How To Choose the Best Asparagus, According to a Farmer

It takes an asparagus plant two years or more to grow to the point that you can harvest the spears. When we shop for asparagus at the store or farmers market, it only takes seconds to decide which spears are coming home for dinner. To get the freshest, tastiest stalks, the best way to choose asparagus is by looking and touching.

“Look for firm, straight spears with tightly closed tips. The stalks should be crisp, not limp or rubbery,” says Mary Sheppard, field manager and agronomist for Golden Stock Farms, a third-generation asparagus farm in Mears, Michigan.

Appearance is also very important. “Fresh green asparagus should have a vibrant, rich color,” Sheppard says. “Some varieties may have a purple tinge at the tips, which is normal.” In Michigan, where she is a grower, asparagus has thicker spears, which she says are meatier and delicious. “They’re perfect for that summer grilling you are bound to do!”

When and Where To Buy Asparagus

Like all produce, asparagus tastes best and is at its freshest when it is in season. Asparagus is one of the earliest vegetables harvested each year. Depending on where it’s grown, it is usually ready to be picked in early spring.

“Here in Michigan, asparagus season runs from early to mid May (around Mother’s Day) through June,” Sheppard says. Local asparagus is typically fresher and more flavorful and nutritious than produce that has been shipped from far away. “Buying during this time means you're getting the freshest, most flavorful spears straight from local farms, rather than imports that have traveled thousands of miles. The less time asparagus spends in transit, the better it tastes.”

To ensure a just-picked purchase, try to buy spears from farmers' markets, farm stands, or stores that highlight local produce. “Also, eat it as soon as possible. It’s best when fresh,” she notes. 

How To Store Asparagus Properly

Once you get your asparagus home, treat it like a bouquet of flowers. Cut about 1/2 inch off the bottom of each stalk, then place the spears upright in a glass of water. Cover them loosely with a plastic bag or plastic wrap, and store them in your refrigerator.

You can also wrap the ends in damp paper towels and place the spears in a bag that you store in the crisper drawer of your fridge. Treated properly, fresh asparagus should last for a week or more.

How To Tell When Asparagus Has Gone Bad

To find out if your asparagus is still good, first feel it. “Fresh asparagus should be firm, not floppy,” Sheppard says. Also, take a good look at it. If asparagus has been sitting in your crisper drawer way too long or has been at the bottom of the grocery store produce bin, the tips will give it away. “If the ends feel slimy, mushy, or dried out, it’s past its peak.”

Finally, take a sniff. “If the asparagus smells sour or musty, it’s not fresh,” says Sheppard. With her help, you should enjoy this harbinger of spring at peak goodness throughout its growing season.