Pickled Asparagus Recipe | Canning Asparagus (2024)

Pickled asparagus is an excellent way to preserve this spring time food. This pickled asparagus recipe is extremely easy to make. The steps for canning pickled asparagus allow this items to become shelf-stable in only minutes. Who would have thought canning asparagus would be so easy?

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Pickled asparagus is a food item that pairs perfect with everything. I mean, absolutely everything.

Serve this pickled item with a perfectly grilled steak, with a salad, as a side with eggs Benedict, or, as mentioned above, with a sinfully delicious Bloody Mary.

Maybe, just maybe, if you’re anything like me, it will be devoured straight from the jar. Yep, straight. out. of. the. jar. Without a hesitation. Gone, consumed, inhaled, in one sitting.

This pickled asparagus recipe is truly, honestly, that good. Also, the steps for canning pickled asparagus are extremely easy. You’ll wonder why canning asparagus has never crossed your mind.

However, there is one item which beats pickled asparagus, and that would be pickled garlic. During the pickling process the garlic loses its bite and becomes easy to consume. Well, there’s also pickled golden beets in a white balsamic brine.

Growing and Purchasing Asparagus

An asparagus patch takes years, years, to mature. However, with patience and love a beautiful patch will produce stalks for many years to come.

Due to the long time frame of establishing a patch consider companion planting the asparagus with strawberries.

Purchasing Asparagus in Bulk

Because fresh asparagus is a springtime item it can often be found in many locations. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Bulk purchases. Many markets will offer a discount ranging between a 10 to 20% discount.
2. Buy from a local farmer. Cutting out the middle man allows for a greater savings. Keep in mind, many small farms will also offer a discount when purchasing in bulk.
3. Forage for it. Asparagus grows like a weed in certain parts of the country.

The Secret to a Crisp Pickled Item

The most commonly asked question in regard to canning pickled items is how to maintain the crunch once it’s been canned. No one wants a soft pickled item, and people try endlessly to discover the secret. Sadly, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there’s no guarantee an item will remain crisp once it’s been canned. However, you can try these tips which do help to slow the enzymes which causes the fruit or vegetable to ripen.

• Add tannins such as grape, oak, or black tea leaves. Pickle crisp? Nah, you don’t need it.
• Use fresh, I mean, picked that same day, or the day before fresh. The fresher the better.
• Soak the produce in ice water for 30 minutes; this will help to return firmness to the item.
• Cutting the blossom end from cucumbers to slow the ripening process.

Jar size for Pickled Asparagus

In order to put up as much of the asparagus stalk as possible consider investing in Ball 24 ounce masonjars. These jars are specifically designed for pickling asparagus.

In addition to using 24-ounce canning jars for canning, they are excellent drinking glasses.

Acidity Boosters – Citrus Juice and Vinegar

Explore different types of vinegar when pickling items. There is only one important factor to keep in mind: the acidity level of the vinegar must be 5% or higher. Make sure to verify the acidity level for vinegar, many fall below the required 5%.

Bottled citrus juice (lemon or lime) is higher in acidity than fresh. Fresh lemon found in recipes on this site are used for ascetic appeal. More times than not, bottled lemon juice is also included in the recipe when needed.

Blanch the Asparagus Stalks

Blanch the asparagus spears for roughly 10 seconds prior to filling the jars. A quick dip in boiling water opens the pores, allowing for the brine to seep into the spears. The process of blanching allows the spears to pickle quicker.

One final tip, fill jars with the tip of the asparagus face down. This process allows for the stalks to be removed from the jars more easily and intact.

The Sustainable Canning Course

Are you searching for canning classes near you? Look no further!The Sustainable Canning Courseis a self-paced series of online classes designed to help you on the road to achieving food ownership.

The Sustainable Canning Courseis an extension of my book,The Farm Girl’s Guideto Preserving theHarvest. I wrote this bookto help guide those who seek to own their food source the opportunity to do so. It is a comprehensive, easy to understand book covering all methods of home food preservation, canning, drying, fermenting, curing, freezing, and storing fresh foods.

• Understand why pressure canning is necessary to preserve foods.
• Confidently alter or create recipes to be canned.
• Preserve many tomato products utilizing scientific information with traditional tools.
• How modern canning tools, such as the steam canner and steam juicer, revolutionized preserving methods.
• Understanding how to decipher information shared by the National Center of Home Food Preservation.
• Discover how easy it is to can meat, fish, soups, and stews.

These topics and many more are available withinThe Sustainable Canning Course. Reserve your spot now, and begin gleaning the necessary information needed to preserve foods as a modern sustainable homesteader does.

Canning Pickled Asparagus

Ingredients

• Fresh Asparagus, 10 pounds
• White Wine Vinegar (5% acidity), 4 1/2 cups
• Water, 4 1/2 cups
• Dill Weed, 10 tsp
• Fresh Garlic, 10 cloves
• Whole Mustard Seeds, 10 tsp
• Crushed dried Red Pepper, 10 tsp
• Pickling Salt, 1/2 cup
• Fresh Lemon

Pickled Asparagus – Instructions

• Wash and remove wood end of asparagus. Blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds. Once blanched, dip into cold water to stop the cooking process.
• The Brine:
  • Add white wine vinegar, water, sugar, and salt to a stock pot. Bring to a raging boil.

• Fill Jars:

1. In each 25 ounce wide mouth mason jar add 1 fresh lemon slice, 1 tsp dill weed, 1 tsp mustard seed, 1 tsp crushed red pepper, 1 clove of garlic, and asparagus. Fill jars until full. Making sure to leave a 1 inch head space.
2. Add brine, making sure to leave a one inch head space and remove air bubbles, adjust brine level if needed
3. Wipe rims, add warmed lids and rings (rings should be applied finger tight)
4. Process for the appropriate time based on your altitude (see blog for processing times)

Note:

When canning pickled asparagus distilled white vinegar can be used in place of white wine vinegar. Ensure the type of vinegar used contains an acidity rate of 5% or higher.

Processing Time Based on Altitude

The processing time for any foods being canned is based on the altitude in which you reside. This applies true to items being hot water bath, steam, and pressure canning. This chart is the processing time for pickled asparagus, please select the correct processing time.

My Book

The Farm Girl’s Guide to Preserving the Harvest is a comprehensive book covering multiple methods for preserving foods in the comfort of your home. Learn how to safely can, dry, ferment, cure, freeze, and store foods fresh as a sustainable homesteader would. The tips, tricks, and recipes within this book will provide you the confidence and knowledge needed to own your food source.

Printable Recipe – Pickled Asparagus Recipe

For your convenience a printable recipe card is available. I truly hope you enjoy my blue ribbon pickled asparagus recipe!

This recipe is not comparable to any other. Also, this pickled asparagus recipe is a million times better than what can be purchased at a local market! Enjoy it, friends. And if you’re feeling generous, share a jar or two.