How to Steam Asparagus

Have you ever wondered how to steam asparagus? Many people think that preparing and cooking this vegetable properly is a major hassle. Fortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. All that you really need to do is follow these simple instructions, and you will have some fantastic steamed asparagus in no time. Well that is, you need to follow these instructions and do one other thing: Don't panic.

1. Wash the asparagus. The very first step that you will need to accomplish when steaming asparagus is wash each of the stalks. As you are washing the stalks, be sure that you are using cold water, and do not use any harsh soap. Basically, you are simply trying to get rid of any insecticides, dust, and grime that may have accumulated on the vegetables.
2. Cut the asparagus. After you have washed the asparagus, cut them. You don't want to cut them in half though. Rather, you simply want to remove the bottom inch to 1 1/2 inches. Throw the bottoms of the stalks into the garbage, and set the larger stalks off to the side.
3. Bundle the asparagus. Once you have finished cutting the asparagus, begin bundling the stalks together using some baking twine. Try to bundle the stalks in groups of ten, since they will then be able to stand up in the steamer better. As you tie each bundle together, use two piece of string, one near the top, and one near the bottom, to ensure that the bundles stay together.
4. Place the asparagus (and seasonings) in the steamer. After you have prepared the bundles, it is time to begin placing them into the steamer. Add any additional vegetables or seasonings that you wish to flavor the asparagus with into the steamer at the same time. Once you have the steamer filled with your vegetables and seasonings, begin to fill the lower portion of the steamer with two inches of water.
5. Cook the asparagus. Heat the water up to a rolling boil, and then place the steaming basket over the water pan. Allow the asparagus to cook for a minimum of two minutes, but no longer than eight. You will know that the asparagus is finished when the spears have turned to a bright green. Remove the asparagus from the heat and serve.

One you have finished steaming the asparagus, remove the vegetables from the heat and prepare to serve. Asparagus is best served while still hot, so you should time the serving of these vegetables with the rest of your meal. This recipe, or method for steaming asparagus, was designed to serve two people. However, with a little bit of experimentation, you can easily adjust this recipe for more people.