Start by preheating your toaster oven to 400°F (200°C) on the “bake” setting. While the toaster oven is getting hot, prepare the asparagus.
Thoroughly wash and dry the asparagus to remove any dirt or pesticides. If the asparagus is very thick, you’ll want to peel it to remove the tough skin. Thinner spears of asparagus do not need to be peeled.
Fresh asparagus spears
Cut off about an inch from the bottom of each spear. These parts are quite tough and chewy, so they’re best discarded.
Choose a baking sheet and lightly coat it with oil. Too much oil will start to smoke in the toaster oven. You just want enough so that the asparagus doesn’t stick to the baking sheet. Olive oil or canola oil work great.
Spread your asparagus spears in a single layer on the baking sheet. This ensures that they all cook evenly. Drizzle a little oil on top of the asparagus.
2 tbsp of olive or canola oil
Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. You can also choose to season with lemon pepper, dill, or garlic.
Salt, Pepper, Optional seasonings
Once the toaster oven is preheated, place the tray of asparagus inside. Let cook for 10 minutes, then turn the asparagus or gently shake the pan to rotate the spears. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until tips are lightly browned and spears are tender.