Keep asparagus crisp

Asparagus is at its best in spring and early summer, so here's a simple tip for keeping it fresh for longer.

Stand the spears upright in a glass containing 1-2cm of water, cover with a plastic bag and store in the fridge. If space is an issue, wrap the spears in a clean, damp tea towel and store in the crisper section of the fridge. This way your asparagus spears will stay crisp for up to three days.

Before using, snap or cut off the woody ends, then steam, boil, stir-fry or bake asparagus for 3-4 minutes or until bright green and tender crisp.