Typically, if you store asparagus properly, you can keep it for about one week after you buy it. But of course, when purchasing asparagus, you should not leave it outside for too long as it will easily cause the asparagus to wilt. The best way to preserve asparagus is to freeze asparagus soup for a long time.
Can you freeze asparagus soup?
Asparagus is a food that can be processed into many nutritious dishes: Fried asparagus, salad asparagus, beef stir-fry, boiled asparagus, asparagus smoothie, grilled asparagus roll,… The most popular word is asparagus soup.
You can and should freeze asparagus soup as it remains healthy and nutritious. Frozen asparagus soup can be stored for up to 12 months. The soup retains all its beneficial properties, color, and shape when frozen.
Freezing fresh asparagus is more restrictive than asparagus soup because fresh frozen asparagus’s shape, color, and palatability vary greatly.
When defrosted, fresh frozen asparagus no longer has its characteristic crispiness.
Freezing asparagus soup is a solution for those who love this healthy food. They can use them all year round, further reducing costs significantly.
Further reading: How to choose the best freezer for a hot garage
How to properly freeze asparagus soup
Step 1: Choose the asparagus
When buying asparagus, you should choose the tops of fresh green asparagus, glossy stems, not scarred or yellowed. Check that the asparagus shoots are not wilted or wrinkled. If the roots are complex and brown, this is not freshly cut asparagus. You should avoid buying the shoots with brown spots, soft stems because it is likely that the tops of asparagus have been wilted and damaged and cannot be processed into a delicious soup for a long time.
Step 2: Cook asparagus soup
Process materials
- Asparagus washed, cut into pieces
- Celery washed, sliced thin
- Onion peeled and chopped
- Wash and cut cilantro
Cooking soup
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and then add the celery, garlic, onion, and sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Add asparagus, minced cilantro to the pan, season with one teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to taste.
- Pour 350ml of chicken broth into the pot and simmer with the asparagus mixture for about 20-25 minutes on low heat.
Puree the soup
Scoop the mixture into a blender, puree with 300ml of milk.
Step 3: Freeze it
After waiting for the asparagus soup to cool for an hour, fill it up with bags or containers and place it in the fridge’s freezer.
It would help if you chose containers and trays to store asparagus soup to freeze. We recommend serving asparagus soup before freezing for easy use and thawing portions.
It would be best to choose air-tight containers or freezer bags, limiting excess air inside as little as possible.
Who should not eat asparagus?
Asparagus is not safe for those who are suffering from edema due to the effects of kidney disease or depression.
People who are taking medication for high blood pressure should avoid eating asparagus. When asparagus is used at the same time with the drug, it will cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, which is life-threatening.
Also, Gout patients should not eat asparagus as it can increase blood acid.
How to use frozen asparagus soup
With vegetable-based soups such as pureed asparagus soup, you just need to take the frozen asparagus soup box or tray according to the amount you want, put it in a lockable plastic bag, and leave it under running water for about 5 minutes.
Then when defrosting the asparagus soup, you can use it directly by putting it in a pot and boiling it on the stove. Because it was cooked before freezing, you only need to cook for about 5-7 minutes.
You have two ways to use frozen asparagus soup:
Reheat them after defrosting and eating: This way, you need to put the soup in the pot and reheat it within 5-7 minutes. Seasoning the soup again will help it taste better. Then you need to pour the soup on a plate to have a nutritious dish for the family.
Make asparagus soup with shrimp or crab: If you want a more nutritious dish or are tired of eating the original asparagus soup too much, you can use frozen asparagus soup in this way. You put the thawed asparagus soup into the pot, bring the soup to a boil, then add to the shrimp or crab mixture, and taste the dish again. Finally, you pour them out onto a plate.
Tips when using seasonings for asparagus soup
If your goal is to cook delicious asparagus soup, you need to use good seasoning.
Consider flavor combinations
This is very important when you are trying to make asparagus soup with many different flavors. If you skip this, you could end up with a soup that isn’t as good as it could be.
For example, the combinations of garlic and onion is too strong for the soup. You should also avoid using too much salt, pepper, or any combination.
Choose the right seasoning for the soup
Although seasonings are not the main ingredient in soups, they can add a lot of flavors to the dish. Some of the best spices for asparagus soup include basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley and thyme. These herbs taste great and can add great flavor to soups.
Try different seasonings
It’s a good idea to try different seasonings when making asparagus soup. You can use salt, pepper, garlic powder and other seasonings. Combining different spices will affect the taste of the soup, but you should try this.
For example, you could add a little butter or cheese to the soup. This may make the soup tastier and more flavorful.
Seasonings should be added to your soup in the right order at the right time
This is important to make a great asparagus soup. The seasonings you use can transform the flavor of your soup. Some favorite seasonings for asparagus soup are garlic, onion, lemon, thyme, and celery. You can follow these steps:
First, you can stir-fry the onions and garlic before making the asparagus soup.
Then, when these ingredients start to brown in the pan, add the broth. If you add seasonings before stir-frying, they won’t have much flavor when you eat the final soup.
Next, the important part is adding salt and pepper. You should wait until the soup is done, then add salt and pepper because it will make it easier to gauge the amount of seasoning for each type. Otherwise, you can overdo it and ruin your whole pot of soup.
Frequently asked questions
How many types of asparagus are there?
There are many different varieties of asparagus, they are divided into 3 main types as follows:
Purple asparagus: The stem contains high levels of anthocyanins, so it has a purple color. The stem is soft, sweet and has a mild aroma but less fiber than other types of asparagus.
Green asparagus: This type of asparagus is most commonly used. Due to being grown in an environment with a lot of sunlight, the tops are dark green, the body is stout. Although it has a slightly bitter taste, green asparagus contains quite a high nutritional value.
White asparagus: This type of asparagus is native to Europe. It is grown in the dark, so it cannot photosynthesize, making the stem white. The price of white asparagus is often twice as expensive as the green variety due to low supply and high costs in production.
Is Asparagus good for health?
Asparagus contains many nutrients and vitamins such as A, B6, C, E, K, protein, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, folate and many other minerals that are good for digestive system, heart, bones joints and nerves.
Benefits of asparagus can be listed as:
- Anti-aging
- Safe weight loss
- Improves heart health
- Enhance immunity
- Fight depression
- Improve eyesight
- Prevent type 2 diabetes
- Good for pregnant women
- Laxative, anti-constipation, improve intestinal health
- Preventing and supporting the treatment of respiratory diseases
In short, asparagus soup is very good for your health. The vitamins and minerals necessary for a person make this soup a valuable product. Asparagus cleanses the liver, strengthens the heart muscle, lowers blood cholesterol levels, and improves immunity. Fiber has a beneficial effect on bowel function.
Can you freeze asparagus soup without pureeing it first?
Absolutely, but asparagus soup that is not pureed will have the wrong texture. Once frozen, they won’t retain their shape and taste like pureed asparagus soup.
If you freeze unpurified asparagus soup, it will lose its color, flavor, and texture. The dish is no longer appealing or does not taste good when you are ready to use it.
How long does asparagus soup keep in the freezer?
Asparagus soup adequately frozen and stored in an air-tight container in the freezer will stay fresh, green, and delicious for 8-12 months.
Further reading: Should You Buy an Upright Freezer or a Chest Freezer?
How long do you cook frozen asparagus soup?
Since the soups are already cooked before freezing and defrosting them before cooking, re-cook them for 5-7 minutes.
Conclusion
Frozen asparagus soup is an opportunity to prepare a healthy dish in just few minutes and a delicious and healthy product. When properly frozen, the soup retains its beneficial properties and appearance. Asparagus is great for people on a weight loss diet or following a healthy diet.
Reference
Freeze Asparagus Soup, foodsguy.com, Retrieved Jul. 18, 2022
