends of the asparagus.
2. 2. Prepare the container. Fill a Mason jar or similarly-shaped container with an inch of water. Place your asparagus in the jar, with the bottom of the stalks (the cut ends) at the bottom of your container like you would store cut flowers. Then cover the stalks with a plastic bag and seal the bag around the jar with a rubber band.
3. 3. Refrigerate. Check on your asparagus periodically. Use it within a week or until you notice that the cut sides of the asparagus stalks are mushy.

To store cooked asparagus, place the leftover spears in a shallow airtight container such as a freezer bag or plastic food container. You can also tightly wrap your asparagus in heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Always refrigerate cooked asparagus to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.

When stored properly, cooked asparagus should stay fresh in the refrigerator for three to five days.

Freezing your leftover veggies from asparagus season is the best way to store them for longer than a week. Follow this step-by-step guide to freeze your asparagus:

1. 1. Blanch. To maintain their color and texture, blanch the asparagus before you freeze it. To do so, cook your asparagus in a pot of boiling water for two to five minutes, then immediately transfer the spears to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
2. 2. Flash freeze. To prevent your asparagus from sticking together in the freezer bag, you need to flash freeze it. Lay your asparagus stalks out on a paper towel-lined baking tray so that each stalk has an inch or two of space. Place the tray in the freezer for one to two hours until the spears are frozen solid.
3. 3. Store. After freezing your asparagus spears, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag labeled with the date. Frozen asparagus will keep in the freezer for eight to twelve months.

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