Rinse the asparagus under cold water
Trim off the tough woody ends
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil
Add the asparagus to the boiling water
Boil thin spears for 2 to 3 minutes
Boil medium spears for 3 to 4 minutes
Boil thick spears for 4 to 5 minutes
Check for tenderness with a fork
Drain the asparagus immediately
Transfer to ice water if you want to stop the cooking
Serve hot or use as desired