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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Mar 31, 2015 5:30:22 GMT
okyankee, I noticed on the Hello thread that you said you only have 3 jars of asparagus left. I've contemplated canning Azz-Pa-RA-Gus (my husband's pronunciation  ), but I don't like store bought canned (limp & mushy) Is this how yours is or do you have a trick? I'll be burning off the ferns in a week so should be getting stalks in a couple weeks.
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Post by okyankee on Mar 31, 2015 5:44:12 GMT
It did turn a little mushy, I don't know if there is a trick to making it NOT mushy. Probably have to do some more research on it. I do like it better canned than frozen though.
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Mar 31, 2015 6:26:35 GMT
I added calcium chloride (aka pickle crisp) to my pickles last year & they are the crunchiest I've ever made .... and I thought I had crunchy pickles before!
With having to pressure can asparagus, I doubt if the CC would help any.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 15:45:23 GMT
I am also interested in crisp asparagus. Last year I ate so much fresh asparagus that it made me dizzy. This year I would like to can it as I really do have so much of it.
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Mar 31, 2015 15:51:51 GMT
They would most likely stay quite crisp if pickled using calcium chloride ... but I don't care for pickled asparagus.
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Post by mollymckee on Apr 1, 2015 0:35:33 GMT
I always froze it. Barely blanched it put it in ice water, freeze. It didn't get soft unless i overcooked it before serving.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Apr 1, 2015 1:29:42 GMT
I always froze it. Barely blanched it put it in ice water, freeze. It didn't get soft unless i overcooked it before serving. Same here! Sometimes we didn't even bother to blanch it and it is great! We usually steam or sauté it... Regards, Mari
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 1:48:17 GMT
AsparAYgus dehydrates very nicely. Of course, it's not good for much beyond dips and soups, but it does preserve nicely.
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Post by aftermidnite on Apr 1, 2015 2:24:35 GMT
I need to try dehydrating it then ..
I haven't canned it because I don't like mushy asparagus either ..
Not overly fond of it frozen either since it is still mushy but am thinking I am doing something wrong .
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 2:33:21 GMT
I have read somewhere recently that asparagus is one of a dozen or so things that should not be eaten out of season. IIRC their main argument was that if eaten "fresh" in November it was obviously not locally produced and therefore suspect. It went on further to say that lightly blanching and freezing was the best way to keep them crisp.
When I marinate them and put them briefly on the grill they do soften but who cares.
I had my fist spear appear just the other day. It did not make it 10 feet from the bed before it mysteriously disappeared into my mouth. Unbelievably delicious!!! |
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Post by okyankee on Apr 1, 2015 2:36:20 GMT
I need to try dehydrating it then .. I haven't canned it because I don't like mushy asparagus either .. Not overly fond of it frozen either since it is still mushy but am thinking I am doing something wrong . I did dehydrate some. Hehe....it looks a little funny! Just a small baggie full to see if it would work right. Guess I had better find it, I know I put it somewhere around here! |
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Post by aftermidnite on Apr 1, 2015 2:45:39 GMT
I dehydrate a lot of things but haven't done asparagus ..YET ...
I learned the hard way about blanching things but after the learning curve I am happy with my stores ...
and love trying new things in my dehydrator ..
I even did cheddar cheese although I had to keep it in the freezer and learned that it is better to go ahead and buy the freeze dried cheeses for my pantry
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Apr 1, 2015 2:51:46 GMT
I had my fist spear appear just the other day. It did not make it 10 feet from the bed before it mysteriously disappeared into my mouth. Unbelievably delicious!!! It took a whole 10' before it disappeared?? (You're doing it wrong)I'll burn the ferns this week and should start seeing some in a week or two. The first couple days, they disappear in the time it takes from bending over to snap off a stalk to putting them in my mouth .... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 3:30:27 GMT
I had my fist spear appear just the other day. It did not make it 10 feet from the bed before it mysteriously disappeared into my mouth. Unbelievably delicious!!! It took a whole 10' before it disappeared?? (You're doing it wrong)I'll burn the ferns this week and should start seeing some in a week or two. The first couple days, they disappear in the time it takes from bending over to snap off a stalk to putting them in my mouth .... It was about 8 to 9 inches long and as thick as my thumb. I did not want to be a pig. I wanted to savor the first spear of the year.
I have always been told to get rid of the ferns in the fall after they turn brown and die as a means of preventing bugs from over-wintering in the ferns. Not necessary?
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Apr 1, 2015 3:40:52 GMT
I always did that too, but got busy the fall of 2013 and they never got cut back so I burned them off last spring. I've never had asparagus so early before!! Even my neighbor at the end of our pasture (who I gave a few asparagus roots to when I got mine a few years back) didn't get any for a full 3 weeks after our first ones came up.
I'm doing it again this year.
We're in zone 5A. It gets cold enough I don't worry about bugs being anything but bugsicles in the winter
(you've reached Full Member! Congrats!!)
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Post by mollymckee on Apr 1, 2015 4:46:32 GMT
When we lived on our farm in WI we had over an acre of asparagus that a former owner had planted. We burned it in the spring because we were busy with the harvest in the fall. I can't stand most store asparagus after having all that fresh. I froze it and gave it away, we ate it once a week or more all year.
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Post by aftermidnite on Apr 1, 2015 19:37:48 GMT
Since I don't have a space to grow it I have to buy it in the store ..
I will be trying to get some put by this year and will let you know how it goes ..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2015 16:30:34 GMT
Our local "scratch and dent" grocery store got a truck from Trader Joe's last year. Oh, we got a lot of asparagus then! Dehydrated and froze it (and ate a lot of it, too!)
My bed is overgrown and needs some attention. I think I'll dig it up and relocate it.
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Post by claytonpiano on Apr 3, 2015 0:52:20 GMT
The trick to rehydrating asparagus is to be sure that you pour boiling water over it and let it sit for 10 minutes or so before cooking. I think it makes it taste great and the texture is not the same as fresh, but much better than mushy canned stuff in my opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2015 1:00:25 GMT
I pickle it (without pickle crisp) and it turns out crispy. I have only blanched and frozen it, but I was also wondering about canning it.
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Apr 3, 2015 15:12:32 GMT
The trick to rehydrating asparagus is to be sure that you pour boiling water over it and let it sit for 10 minutes or so before cooking. I think it makes it taste great and the texture is not the same as fresh, but much better than mushy canned stuff in my opinion. Thanks for this tip. I may have to try this. |
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Post by pammysue on Apr 7, 2015 12:32:43 GMT
Would anyone be willing to share their pickled asparagus recipe? I'd like to can some this year.
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Post by okyankee on Apr 8, 2015 6:41:16 GMT
Uh oh! Down to 2 jars now! Did a taste and texture check. I guess I don't care if it got a little mushy, it is the taste that I like. That being said, I think I will freeze some, dry some more and can some just to see which turns out best for me. Thanx for all the ideas!
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), but I don't like store bought canned (limp & mushy)
