07, 2023
Get to know white asparagusand discover the secret to its pale color.
Whats that bunch of chubby-looking white stuff?
Thats white asparagus, the pale cousin of green asparagus and a sought-after European delicacy.
Is white asparagus the same as green?
Basically, white and green asparagus are the same thing with one major exceptionthe way theyre grown.
Just like your skin changes color when exposed to the sun, so does asparagus.
This prevents photosynthesis, keeping the spears milky white.
As they grow, more dirt is mounded up around them, keeping them covered until harvest.
Is white asparagus good?
Well, that depends who you ask.
But white asparagus does taste a bit different.
The flavor is milder and more delicate, with a slightly bitter taste, when compared to green asparagus.
I tasted white asparagus when I was in Germany, and I can vouch for this.
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How do I prepare white asparagus?
Start by snapping off the woody ends of the stalks.
They can then be roasted, baked, sauteed, boiled or shaved in salads just like green asparagus.
However you cook them, double-check that the white spears are cooked all the way to very tender.
In Europe, white asparagus is often simmered and drizzled with melted butter or dipped into hollandaise sauce.
How long does white asparagus last?
(It needs some air circulation.)
The asparagus should last up to 4 days.
This might garner you an extra day or two.
If in doubt, give it the sniff testyoull know right away whether its still usable.
you could also freeze asparagus after blanching it first.
Asparagus doesnt have an infinite shelf life, so hereshow to tell if asparagus is bad.
Ververidis Vasilis/Shutterstock
Why is white asparagus so expensive?
Because growing white asparagus underground is much more labor intensive, thats reflected in the price.
Each stalk must be unearthed and cut by hand, a painstaking job.
White asparagus can be as a much as $2 more a bunch than green.
Although green asparagus still rules in the U.S., demand for white asparagus has been increasing in recent years.
Who knows, a few years from now we may be celebrating at our ownSparglefest!
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