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Asparagus
Appears in
By Jaclyn Pestka, Wayne Gisslen and Lou Sackett
Published 2010
While today it is available virtually year-round, in the Northern Hemisphere asparagus is seasonal to spring. Fresh, local asparagus has an intense flavor and tender texture not found in distance-shipped asparagus.
Slender shoots of asparagus are called pencil asparagus, because their diameter is the size of a pencil or smaller. Both standard asparagus and thick, jumbo asparagus have a fibrous outer skin on the lower part of the stalk that must be removed with a swivel peeler to ensure even cooking. White asparagus shipped from Europe has very fibrous skin and must be peeled deeply.