Steaming Asparagus in Microwave: Is it Really a Good Idea?

Steaming asparagus in a microwave is an alternative way to prepare this delicious and versatile vegetable — giving you tasty and mouth-watering results in around 5 minutes.

Why Steam Asparagus in a Microwave?

Asparagus is packed full of nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, E, and K, folate, and potassium. Incorporating asparagus in your diet can also provide a helping of fiber and protein. Added benefits may include keeping blood pressure low, and aiding your digestive system. But what is the best way to cook asparagus?

Steaming vegetables retains a lot of their nutrients, and provides a wonderful texture, along with making some vegetables easier to eat — those which are fine to eat raw but may be harder in texture. There are a number of ways to cook asparagus to get great flavors, so why is steaming asparagus in a microwave a popular choice?

Benefits

Why steam asparagus in a microwave?

• There is no need to boil water.
• You don’t need to turn on, or heat up the oven — especially handy in hot weather.
• You don’t need any special equipment to steam asparagus in a microwave — you don’t even need steamer bags, so less use of plastic too.
• It uses few pieces of equipment, keeping your kitchen mess-free.
• Locks in the nutrients.
• It is quick. From preparation to plate, it should take around 5-6 minutes.

For delightful tender asparagus, all you need to do is remove the thicker ends (snap or cut), wash, bundle up, and lightly wrap the spears in a damp paper towel. They will take 3-5 minutes to cook. Note that this method is ideal for green and purple varieties, but most white asparagus will need to be peeled first, due to its tougher outer skin.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

Steaming asparagus in a microwave has very few drawbacks, but you may wish to take note that:

• Thicker stems take longer to cook, and may produce uneven results. For best results, choose medium or thin stalks.
• If you do not use a damp paper towel, the asparagus may dry out.

Alternatives to Steaming

Asparagus is delicious, and there are many alternatives to steaming it in a microwave. You can of course, steam in a steamer or colander over a pan of boiling water. Just be careful the water doesn’t boil dry. Asparagus can also be delicious, lightly fried or boiled (learn how to boil asparagus correctly). Roasting is another method, but asparagus cooked this way can burn quickly.

You can also eat asparagus raw — again the narrow varieties, or thinly sliced raw spears are easier eaten this way, and can be a tasty addition to salads — in fact, why not try this tasty spring salad recipe?

Read more:

• Hunting for Wild Asparagus: A Beginner’s Guide
• How Long Does Asparagus Last? How to Keep Asparagus Fresh
• What Goes With Asparagus? 9 Vegan Options

** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.

Tags: environment Guide health