With spring finally here, maybe you’ve recently been lured by a good deal at the grocery store or farmers market and come home with, erm, three pounds of asparagus. (Just me?) Though not the great tomato glut of 2018, you want a way to keep your produce fresh.

I had always thought that meant keeping my asparagus in a bag, in the produce drawer. Wrong.

Asparagus keeps far, far longer when stored upright in a cup of water, uncovered, in you fridge. Instructions follow after the jump!

---

Previously:
One year ago: Mexico City Food Guide
Two years ago: How to Reduce the Bite of Red Onions

And for my Australians:
Six months ago: Slow-Cooker Tuscan Ribollita
One and a half years ago: Chai Rice Porridge
Two and a half years ago: Apple Crisp

Ways with asparagus:
Asparagus Pizza + One-Step Pizza Dough
Spring Panzanella

---

How to Keep Asparagus Fresher, Longer

Step One
Fill a few sturdy, wide-mouth glasses or mason jars about one-quarter of the way full with water.

Step Two
Lay your asparagus on a cutting board and trim off the very bottom ends with a sharp knife. This is an optional step, but it extends the life of your asparagus even longer.

Step Three
Place your asparagus stem side down in the cups of water, and then place the cups of asparagus in the fridge. No need to cover with plastic.

Step Four
The asparagus will drink the water throughout the week–this is how it stays fresh!–so be sure to keep an eye on the water level in the cups and refill as needed.

Voilà! This only takes a couple of minutes, and will keep your asparagus fresh, firm, and springy for a full week.