Food & Kitchen
How long do you cook asparagus?
Estimated wait
~10 minutes
Based on published sources
By case
- Faster cases~8 minutes
- Average cases~10 minutes
- Slower casesUp to 15 minutes
Thickness matters more than the clock — test a spear with a knife tip rather than trusting the timer alone. White asparagus is always peeled before cooking, green usually only at the woody bottom end. General information.
Green asparagus is done in about 6 to 8 minutes — very thin spears can be ready after 5. White asparagus, which is thicker and peeled, needs roughly 10 to 15 minutes, and very thick spears up to 20.
More details
Add the spears to water that is already boiling and start timing from there. They should keep a little bite; asparagus turns limp very quickly once it is past the point.
Last updated: 20 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.