What is the woody part of asparagus?

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.

What part of the asparagus plant do we eat?

stem
When we eat asparagus, we are eating the stem of the plant. When we eat spinach or lettuce, we are eating the plant’s leaves. We eat the fruit of squash, cucumber and tomato plants. When we eat corn or peas we are eating seeds, and when we eat radish or carrot, we are eating roots.

Can you eat the stalks of asparagus?

You can eat the whole spear except for the woody stem towards the bottom. Hold the asparagus spear on each end firmly. Keep bending until the asparagus snaps. It will naturally snap so that the woody stem breaks off.

Why don’t you eat the bottom of asparagus?

You don’t eat the bottom end of asparagus because it’s tough, bitter, and stringy, making it unpleasant to eat. The bitterness is due to chemicals that accumulate at the bottom of the stalk.

Which part of the asparagus do you cut off?

You should cut right where the stalks turn from white into green. If you’re still not convinced, do a side-by-side comparison with two asparagus stalks of the same length and size. Use the bend-and-snap method with one stalk and see how it compares to a stalk that has been trimmed with a knife.

How much of an asparagus stalk is edible?

The whole stalk is edible, but the top 3–4 inches is the tenderest part. The rest however is excellent for soup, or sliced thinly for a stir-fry. The Edible part of the asparagus is the asparagus spear. it’s the part which will turn into asparagus ferns if left uncut.

What part of asparagus do you not eat?

What happens if you don’t Trim asparagus?

THE BOTTOM LINE: You’ll throw away more asparagus if you snap off the ends, and the spears won’t look as long and elegant. For many reasons, we think trimming and peeling is worth the effort.

What is a spear of asparagus called?

Those tall stalks with thin, wispy leaves are called “ferns.” The ferns are the part of the plant that emerges from the “spears” during the summer if they are left to grow rather than being harvested. Asparagus spears are harvested for 6 to 8 weeks in the spring.

When should I cut down my asparagus stalks?

At this point in the season, gardeners growing asparagus may be wondering when to cut down those tall, skinny stalks that have grown from their asparagus plants. Wait until the ferns are fully brown and dormant to maximize the next year’s harvest. Those tall stalks with thin, wispy leaves are called “ferns.”

Why is it bad to snap asparagus stalks?

Why snapping asparagus stalks is like throwing away money – oregonlive.com Snapping asparagus at the so-called “natural break point” significantly increases food waste. Instead, use a knife to cut off the bottoms of the spears, then peel the tough outer skin.

Can you use asparagus as a base for stock?

Use stocks as a base to make soups and sauces or as a replacement for the water used for cooking rice or other grains. Because you strain the vegetables used to make the stock, the fibrous nature of the asparagus ends has no effect on the texture.