Help! Frozen asparagus is now floppy

MamaSaver

Help please. I had a huge craving for asparagus for ages but couldn't bring myself to pay the price for it. Then I saw it on Christmas eve for 1/3 of the price, so I bought loads and froze it. I defrosted some yesterday for stir frying and while I was getting everything ready it became floppy and soggy. I made the dish anyway, which OH loved, but I know it could have been so much nicer if it was as crunchy as the day I bought it.

Any ideas on how to save the rest of the frozen batch from the same destiny? Thank you

MrsTinks

I think unfortunately asparagus DOES go floppy if frozen - it won't affect the flavour though It's the same with pepers - they go a bit soggy too as do mushrooms most of the time Think it's to do with the water contents...

MamaSaver

Thanks Mrs Tine :A . Oh well, I'll put up with the floppiness once we're not all going to get food poisoning from the asparagus. OH was still talking about them today and he's very hard to please

afterglow_2

chop them up and add to a white sauce, with chicken ham and mushroom for a pie,
or add to risotto, or with a creamy pasta sauce, or sauteed with some bacon and served with brunch or on a salad!

Gingham_Ribbon

THey're lovely in quiche too and the floppy factor won't matter!

Or steam and blitz the stalks, add some cream or creme freche and parmesan, then mix in the tops.

thriftlady_2

Asparagus soup;)

natsplatnat

If anyone wants the science bit....... when water freezes it expands. So when you freeze the asparagus, the water in its cells freezes, expands and ruptures some of the cell walls. When they are de-frosted, the cell walls are left damaged and therefore not as rigid as when they were fresh!
Floppiness can be reduced by freezing them quicker as this results in smaller ice crystals, therefore less expansion and cell wall damage (not sure how this can be achieved at home though??!)

maltesers_2

We grow our own asparagus and freeze it and if you cook it normally it is always soggy. But if you cook in the oven sprinkled with parmesan cheese or wrapped in streaky bacon it is very nice.