Green Asparagus — The Stalk Tells You Where to Cut It

Fresh asparagus has a very short window between "just picked" and "past its best," and the good news is it's easy to check. Look for firm, bright green stalks with tightly closed, compact tips — any that have started to open, flower, or turn slightly slimy are on their way out. The stalk should snap cleanly when bent, not bend limply, and cut ends should look moist rather than dried and woody. One genuinely useful trick: rather than cutting off the tough base with a knife at a guessed point, hold the stalk near both ends and bend it gently — it will naturally snap right where the tender part ends and the fibrous, woody part begins.