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    Home » Vegetable Recipes » Microwave Asparagus

    Microwave Asparagus

    Last updated: Feb 13, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    Microwaving asparagus is the fastest and easiest way to cook this delectable vegetable. It's ready in just a few minutes, and it comes out perfectly cooked!

    You simply microwave it on high until it's tender-crisp. Depending on how thick the spears are, this should take around 3 minutes.

    Microwave asparagus served on a white tray with a napkin.

    Asparagus is probably one of those vegetables that one either really likes or really doesn't. I happen to love it! I even like it in its canned form. But when fresh and in season, it's a true delicacy.

    Cooking asparagus in the microwave is so easy, that I often default to this cooking method. Roasted asparagus is wonderful, but it requires heating up the oven. Microwave cooking is perfect for summer - quick, easy, and doesn't heat up your kitchen.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Recommended main dishes
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    The very basic recipe has just one ingredient - asparagus. Once the asparagus is cooked, you can dress it however you like.

    So depending on what you'll do with it, other ingredients might include melted butter, olive oil, lemon juice or vinegar, salt and pepper, garlic powder, and perhaps onion powder.

    The ingredients needed to cook asparagus in the microwave.

    Instructions

    Cooking asparagus in the microwave truly couldn't be easier! The detailed steps are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview:

    • Your first step is to wash and trim the asparagus. Depending on how big your microwave-safe bowl is, you might need to trim quite a lot of the ends, or you could also chop each spear in half to avoid waste.
    • The next step is to place the spears in a large microwave-safe bowl, add a tablespoon of water, and cover the bowl with a microwave-safe plate.
    • Now let's get cooking! Microwave on high until the vegetable is tender-crisp. Depending on how thick the spears are, this should take around 3 minutes.
    • Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave using oven mitts. And be even more careful when removing the lid - hot steam will escape.
    • That's it! Now dress the asparagus. The section "serving suggestions" below contains a few ideas.
    A six-photo collage showing the steps for microwaving asparagus.

    Expert tip

    The most important thing when making this recipe is to make sure the asparagus isn't overcooked. You don't want it stringy and mushy! You want it tender, but not limp.

    It's the same idea as cooking pasta until it's al dente. You want it to retain some firmness. So while three minutes is a good guideline, if the spears you're using are very thin, consider starting with just 2 minutes. You can always add more microwave time if needed.

    Frequently asked questions

    What's the fastest way to cook asparagus?

    Hands down, the fastest way is the microwave. Roasting takes a total of 25 minutes (including prepping the vegetable). Steaming takes about 15 minutes. Microwaving takes less than 10 minutes, including prep time.

    Should I peel asparagus before cooking?

    Generally speaking, there's no need to peel asparagus. You should, however, trim the ends, which are very fibrous, and perhaps also peel the very bottom of the spears after you've trimmed them.

    Should cooked asparagus remain crunchy?

    No. It should be tender-crisp, meaning it shouldn't be limp and mushy. But you want it tender and creamy, not crunchy. It's definitely a balancing act, but the more you do it, the better you'll be at it (like everything in life).

    Serving suggestions

    If you've used young, fresh, in-season asparagus, all it needs is a light sprinkle of kosher salt to be delicious. But if you want to be a bit more elaborate, here are a few more ideas:

    1. Drizzle it with melted butter and sprinkle it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
    2. Make a quick dressing of olive oil (1 tablespoon), white wine vinegar (1 tablespoon), a pinch of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard (to help emulsify the dressing). Whisk the dressing and then drizzle it over the asparagus.
    3. Chop the asparagus and use it in this tasty asparagus salad.
    4. Serve it with Hollandaise sauce.

    Recommended main dishes

    Microwave asparagus is such a versatile side dish, it goes with anything. I do like to serve it with rich meat-based dishes since I feel it nicely balances them out. So I often serve it with one of the following:

    • Oven brisket
    • Country-style ribs
    • Barbecue beef
    • Lamb steak

    Storing leftovers

    Leftovers keep reasonably well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. I like to chop them and add them cold to salads - they make a very nice addition to this arugula salad and also to this avocado chicken salad.

    Microwave asparagus served on a white tray.

    Related recipes

    • Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus.
      Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
    • Steamed asparagus
      Steamed Asparagus
    • Asparagus Salad.
      Asparagus Salad
    • Roasted Asparagus
      Roasted Asparagus

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Microwave Asparagus.
    4.98 from 40 votes
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    Microwave Asparagus

    The microwave is by far the easiest way to cook asparagus! 3 minutes and your delectable side dish is ready.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time3 mins
    Total Time8 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 90kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 bunch asparagus fresh

    Optional ingredients:

    • 1 tablespoon butter melted
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Wash the asparagus spears. Trim their ends. You can either trim enough of the ends so that the spears fit into your microwave-safe bowl, or, after trimming just the ends, cut them in half (or even chop them).
    • Place the trimmed spears in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water.
    • Cover with a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.
    • Use oven mitts to remove the bowl from the microwave, and be careful when removing the lid - hot steam will escape.
    • Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate. Sprinkle with kosher salt and serve. Or season with melted butter, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Serve immediately.

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    NOTES

    The nutrition info assumes that the optional toppings were used. 
    Generally speaking, there's no need to peel asparagus. However, if the ends are thick and fibrous, you might want to peel the very bottom of the spears after trimming the ends.

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 0.5recipe | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 145mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g
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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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