If you don’t already know, the bottom end of asparagus is woody, fibrous, and unpleasant to eat. It needs to go in the compost and not in the pot. But on every spear of asparagus, the fibrous end is a different length, so you can’t get away with cutting an inch or so off the bottom and hoping for the best.

In the freezer aisle of any grocery store, you will find frozen asparagus. This is a convenient way to buy seasonal produce and get you to eat more vegetables. Fortunately, asparagus is an easy vegetable to cook with.

Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies: it’s both tasty and versatile. It’s a great veggie to have on hand, and even more convenient when you freeze it, because it lasts longer than in the fridge. And yes: frozen veggies are just as nutritious as fresh ones!

eight to 12 months

“There are no life-threatening side effects of eating too much asparagus,” said Flores, “but there may be some uncomfortable side effects such as gas, and a noticeable smell to the urine.” It is also possible to have an asparagus allergy, in which case you should not eat it, she said.

How long does cooked asparagus last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only – cooked asparagus that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.

On the other hand, the health-threatening side effects and risks of eating expired asparagus are unknown. The only risks you can face is having too many gases and maybe allergies. In case you are allergic to this vegetable, you should avoid eating it.

Discard asparagus if: There’s mold. If there’s any fuzzy action on the spears, or there are black spots here and there, that asparagus is no good. It’s soft or mushy.

If the asparagus has begun to spoil, you will notice the tips become a progressively darker green until they are nearly black in color. The stalk will become limp and mushy and mold spots may begin to appear. It will begin to develop an unpleasant and pungent smell as decay sets in.

about 3 to 5 days

If they have a hint of dark green or purple color to them, that’s a sign of quality. If the tips are dried or yellow in color, it’s a sign that the asparagus is old. Mushy tips should be avoided as well, as that’s a sign the asparagus is on its way to spoiling.

about 3 to 4 days

Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable that can be eaten cooked or raw. However, thinly sliced or marinated raw spears can be equally enjoyable. Cooking may enhance antioxidant activity in asparagus, but it can also contribute to nutrient loss.

It’s low in calories and a great source of nutrients, including fiber, folate and vitamins A, C and K. Additionally, eating asparagus has a number of potential health benefits, including weight loss, improved digestion, healthy pregnancy outcomes and lower blood pressure.

And, thanks to its ability to break down toxins in the liver, asparagus even works as an excellent hangover remedy, reducing alcohol toxicity by increasing liver enzymes and encouraging healthy liver function.

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.

How much asparagus counts towards my five-a-day? Five asparagus spears or 80g of asparagus counts as one portion towards your five-a-day. Read our five-a-day infographic and discover cheap ways to reach your five-a-day.

Thin asparagus spears appear for a number of reasons, but the root cause is ultimately the same: the asparagus crown lacks the rigor to create bigger shoots. Improper Feeding – Asparagus are somewhat heavy feeders and need all the food they can get in order to build strong spears the following year.

Aside from being a diuretic—hello, slimmer self, bye-bye, water retention—asparagus is considered protein-rich in the vegetable world. Just 100 grams of the green stuff contains 2.4 grams of protein. Asparagus is also the number one plant source of vitamin K, as well as a good source of potassium and antioxidants.