Asparagus • How to Blanch - Tips & Tricks | Club Foody

 

If you have been cooking for a while, you know that enzymes are what cause fruits and vegetables to deteriorate. They turn brown, get soft and the next thing you know, they’re not good to eat anymore. There are a few different ways to reduce the process (dehydrating, canning, etc.) but the most popular one is blanching.
 
I’ve posted a few episodes on blanching before for preserving longer (Snap Peas), better handling (Pearl Onions), modifying the taste (Garlic) or prepping for recipes (Almonds). Another bonus when blanching certain fruits or vegetables is that their color gets more vibrant and it’s definitely a plus for presentation when adding them to a dish.
 
Today’s about Asparagus • How to Blanch! I like to do this cooking process especially when I make my Asparagus Summer Salad or my Mediterranean Chicken Pesto Pasta. I want some crunch to them… not mushy. Of course, it depends on the recipe and I don’t bother doing this step when making my Cream of Asparagus Soup or when serving Asparagus with Maltaise Sauce as a side dish.
 
Asparagus • How to Blanch is a very quick process. After snapping off the woody part of the vegetable and discarding the tough ends, you might have to cut the spears into pieces depending on the recipe. From there, transfer the asparagus to a boiling salted water pot and set the timer for 2 ½ minutes for the cut ones and an extra minute for uncut. Plunge them in an ice bath to cool them off which also stops the cooking process. Drain and proceed with your recipe… It’s that fast!
 
Using this Asparagus • How to Blanch method can be very useful. After the process is done, they can be served as is or cooked further, either way, blanching helps to preserve the beautiful vibrant green color. If you went to the farmer’s market and bought too many, this is the method to use before freezing them…
Bon Appétit!
 
Check out these other great kitchen tips and tricks…
– Perfect Meringue
– Beurre Manié
– How to Roast and Peel Peppers
– Prepping Lemongrass – How to
– Kiwifruits – How to Peel Quickly
– Fennel Bulb – How to Cut
– Roasted Garlic
and for more handy kitchen tips and tricks, click on this link… Recipe Category • Tips & Tricks
 
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