Asparagus Season is Here!

Spring and early summer bring a bounty of vibrant produce, and asparagus is one of our favorites. The crop thrives in Massachusetts's Pioneer Valley like nowhere else. You can find it locally from May to the beginning of July. Make sure to get it before it's gone!

What about that funny odor when you pee after eating asparagus?

Tender young shoots are high in aspargusic acid, which is found exclusively in asparagus. When asparagus is digested, asparagusic acid gets broken down into sulfur containing byproducts. Sulfur, in general, is not very pleasant to smell, notes Dr. Bobart. When you pee, the sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that unpleasant scent (Cleaveland Clinic).

Health Benefits

Asparagus is high in fiber, promoting gut health and helps in maintaining a healthy microbiome. It’s also rich in folate, being beneficial to detoxification, heart health and brain function. It’s high levels of glutathione provides cancer protective qualities. Additionally, it's a good source of potassium and asparaptine, which contribute to healthy circulation and blood pressure. Asparagus is also a good source of antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

How to Clean and Store Asparagus to keep it fresh and crisp:

The fresher the better! 

What You’ll Need:

• Pairing knife

• Large mouth ball jar or a glass Pyrex measuring cup

• Filtered Water

Instructions:

• Rinse your asparagus well (it loves sandy loam soil so it can be a bit gritty).

• Using a pairing knife, nip the larger leaves off (they can hide some grit).

• To enjoy the tender parts and discard the tough, hold either end of the spear and bend, it will snap in just the right spot! 

• Add about an inch of water to your jar (or measuring cup).

• Stand your asparagus stalks up in your jar with their feet the filtered water.

• Refrigerate for no more than 3-5 days.

Asparagus - Cleaning & Storing Tips.pdf

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We love asparagus for its versatility and fresh spring flavor! It’s delicious prepared in so many ways—blanched, grilled, pan-sautéed, roasted, or steamed. We enjoy adding it to egg cups, omelets, quiches and frittatas, even pickled and as a a crisp salad foundation, too.

We have a few asparagus highlighted recipes on our blog, but for an even deeper dive, Love and Lemons shows you several ways to prepare this seasonal delight.