Can You Freeze Turnips?

Last updated on July 19th, 2022 at 06:54 pm

Turnips are more common in the colder months since this is when they are at their prime. These root vegetables are great in so many dishes. 

How do you store turnips so they don’t go bad before you can use them? Can you freeze turnips? 

You can freeze turnips but you can’t just toss them into the freezer. You will need to do a little preparing before you can freeze them. 

Turnips, like many other vegetables, need to be blanched before you can freeze them. Blanching vegetables means that you cook them just enough to kill any enzymes which could affect the vegetables taste or color. 

In order to blanch your turnips, you will first need a few things. A wire steaming basket would make it easier to transfer your turnips from the boiling water to the ice water. 

You will also need a pot of boiling water and a bowl of ice water. 

The first thing you need to do after you have gathered your supplies is to scrub and peel the turnips. Cut your turnips into about ½ inch pieces. 

Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil over high heat. Then submerge your turnips into the boiling water, if you have a steaming basket this would be useful as it will make the next step easier. 

You can add about a pound of turnips, then wait for the water to come back to a boil. After the water has begun to boil once again you will set a timer for two minutes. 

While your turnips are boiling you will need to fill a large bowl with ice water. When the timer goes off you will need to drain the turnips and then quickly submerge them into your bowl of ice water. 

Transferring the turnips into the ice water bath will stop the cooking process. Allow the turnips to sit in the ice water bath for two minutes. 

Remove the turnips from the water and place them on a large cookie sheet. Make sure that you spread the turnips out so they will not freeze together in the next step. 

Place the baking sheet into the freezer for two hours. Finally, you will want to place the frozen turnips into a freezer safe container or plastic storage bag. 

If you are using a container you will want to pack it as full as you can to eliminate as much air from the container as possible. If you are using a freezer safe plastic storage bag then you will want to remove as much air from the bag as possible. 

Label your container with the contents and the date. Blanched turnips can stay in the freezer for up to twelve months.

Can You Freeze Mashed Turnips?

If you want to mash your turnips before freezing them you might be wondering if that will work. Can you freeze turnips that have been mashed? 

You can freeze mashed turnips. However they will need to be used within 3 months instead of the 12 months that normal turnips will last. 

The first thing that you need to do to freeze mashed turnips is to prepare your turnips. 

You will need to wash them. Then you will want to trim and peel your turnips before you cut them into chunks. 

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. After the water has been brought to a boil you will carefully add your turnips to the pot. 

Cover the pot and allow the turnips to cook for 25 minutes until they are fork-tender. Carefully drain the turnips then mash them. 

You can use a blender to puree them if you like a creamier mash. 

Set your mashed turnips aside and allow them to cool completely. Once the mashed turnips have cooled you will need to place them into a container with a tight-fitting lid. 

Make sure to leave about a half an inch of headspace at the top of the container. You could also use a freezer storage bag. Just make sure to remove all the excess air that you can. 

Finally, label the container or bag with the contents and date. Mashed turnips can be kept in the freezer for 3 months.

Can You Freeze Roasted Turnips? 

If you roasted some turnips and realized that you have far too many can you still freeze them? 

It is possible to freeze roasted turnips. Roasted turnips will retain their taste and texture for up to 3 months in the freezer. 

To roast your turnips you will need to preheat your oven to 425 degrees. While the oven is preheating you will need to wash, trim, peel, and then cut the turnips into half inch wedges or cubes. 

In a large bowl toss the turnips with a tablespoon of olive oil and a half a teaspoon of salt per pound of turnips. Once the turnips are thoroughly coated you will spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. 

You can line your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier cleanup. 

Roast the turnips in the oven for approximately 30 minutes or until they are fork-tender. Then remove the turnips from the oven. 

Leave them in the pan and allow them to cool completely. Once the turnips have cooled you will place the baking sheet directly into the freezer for two hours. 

Once the turnips have frozen completely you will remove them and put them into a freezer safe container. Make sure that you remove as much air as possible from the container. 

Label the container with the date and the contents. Roasted turnips will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Are Turnips Good After A Freeze?

You’ve picked just about everything from your garden but then a freeze came in before you could harvest all of your turnips. Are turnips that are left out during a freeze still good? 

Turnips still taste great after a frost  but they can be difficult to dig up after a freeze even though they will still be good. 

You can still harvest your turnips after it frosts. These will still taste really great. If you were not able to get to your turnips before the ground froze you can even dig them up in the spring when the ground around them thaws out. 

You will need to dig them up before they start to regrow their leaves in the spring.

What Can You Do With Too Many Turnips?

Did you have an abundance of turnips from your garden this year and you just don’t know what to do with them? Turnips can be used in many different dishes and in several different ways. 

Here are a few different ways that you can use turnips. 

You can make turnip fries instead of using potatoes to make fries. Turnip fries are a healthier alternative to regular French fries. 

You could also make turnip chips, mashed turnips, turnip coleslaw, and so much more. The internet is a great source for new recipes and new ways to use turnips that you might never have considered before.