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    Home » Recipes » Techniques

    Published: February 28, 2021 | Last Modified: March 4, 2021 by Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju | This post may contain affiliate links. 💬 - 7 Comments

    How to microwave asparagus!

    Dairy Free RecipesGluten Free RecipesNut Free RecipesVegan Recipes
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    Easy recipe that shows you how to steam cook asparagus in a microwave. Takes all of 5 minutes for the most delicious, nutritious side dish ever!
    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    I know, I'm about to blow your mind. If you're wondering about the best way to cook asparagus, you've come to the right spot. I felt a bit silly writing this recipe, but asked my friends and realized a lot of people don't realize how easy it is to cook asparagus in a microwave. This takes all of 2 minutes to prepare and ~3 minutes to cook the asparagus.

    Cooked asparagus on a plate with some lemon slices for garnish

    This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you're in a rush, please use the "Jump to Recipe" link!

    This post might contain affiliate links. If you click on those and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to:
    • 💭 Why you'll love this recipe
    • 📋 Ingredients and notes
    • 📖 Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏽‍🍳Top tips and FAQs
    • 🍴 Serving and storage suggestions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    💭 Why you'll love this recipe

    • Literally takes 5 minutes or so: Not going to lie, there are few recipes that are easier than this one. Minimal prep, minimal stress!
    • Asparagus is awesome: It's low in calories, great tasting, and packed full of nutrients!

    📋 Ingredients and notes

    You'll need asparagus, water, and a microwave safe bowl or container with lid for this recipe. I like to use salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder and fresh lemon juice to season.

    Labeled ingredients for making recipe - check recipe card for details!

    Quick note on asparagus: it's usually in season in spring, and that's the only time I buy it fresh. A lot of asparagus is flown in to the US from Latin America when it's not in season, so the environmental cost is high, and the taste isn't great. If you love asparagus, and want to eat it out of season, canned asparagus might not be a bad idea!

    Oh, and if you're wondering where you can find out about what's in season, don't forget to check out my seasonal produce guides (I update them the first Sunday of each month!)

    📖 Step-by-step instructions

    Prepare the asparagus

    Start by washing the asparagus thoroughly to get rid of any dirt. Then, slowly bend the asparagus close to the white, woody part and it'll naturally break off. If you're in a rush, you can line them all up and cut them where the woody parts end.

    Pro tip: When you wash asparagus, loosely shake them to drop excess water but don't dry them. The water typically helps with cooking them in the microwave!

    Two panel collage showing two ways to trim asparagus - by hand or with a knife

    Cook the asparagus in the microwave

    Find a microwaveable container or bowl. Your asparagus might not fit in, so if that's the case, I recommend chopping them in halves. Then, add the asparagus to the bowl with a tablespoon of water. Make sure to lay all of the asparagus flat so the stalks cook evenly, and avoid crowding or placing them on top of each other.  

    Cover with a lid or a larger plate, and microwave for 3 minutes. Make sure to use oven mitts to remove the asparagus since it'll be super hot. And be careful as you slide off the plate or the lid, since there will be tons of steam inside!

    Asparagus in microwave safe container after being steamed

    Season and serve!

    Once the asparagus is cooked, I like tossing it with a teaspoon of olive oil and seasoning with salt, pepper and garlic powder. I finish up with a quick squeeze of fresh lemon juice!

    Hand squeezing lemon juice on microwaved asparagus on plate

    Just toss all of them and you're basically armed with the easiest side dish ever!

    👩🏽‍🍳Top tips and FAQs

    How long does it take to cook asparagus in the microwave?

    Super thin stalks (say like a pencil) take 3 minutes. Most asparagus tends to be half an inch thick, and in this case, I recommend microwaving for about 4 minutes on high heat for asparagus that is al dente, with a bit of snap. For softer asparagus, microwave on high heat for 5 minutes, and then continue to heat in 1 minute intervals thereafter till it reaches your desired softness. For thicker stalks, I suggest microwaving for 5 minutes and then heating in one minute intervals.

    How can you eat microwave asparagus?

    Honestly, how you normally eat it! I like eating them as a side the way it's prepared in this recipe. You can also add to pasta, serve as a crudité, or as a side to any dish!

    Is it better to boil or steam asparagus?

    Boiling the asparagus tends to make it mushy sometimes, so I prefer steaming it instead of boiling it!

    Finished plate of asparagus with lemon on the side

    🍴 Serving and storage suggestions

    Cooked asparagus tends to stay great in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 3 to 4 days. Better yet, if you have a long glass container with a lid, just steam the asparagus in that so you can avoid washing yet another dish!

    If you like this recipe, don't forget to try out my other fresh spring recipes:

    • The Ultimate Guide to Avocado Toast ... and Toppings!
    • Stir Fry Green Beans with Coconut (Beans Poriyal)
    • Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

    Did you make this recipe?! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Please leave a comment and a star rating and let me know how it went! We love hearing from you, thank you so much

    📖 Recipe

    Close up crop of microwave asparagus finished dish
    Print Recipe
    4.97 from 66 votes

    Microwave Asparagus

    Easy recipe that shows you how to steam cook asparagus in a microwave. Takes all of 5 minutes for the most delicious, nutritious side dish ever!
    Prep Time2 mins
    Cook Time3 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 70kcal
    Author: Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju

    Equipment

    • Microwave

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb asparagus, typically a bunch
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice, fresh
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    • Wash the asparagus to remove any grit or dirt. Don't dry them since the water typically helps with microwave steaming!
    • Then, trim the edges. You can either do this by bending the stalk close to the white woody part and it'll break naturally. Or if processing a bunch at once, line them all up and chop off the wood part.
    • Line up the asparagus in a neat flat row in a long microwave-safe container, ideally one with a lid or one that you can cover with a plate. Then, add a tablespoon of water.
    • Cover with lid or plate and microwave on high heat for 3 minutes for al dente asparagus. If your asparagus is a bit on the thicker side (more than half an inch thick), you might need to microwave for 5 minutes to get to al dente texture. If you desire a softer consistency, cook in 1 minute increments until you reach desired softness
    • Remove the asparagus from the microwave with oven safe mitts and be careful opening the lid or removing the plate since it'll be quite steamy! Then, drizzle a teaspoon each of olive oil and lemon juice, and add a teaspoon of salt and garlic powder along with half a teaspoon of black pepper. Use a fork or a spatula to toss the asparagus and you're done!

    Video

    Notes

    • To save yourself the hassle of washing multiple things, microwave the asparagus in the same container you plan to store it if possible. I typically use long glass containers with an airtight lid. This way, I can just throw them in the fridge if there are leftovers! 
    • Seasoning suggestions are for basic steamed asparagus - you can season with any other seasoning you typically use for asparagus!  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1169mg | Potassium: 486mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1717IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Tag @urbanfarmie or #urbanfarmie to let me know – I would LOVE to see your creations!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deska sheehan

      May 15, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and came out great my new go to recipe.

      Reply
      • Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju

        May 16, 2022 at 1:26 am

        Thanks so much, glad it worked well for you! It's such a great simple side for any meal 🙂

        Reply
    2. N Benedetto

      June 16, 2022 at 11:20 pm

      4 stars
      Have been pretty much preparing this way from beginning. Only difference is, I put about a tablespoon of wine vinegar on the asparagus before microwaving it.

      Reply
      • Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju

        June 19, 2022 at 2:32 pm

        That's a great idea, thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Neal

      October 09, 2022 at 1:25 am

      4 stars
      Delightful. Thanks for sharing this recipe. 👍

      Reply
    4. Richard H

      March 01, 2023 at 4:56 am

      5 stars
      I'm a 75 y.o. man who's an admitted disaster in the kitchen. Even my dog won't eat my food. Until I saw this recipe I was a one-trick pony...I can do wonders with fresh salmon. I made this for myself several times and it always came out excellent. My only modification was to wrap the asparagus in damp paper towels. (I hate doing dishes.)
      Recently, I had a friend over for her birthday. Although she thought I was doing the asparagus "all wrong," once she tasted it she was asking for the recipe. (No one has ever asked me for a recipe!) For the sake of transparency, the dog gave it a paws down, but I think she has an issue with asparagus.

      Reply
      • Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju

        March 01, 2023 at 9:38 pm

        Thank you so much for this review, so glad you love the recipe and that you were able to share it with your friend too!

        Reply

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    Shruthi Baskaran - Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, and Blogger at Urban Farmie

    I am Shruthi, the recipe developer, photographer and blogger behind Urban Farmie. I have two graduate degrees from Stanford, one focused on food systems. And I hope to bring you everything you need for healthy-ish, comforting, nourishing vegetarian cooking.

    Read more →

    Recipe Key

    Dairy free
    Gluten free
    Nut free
    Vegan
    Vegetarian

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