how long to cook asparagus

You can cook asparagus in about 3–20 minutes depending on the method and thickness of the spears.

Quick Scoop: How long to cook asparagus

• Thin spears: usually on the shorter end of each time range.

• Thick spears: closer to the upper end of the range.

• Doneness target: bright green, tender-crisp, easily pierced with a fork but not floppy.

Approximate times by method

• Boiling: 3–5 minutes until bright green and tender‑crisp.

• Steaming: 5–7 minutes until tender‑crisp.

• Shallow‑cooking / pan‑cooking in a little water: about 5 minutes of cook time (plus a few minutes prep), with 1–2 minutes for very small spears and 6–7 minutes for large ones.

• Sautéing in a skillet: around 5 minutes for sliced or thin spears over medium‑high heat until crisp‑tender.

• Roasting at 400–425°F (about 200–220°C):
  • Pencil‑thin spears: roughly 9–12 minutes.

* Thicker spears: about 15–20 minutes.

Think of it like this: if your asparagus looks bright green and a fork slides in with just a bit of resistance, it’s ready, no matter which method you use.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.