Field to Frozen: Asparagus Should Rank on Top for Frozen Vegetables in Your Freezer!

Did you know that some of our favorite fruits and vegetables are on the 'Dirty Dozen' list, meaning they are the highest in pesticides which is why these are beneficial to buy these organic or grow them in your home garden. Some may not realize that asparagus is actually ranked as one of the top on the 'Clean Fifteen' list, they are the lowest in pesticides, so you can save money by buying traditional asparagus at the grocery store. The next time you go grocery shopping, pick up a few extra bundles of asparagus – you can't go wrong!

On the flip side, asparagus has a high respiration rate, making it one of the most perishable vegetables. The respiration rate of a vegetable is the rate at which it takes in oxygen, breaks down sugars and starches, and releases carbon dioxide once it has been harvested. The higher the respiration rate, the faster the vegetable will go bad.

So to combat your fresh asparagus from going bad, vacuum seal and freeze them. Vacuum sealing your fresh vegetables will remove oxygen from the bag and prevent oxygen from seeping into them, which ultimately slows down the respiration process. Once they've been vacuum sealed and frozen, asparagus will stay fresh for about 2 years.

Follow these simple steps for vacuum sealing and freezing your fresh asparagus:

• Prepare the asparagus by cutting off the ends and washing the spears thoroughly to remove any dirt and debris.

Blanching isn't required when vacuum sealing asparagus, but if you prefer to blanch all of your vegetables, you can follow the kale blanching instructions. Since we will probably be eating our asparagus within a few weeks or months, and they won't be in the freezer long term, we decided to forgo the blanching process.

• Drain, dry, and try to remove as much excess water from the asparagus as possible. This will help in the vacuum sealing process so you get a good seal.
• Now it is time to fill your food vacuum bags.

If you intend to steam or cook them sous vide, this is the perfect time to add seasonings to the bag. The bag will be ready to go from freezer to cooking! 

We put approximately 2 servings (plus a few spears for the kids) in an 8" x 12" quart size bag and added salt, pepper and butter so we can steam them directly in the bag. Read more about cooking in your vacuum sealer bags.

• Once your bags are ready, you are ready for the vacuum sealer.

• Place your bags in your freezer.

Now next time you need a quick vegetable for dinner, puncture your bag and throw them in the microwave for approximately 6 minutes. You'll have perfectly steamed and seasoned asparagus!