Before cooking asparagus, trim or snap off the woody ends, which can have an unpleasant, fibrous texture. Freshly cooked asparagus always welcomes a drizzle of olive oil, lemon wedges, or a bit of butter. See a bunch of asparagus as a blank canvas and pair it with punchy vinaigrettes or creamy, rich sauces. A glass of crisp, white wine wouldn’t hurt either. Keep in mind that the thickness of the asparagus will affect cooking time. Pencil-thin asparagus will cook much quicker than thicker spears. The range in cooking times below reflects this, but keep a close eye.

How to Broil Asparagus

Not to pick favorites, but broiling is one of the best ways to cook asparagus. It’s in and out of the oven in a snap, and the spears remain perfectly crisp-tender and even pick up some color in spots.

How to Boil Asparagus

Really, the answer here is blanching, which just means cooking vegetables in boiling water quickly, then plunging them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process (also known as “shocking”). This method sets the color and flavor, and seasons the asparagus from the inside-out.

How to Steam Asparagus

Much like blanching asparagus, steaming locks in flavor sans adding fat, and allows for tender spears.

How to Roast Asparagus

Roasting asparagus concentrates its flavor and brings out its earthy sweetness. Look for the spears to turn bright green, a tell-tale sign of readiness.

How to Grill Asparagus

What’s not to love about grilling? The opportunity to infuse a little bit of smokiness and char into a vegetable is just delightful.

How to Sauté Asparagus

Cutting the asparagus into 2-inch pieces is a great way to start, but not a must, it just makes for more practical tossing in the skillet when sautéing. To sauté simply means to cook something quickly in a skillet over direct heat with some fat.

How to Cook Asparagus in an Air Fryer

Crispy bits and tender spears are ready in under 10 minutes with this easy, air fryer cooking method.

How to Cook Asparagus in an Instant Pot

Think of cooking asparagus in an Instant Pot as a steaming hybrid.