Selecting the Perfect Artichoke

So, how do you choose the perfect artichoke? Well, here are some of the things you should look and feel for:

	The leaves of the bud should be tight, not "blooming." If you run your thumb over the top of the bud the leaves should not separate. Although with the Imperial Star variety, the leaves on the bud are a little bit more separated.
	Squish the artichoke lightly -- if it makes a squeaking noise it is fresh.
	The artichoke should have some weight to it. A heavier weight usually indicated more water and thus a fresher artichoke.
	The larger the artichoke doesn’t necessarily mean it has a bigger heart, if this is what you are after. If you look down the stem to the base of the artichoke, there is a little bit of an indentation that can be seen in the leaves. This usually gives an idea of how big the heart is. This does take practice though, so eat a lot to be able to predict it accurately!
	Good artichokes should have a little bit of a glossy sheen to them.