To steam asparagus, choose firm and healthy spears, break off the woody undersides, and use a steamer basket or tie spears into small bundles and steam upright. Cook for 5-15 minutes and add extra flavor with butter, spices, or Parmesan cheese.
For steaming it is necessary to choose healthy and firm asparagus and the woody undersides of the spears must be broken off before cooking. One of the easiest ways to prepare steamed asparagus is to break it into bite-sized pieces and place it in a steamer basket. To steam entire spears, they can be tied into small bundles and steamed upright. For extra flavor, ingredients such as butter or spices can be drizzled over the vegetables or added to the water before cooking.
Choosing the right asparagus is usually the first step to making the perfect steamed asparagus. The asparagus spears must be firm without imperfections. The tips of the spears should also be tightly closed. Spears are usually sold in bundles and it’s generally a good idea to pull a spear or two out of the center of the bundle to check for blemishes.
More often than not, asparagus spears need to be prepped properly before preparing steamed asparagus. This usually involves a snap from the bottom 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) or so of each spear, which is woody and hard to chew. Bending the underside of a spear should cause this hard part to snap off easily, leaving the softer part of the shank and the tip.
A steamer basket can usually be used to prepare steamed asparagus. This is usually a metal basket with feet on the bottom, which will keep it off the bottom of the pan. The small holes in the basket allow the steam to rise and around the asparagus placed in the basket.
To prepare steamed asparagus in a steamer basket, a small amount of water should first be brought to a boil in a pan large enough to fit the basket. About 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of water should suffice. The water level in the pan should hit just below the bottom of the steamer basket.
Cutting or breaking asparagus spears into bite-sized pieces can make them easier to place in a steamer basket. The basket can then be placed in the pan, which should be covered with a vented lid. If the water starts to run low before the steamed asparagus is finished, more water should be added.
Asparagus can also be steamed without a steamer basket. To make steamed asparagus without a basket, you’ll need a pot or skillet tall enough to hold the upright spears. The spears should then be tied into bundles. About five spears may be in a bundle when steaming thicker asparagus, but thinner spear bundles may include up to 10. About 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of water may be brought to a boil in the high pan and the bundles of asparagus can be placed upright in the pan.
Steamed asparagus usually takes 5 to 15 minutes to cook, depending on the thickness of the spears. Obviously, thicker spears usually take longer to cook than thinner spears. A good way to know when asparagus is done cooking is to look for it to turn bright green. It will usually be a little soft at this point, but also a little sharp.
Extra flavoring can also be added to steamed asparagus while cooking. Melted butter can be drizzled over the asparagus before steaming. Garlic powder or Parmesan cheese can also be sprinkled on asparagus before cooking. Spices can also be added to the water used to make steamed asparagus for a more subtle flavor.
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