Canned I think is for convience. I use canned during the winter when fresh is not in season. You need liquid to puree it, most time's I steam my veggies but when I want to puree asparagus I boil it in a little water and dump the asparagus and water in the blender. As long as you eat asparagus it will work but I puree it and put it in a container then just take it out of there I eat it straight from the frige. You can make cream of asparagus soup or add it to pasta or a fratatta as long as you get the asparagus in your body it doesn't matter how you do it just do it everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!