To cook asparagus on the stove, the typical cooking time ranges from about 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the spears and how tender you want them:

• Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat.
• Trim the woody ends of the asparagus.
• Add the asparagus in a single layer and cook, tossing or stirring occasionally, until tender yet still crisp. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes for medium-sized spears

• For thicker asparagus, cooking closer to 8-10 minutes may be needed to reach tenderness

• Some recipes suggest adding garlic or shallots near the end of cooking for flavor, cooking an additional 1-2 minutes after adding these aromatics

• Season with salt, pepper, and optional lemon juice or Parmesan cheese before serving

For example, one method is to cook asparagus over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender but still crisp

. Another approach is to cook for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden and almost tender, then add butter and garlic for a final 1-2 minutes of cooking

. Gordon Ramsay’s method involves a shorter, high-heat sear of about 45 seconds per side for a blistered texture, but this is more of a quick sauté than a full tender cook

. In summary, cooking asparagus on the stove generally takes about 5-10 minutes, adjusted for spear thickness and desired tenderness.