Rinse the asparagus under cold water
Trim off the tough woody ends
Fill a pot with 1 to 2 inches of water
Place a steamer basket in the pot
Bring the water to a boil
Add the asparagus to the steamer basket
Cover the pot with a lid
Steam for 3 to 5 minutes, until tender-crisp
Remove the asparagus from the pot
Season with salt, pepper, butter, or lemon juice if desired