Green asparagus has a thin skin that softens when cooked and can therefore be eaten without any problems. However, the ends can be woody and should therefore be cut off before cooking or frying – an inch or two is enough. White asparagus, on the other hand, must be peeled because it has a hard and fibrous outer shell that is inedible. Just a few scraps of peel are enough to spoil the enjoyment of the noble vegetable. It is all the more important that you proceed carefully when peeling. In the following you will find out how you can do this very easily and which kitchen utensils are helpful.
It is important that you only peel the asparagus when you want to prepare it (and then eat it). Otherwise, the stalks would lose moisture, dry out, and lose flavor. To remove the peel, it is best to use a special asparagus peeler, which should make your work easier. Please note the following tips:
And another tip: Don’t throw away the peels, as you can make a nice broth out of them – for example as a basis for a cream of asparagus soup.
As already mentioned, green asparagus usually does not have to be peeled before preparation. However, if the stalks are particularly thick, the bowl may be a little woodier – especially in the lower third. Here it makes sense to remove the lower part of the outer shell with an asparagus peeler before consumption, the same applies to the woody ends. Again, you can reuse the bowl afterwards if you like.
Tip: You can find even more ideas for asparagus dishes in this recipe book.
If you’ve bought fresh asparagus, whether green or white, but want to refrigerate for a few more days, the spears need to be kept moist. The best way to do this is to take a clean tea towel, hold it under running water and then wring it out well. Then wrap the unpeeled asparagus in the damp cloth and keep it in an (open) container. If you don’t have a tea towel to hand, two layers of kitchen paper serve the same purpose.
Alternatively, the sticks can easily be frozen to give them a longer shelf life – or to eat later. In this case, you should peel the asparagus so that you can simply put them in boiling water and prepare them frozen at a later time.
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