This has to be one of the easiest ways to cook asparagus. Just trim the ends, lay out on a foil lined baking sheet, toss with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Parmesan, and then bake until done. I eat them like French fries. Addictive? Yes. They’re a perfect side to salmon, scallops, shrimp, or ham and delicious with eggs of any kind—poached, fried, or hard boiled.

Video: Baked Asparagus With Parmesan

Asparagus can range in size, so choose stalks of a uniform length and thickness for even cooking time.

Storing Fresh Asparagus

The best way to store fresh asparagus if you’re not cooking it immediately is to treat it like a bouquet of flowers, including trimming a little off the bottoms. The trimmed ends need to be kept wet but the stalks need to be kept dry. Put fresh asparagus stalks in a glass and add enough water so the bottoms of the stalks are submerged an inch deep. Place a plastic bag over the glass and place it in the refrigerator. The asparagus should keep firm for two or three days this way. Alternately, you can dampen a paper towel and wrap it around the bottom of the stalks, then put the stalks in a zip top bag. Store in the crisper for two to three days.

More Great Asparagus Recipes

Roasted Asparagus Boiled Asparagus with Lemon and Parmesan Grilled Asparagus Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Creamy Asparagus Soup

If using the air fryer, coat the asparagus with olive oil then place in a single layer in the fryer basket. Sprinkle the salt, paper, and Parmesan on top.