Sous Vide Asparagus - An Easy Side Dish | Greedy Gourmet

Q: What does ‘sous vide’ mean?

The phrase ‘ sous vide’ is a French term that means ‘under vacuum.’

Question 1

What does ‘sous vide’ mean?

Accepted Answer

The phrase ‘sous vide’ is a French term that means ‘under vacuum.’

Question 2

What is sous vide cooking?

Accepted Answer

It’s a method of cooking that was invented in France in the early 1970s.

Cooking sous vide style means sealing your food in a ziploc bag and cooking it in a water bath. It’s then cooked at a low temperature for a long period of time.

This method of cooking allows the food to retain moisture, keeping it succulent and tasty.

Question 3

Why cook asparagus in a sous vide machine?

Accepted Answer

Asparagus is a delicious vegetable that’s also very good for you. The problem is, it’s very easy to overcook asparagus. Cooking asparagus in a sous vide means you can keep the flavor in the asparagus and prevent it from overcooking.

Cooking sous vide also means you can set up the sous vide machine and let it do its thing, without having to be in the kitchen overseeing everything. So, the sous vide method is all about quality and simplicity.

Question 4

What temperature do you sous vide asparagus?

Accepted Answer

The best temperature to cook asparagus sous vide is 85°C (185°F). This will ensure you get the perfect asparagus every time – slightly tender, with that all-important crunch!

Question 5

How do you select asparagus?

Accepted Answer

First of all, freshly picked asparagus is best! Thick asparagus is generally more mature than pencil thin asparagus, but thickness isn’t an indicator of how fresh the asparagus is.

If you’re lucky enough to have homegrown asparagus, you’ll get the freshest ingredients possible! However, if you’re buying at the store, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Here’s what to look for when choosing asparagus at your grocery store:

A rich, vibrant green coloring
Straight stalks with a smooth texture
Stalks that are not dry but have have kept their moisture
Tips that have a purple tinge and are tightly closed

Question 6

Do you need to peel asparagus?

Accepted Answer

It’s not necessary to peel asparagus, only to remove the woody stem from the bottom. If you do wish to peel your asparagus, peel off a layer using a vegetable peeler.

Question 7

How long does it take to cook asparagus sous vide?

Accepted Answer

Sous vide asparagus is quicker than many other types of sous vide cooking. Still, the point of cooking asparagus sous vide is to get that incredible taste and texture. So, the slower you cook it, the better.

This recipe calls for you to cook your asparagus for 40 minutes to 1 hour. The exact timing depends on the thickness of your asparagus stalks – thin asparagus needs less time than thick asparagus.

Question 8

Can you overcook sous vide vegetables?

Accepted Answer

If you leave your vegetables in a sous vide water bath for too long, they’ll end up too soft and mushy. That’s why it’s important to follow sous vide recipes precisely and keep the cooking time in mind.

Question 9

What is the right texture for asparagus sous vide style?

Accepted Answer

When cooking sous vide asparagus, your end goal is to get asparagus that has softened slightly, but has retained that perfect little crunch when you bite into it.

The last thing you want is stringy, overly-soft asparagus, which is how it tends to turn out when you boil it.

Question 10

What if my asparagus turns brown or gray?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes asparagus can change color during the sous vide cooking process. This is usually due to a reaction with the salt used to season the asparagus. Generally, if you use sea salt, you won’t have a problem.

Remember, as long as you use fresh asparagus, you’ve nothing to worry about.

Question 11

How do you store asparagus?

Accepted Answer

In order to keep your asparagus perfectly fresh, store it in the fridge.

Question 12

How long does asparagus last?

Accepted Answer

If stored properly, asparagus should keep for around about a week.

Question 13

How do you store cooked asparagus?

Accepted Answer

If you want to store sous vide asparagus, you can keep it in an airtight container for up to 5 days. After this time, it will start to lose its bright green color and lovely texture.

Question 14

Can you freeze asparagus?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Freezing asparagus is a great way to extend its shelf life. If you’ve bought a big batch of asparagus and you don’t want to use it all in one go, freezing is definitely an option.

When freezing asparagus, you should also blanch it first. This helps to preserve the taste and texture, while also extending its shelf life. Blanching involves parboiling then rapid cooling the asparagus in ice water.

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