Asparagus lovers can rejoice because the asparagus season is just around the corner again. Fresh regional asparagus can then be enjoyed again throughout Germany for almost three months.
Unfortunately for asparagus fans, the harvest season is relatively short; the delicious fun is over on June 24th. It makes sense to simply freeze the sticks, right?
This is how you freeze asparagus correctly
The good news first: Of course you can freeze asparagus after the season for later – but you should keep a few things in mind. Defrosting in particular should be carried out correctly.
If you plan to freeze asparagus, do not blanch it (simmer gently) beforehand. The reason for this is simple: If you blanch the asparagus in advance, it would quickly lose its taste and become too soft when you prepare it again.
Before freezing, one more aspect must be taken into account – depending on the color of the asparagus. While green asparagus goes into the freezer unpeeled, white asparagus should definitely be peeled beforehand. For both types, cut off approx. 1.5 cm from the ends in advance.
Before freezing, you should also pat the sticks dry and place them in an airtight container. This has the advantage that you can remove it individually. Of course, you can also freeze the vegetables in portions.
Proper defrosting is crucial
Unlike other vegetables, you shouldn’t simply take asparagus out of the freezer and let it thaw for a few hours. Because of this it loses a lot of water and therefore also its taste.
Instead, place it frozen in boiling salted water and cook the portion depending on the thickness of the spears and the type of asparagus. Asparagus only takes about 10 minutes. White asparagus 12-15 minutes.
Would you rather fry or grill the asparagus? That is also no problem! To do this, place it frozen in the hot pan and fry it over a low to medium heat. Another advantage: the asparagus cooks quicker and doesn’t take as long to prepare.
So nothing stands in the way of eating delicious asparagus out of season. However, make sure to use up the frozen asparagus within six months. Bon appetit!