Should asparagus skin be removed? This makes peeling the tough skin quick and easy
Whether imported or domestic asparagus, in any bunch of asparagus there will inevitably be a few spears whose base is somewhat old or fibrous. In addition, Taiwan, China lies in the subtropics, where temperatures are always on the high side. If fresh asparagus is not cooked immediately after harvest and the storage environment is not cold enough, the base of the tender spears will also quickly age or become fibrous. So the asparagus skin should be removed.
But to remove the old skin at the base, you can only shave off a thin outer layer. Without a clever trick, not only does it take a lot of time, but if not handled well the spears break, and in the end you inevitably bite into stringy, unpalatable old stalks. There are 2 quick peeling methods to adopt. The first is "peel the asparagus lying on a flat plate": simply lay the asparagus flat on a cutting board, place a plate beside it to catch the asparagus peel, and then use a peeler to peel quickly. With this method, if you first soak the base of the tender spears in water for 5 minutes until they are fully hydrated, the effect is even better. The second is "peel the asparagus lying in a shallow water dish": simply rest the base of the asparagus to be peeled flat against the bottom of a shallow water dish, and then use a peeler to peel quickly, and the thin skin will not stick to the peeler at all.
Quick peeling method 1: Lay the asparagus flat on a flat plate (or cutting board), and then use a peeler to peel quickly. If the base of the tender spears is first soaked in water for 5 minutes, the peeling effect is even better after they are fully hydrated.
Quick peeling method 2: Use a shallow water dish filled with enough water to cover the asparagus stalks, rest the base of the asparagus to be peeled flat against the bottom of the shallow water dish, and then use a peeler to peel quickly, and the thin skin will not stick to the peeler at all.
Generally, after buying asparagus and bringing it home, if you have no time to cook it right away and need to store it temporarily in the refrigerator, remember that asparagus continues to grow after harvest. If laid horizontally it will bend every which way, making it less convenient to handle when cooking. If space allows, it is recommended to place the asparagus upright. It is also recommended that before putting it in the refrigerator, first take a household paper towel, moisten it with water, and spread it flat on the bottom of an unwanted milk carton (or any tall, straight container), then insert the asparagus upright into the carton. It is also recommended to cover it with plastic wrap or put it in a storage container to isolate the asparagus from contact with air, and then place it in the refrigerator's cold storage compartment. In this way, within two or three days the asparagus can still remain fresh and green, so you can easily enjoy it fresh and savor top-quality food!
