John M

You don’t have to peel purple asparagus, and in most cases, you probably shouldn’t.   The skin on purple asparagus is thin, tender, and completely edible, so peeling it is more of an optional preference than a necessity.   If you’ve been wondering whether you have to peel purple asparagus before cooking, the short answer … Read more

You don’t have to peel asparagus, and in most cases, you really shouldn’t.   The peel is perfectly edible, packed with fiber and nutrients, and it softens beautifully when cooked.   That said, there are a few situations where peeling asparagus makes sense, especially if you’re dealing with thick, woody stalks or you want a … Read more

You do not have to peel green asparagus, and many cooks actually prefer not to.   The peel on green asparagus is thin, tender, and completely edible, especially when the spears are fresh and young.   If you have been wondering whether you have to peel green asparagus before cooking, the short answer is no. … Read more

You do not have to boil asparagus before grilling, and honestly, skipping that step often gives you better results.   Grilling asparagus directly is one of the easiest ways to get that smoky, slightly charred flavor that makes this vegetable so irresistible.   That said, there are a few situations where a quick blanch beforehand … Read more

You do not have to boil asparagus before frying it.  In fact, skipping the boiling step is often the best way to get that perfect tender-crisp texture with a nice char on the outside.  Many people think you need to blanch or boil asparagus first to make sure it cooks all the way through, but … Read more

No, you don’t have to blanch asparagus before pickling, but doing so can improve the final texture and color of your pickled spears.   If you’ve been wondering whether to blanch asparagus before pickling, the short answer is that it’s optional.   That said, many experienced picklers choose to blanch asparagus first because it helps … Read more