Updated on March 6, 2023
How To Know If Asparagus Is Bad?
Asparagus is a seasonal vegetable that is mostly available in the spring season. However, due to its short lifespan, this vegetable can only be used for 5-7 days. Furthermore, after some time, the asparagus starts changing its color, and texture and will also have a foul smell. The tender tips of the asparagus are the first ones to turn black from fresh green color. With the passage of time, the stalk of asparagus becomes mushy and limp along with the appearance of mold spots. At this stage, the asparagus starts to develop a pungent smell.
Signs Of Bad Asparagus
Due to the shorter lifespan of asparagus, it can easily get spoiled within a few days. Furthermore, discoloration of the tips of asparagus from a fresh green color to a darker black is the first indication of turning your bad asparagus. Later on, these tender tips start to turn mushy and eventually fall apart. After the tips of asparagus turn black and mushy, the next stage of bad asparagus is the mushy stalk.
At this stage, the stalk becomes limp and mushy just like noodles. However, due to the initial spoilage stage, you can even cook the asparagus in a stew or soup. Do not cook in a raw form due to black tips and mushy stalk. Apart from storing your asparagus properly in a refrigerator, still, they eventually will start to grow mold. With the passage of time, the asparagus turns slimy due to the high absorption of moisture.
The uncooked and fresh state of asparagus does not have any smell. However, when the spoilage of asparagus starts, it starts smelling bad. The strong pungent smell of asparagus is an indication that it is now wasted and is not in a state to be cooked or used in any way. The best that you can do is to dispose of the spoiled asparagus and get the new one from the market.
Freezing The Asparagus
As asparagus is a raw vegetable, its life depends upon various factors. When buying asparagus, make sure to choose one with bright green spears along with a firm and upright stalk. The tips should also be firm and of dark green color. Furthermore, freezing the asparagus can alter its texture, reducing its freshness. However, freezing asparagus is one of the cost-effective ways to get the benefits of its nutrients even in the off-season.
Before freezing the asparagus, make sure to wash its tips properly with fresh water and then trim the spears. After that remove all the woody stalks and store them for cooking separately. Moreover, you can freeze the asparagus in two ways. The first way is to blanch fresh asparagus in steam or in boiling water. In order to get the best results, cut the asparagus spears in similar sizes and then blanch them together. In this way, you can freeze the asparagus and get the benefits of its nutrients during the off-season.
FAQs
Is asparagus still good after 2 weeks?
Uncooked and fresh asparagus can last between 5 days to 2 weeks in your refrigerator depending upon what type of storage method you’ve opted for. If you keep the spears firm and upright in an inch of water and then store them in plastic wrap, they will last for an even longer time period.
What does spoiled asparagus look like?
Due to its shorter lifespan, asparagus is likely to be spoiled by turning its tips from bright green to darker black color. Later stages include a change of texture, mushy stalk, and unpleasant smell. At this stage, the asparagus is now wasted and should be disposed of.
Conclusion
Asparagus is a raw and seasonal vegetable, available only in the spring season. They have a shorter shelf life and can be spoiled easily when not cared for and treated properly. The average lifespan of asparagus is almost 4 days to 2 weeks. Whether stored properly or not, after some time asparagus gets spoiled and starts to get mushy. Later on, the asparagus starts to smell bad, and eventually, you need to dispose of it as it may cause many bacterial infections and allergies.
