How to Keep Asparagus Fresh in the Fridge

Discover the best way to store asparagus spears in the fridge, so they hold their crisp texture until you're ready to cook them up! 

Here in my northern climate, fresh asparagus is the first vegetable we get to harvest from our gardens.

After a winter of eating produce from our cold room and the grocery store, asparagus season is heartily welcomed! And we eat a lot of this vegetable while it's in season.

I also like to preserve some when we have an abundance of asparagus. 

But the thing is, I don't like freezing or pickling small batches of produce. And so, I have to harvest for several days (or more) to make it worth my while! 

Asparagus stalks are fine while out in the garden. But like celery, asparagus turns into a delicate vegetable once it's harvested. Over time, it will often soften and go limp in the fridge. 

In order to remain crisp, raw asparagus needs to be treated like a bouquet of fresh flowers.

That's right!

Asparagus keeps beautifully in water. Just follow the simple step-by-step guide I give you below, and you'll have people asking where you got such crisp and juicy asparagus.

It doesn't matter if you plan to cook them up for a special meal or if you want to preserve them, if you bought asparagus at farmers market, the grocery store or grew your own. 

Here's how to keep asparagus fresh in the fridge for long-term storage!

Items You'll Need

• asparagus
• large kitchen knife
• cutting board
• deep bowl
• water

How to Keep Asparagus Fresh and Crisp

Step 1: Trim the Ends of Your Asparagus

The first step in the process is simple. If the ends of your spears have dried out (which is likely if you didn't harvest them yourself), they'll need to be trimmed so they can draw water. Just like a bouquet of flowers! 

Instead of trimming each individual spear, I like to gather up a bundle of asparagus, hold it upright and tap the base of the bundle on the cutting board.

This evens up the tough ends of the spears and I can chop them all off in one slice! 

Cut asparagus ends off with a large kitchen knife, so you have fresh, moist ends that can wick up water.

Step 2: Set Asparagus in a Deep Bowl or Pitcher 

Set trimmed asparagus bundles in your container of choice. You can use whatever you have on hand.

A glass jar, pitcher, deep bowl, small pail or anything that is food safe will do. To avoid wasting space, be sure to use a container that has high walls. This will keep the asparagus bunch upright in the fridge.

Step 3: Add Fresh Water 

Add water until the ends of the asparagus are covered by 2 inches. This ensures the bottom of the spears are all under water and that they have the ability to draw the moisture that is necessary for hydration.

Step 4: Store at the Front of the Fridge 

If your fridge has issues with cold spots, you'll want to store asparagus in the right place. Remember, it is a delicate vegetable! I'd recommend keeping it at the front, on the top shelf of the fridge. 

Step 5: Refresh the Water Every 7 Days

If you plan to keep asparagus in the fridge for more than week, you may want to refresh the water after day 7. Rinse the asparagus ends under cold running water and refill the container as you did before. 

Your Questions Answered

How long will asparagus keep in the fridge?

Asparagus purchased from the grocery store won't last as long as fresh stuff from your garden.

Generally speaking, the minimum shelf life of grocery store asparagus is about 7 days. But you'll get longer than that from fresh, home grown asparagus.

Can I store asparagus in a plastic bag instead?

Some folks like to store asparagus in a plastic bag to save on shelf space in their refrigerator.

They place a damp paper towel or a damp cloth in the bottom of plastic bag, add asparagus and then store it in the crisper drawer of the fridge.

I've never tried this method, primarily because I think the "bouquet method" works well and makes a lot of sense! 

What are some great ways of cooking asparagus? 

There are lots of great asparagus recipes out there, because this vegetable is easy to add into many different dishes. 

But in our home, we primarily saute or roast asparagus in butter or olive oil. A touch of garlic is always welcome! We generally serve asparagus as a side dish. 

Are there easy ways to preserve asparagus? 

Refrigerating asparagus is a great way to keep fresh asparagus on hand for a few weeks. But if you want local asparagus for later in the year? You have to preserve it! 

Asparagus is easy to preserve in a pickling brine. Last year, I discovered that asparagus freezes beautifully and roasts to perfection in the oven. So tasty! 

You can get these tutorials below.

Homemade Pickled Asparagus Recipe

How to Freeze Whole Asparagus

How to Roast Frozen Asparagus in the Oven