Recipe: Air Fryer Asparagus
Have you ever wondered how to ensure your asparagus is at its freshest when purchased? Look for smooth spears, not sunken or wrinkled, and have round and straight tops. If the tops look moist or shriveled up, the bundle is likely less fresh. If you buy it and don’t plan to use it that day, wrap a damp towel around the woody ends and seal it in a storage container to keep the stalks from drying out. Use within 3-5 days.
While many vegetables can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, asparagus is most often preferred when eaten fresh (instead of frozen or canned) to retain its shape and texture. Roasted, sauteed, air-fried, or in a salad, asparagus just needs a short cook time to transform into vibrant, crisp, tender stalks. This air fryer cooking method is perfect for a fast and fresh non-starchy vegetable side dish to compliment any plate.
Air Fryer Asparagus
Serves 3-4 (depending on the size of the bundle and individual stalks)
Ingredients
- 1 bundle of asparagus
- 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- Rinse asparagus under cool running water. Shake to remove excess water.
- To separate the woody/firm bottom portion of each stalk, grasp and bend at 1/3-1/4 of the way down the stalk until a bottom portion snaps off (may be roughly a 1-2.5″ section). Alternatively, you can line up the asparagus stalks and cut 1-1.5″ off the bottom of each stalk. Discard these firm bottom pieces.
- Place the asparagus into a lined or non-stick sprayed air fryer tray/basket.
- Drizzle with 1-2 Tbsp olive oil (use more for thicker stalks or a larger bundle), garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Gently shake the basket to coat it evenly. Place basket inside of air fryer.
- Turn on the air fryer and adjust the heat setting to 360*F. Set the timer to 10 minutes. (Consider adjusting based on your device settings; some may need a lower temp to prevent asparagus from burning).
Tips:
Some air fryers are larger or may run hotter than others, be sure to consider your experience with your device and adjust the time and/or temperature accordingly.
For an oven method – Set to ‘low’ broil and cook asparagus for 10-12 minutes.
For more asparagus information and resources: