Freezing and Preserving Turnips: A Beginner’s Guide

Turnips are a cool-season crop that can produce generous harvests, leaving many gardeners wondering how to keep their bounty fresh after harvest. As a long-time gardener who grows turnips throughout the year in raised beds, I’ve experimented with many storage methods. Freezing, blanching, and proper root-cellar storage are the most reliable ways to enjoy turnips well beyond the growing season.

Table of Contents

Selecting Turnips for Freezing

Choose firm, unblemished turnips with smooth skin. Young, tender roots freeze best because they have a milder flavor and finer texture. Wash thoroughly and peel if the skins are thick or tough.

Blanching Before Freezing

Blanching stops enzyme activity that can cause flavor and color loss during storage.

Peel and cut turnips into cubes, slices, or wedges.
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.
Blanch for 2–3 minutes, then immediately plunge into ice water to cool.
Drain well and pat dry before packing.

Freezing Tips

Pack blanched turnips in airtight freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible.
Label with the date; frozen turnips maintain best quality for 8–10 months.
Freeze in recipe-sized portions for easier meal prep.

Preserving Turnip Greens

Don’t overlook the greens. Wash thoroughly, blanch for 2 minutes, and freeze in small portions for soups, sautés, or smoothies.

Alternative Preservation Methods

Root Cellar or Cool Storage: Store unwashed turnips in damp sand or sawdust in a cool, dark place for several months.
Pickling: Slice and pickle turnips with vinegar, garlic, and spices for a tangy refrigerator or canned pickle.
Fermentation: Make a probiotic-rich turnip kraut by fermenting with salt in a jar.

My Experience Tip

For the best texture, I cube and blanch my turnips before freezing. When cooked later in stews or roasted dishes, they retain a pleasantly firm bite and sweet flavor—almost as good as fresh from the garden.

With a few simple steps, you can enjoy your homegrown or market turnips all winter long, preserving both flavor and nutrition.

Turnip Growing Hub

🥗 Start here: The Ultimate Turnip Growing Guide: From Seed to Harvest

🌱 Planting & Timing

When to Plant Turnips for Spring, Fall, and Winter Harvests
– Answers “when do I plant turnips?” with zone-based timing.
Turnip Seed Starting Tips
Succession Planting Turnips for a Continuous Harvest
– Explains timing and spacing strategies to keep the harvest going.
How to Grow Turnips in Containers and Raised Beds
– Great for small-space and urban gardeners. Include container size and spacing details.
How to Space and Thin Turnips for Full Roots
– Many gardeners fail to thin properly. This solves a common issue.

🌿 Care & Maintenance

How Much Water Do Turnips Need? A Watering Guide
– Helps answer “why are my turnips woody or bitter?”
How to Fertilize Turnips for Tender Roots and Tasty Greens
– A common struggle: too much leaf growth, small roots.
Best Companion Plants for Turnips (And What to Avoid)
– Evergreen content with strong search and Pinterest appeal.
How to Grow Turnips in Hot Weather or Warm Climates
– Address bolting, bitterness, and timing challenges in Zones 8–10.

🐛 Pests, Diseases & Troubleshooting

Common Turnip Pests and Diseases and How to Stop Them Naturally

–Flea beetles, aphids, damping off, white rust Includes IPM methods

Why Are My Turnips All Tops and No Roots? What Went Wrong
– Diagnostic article that answers a frequently asked gardener problem.
How to Prevent Woody Turnips and Improve Texture and Flavor
– Addresses late harvest, heat, and drought issues.

🧺 Harvest, Storage & Kitchen Use

How and When to Harvest Turnips for Best Texture
– Cover baby turnips, mature roots, and leafy greens.
How to Harvest and Store Turnips
– Answers “how long do turnips last?” and “can you store turnips in sand?”
Freezing and Preserving Turnips: A Beginner’s Guide
– Popular in late fall/early winter, great for preserving guides.
Eight Ways to Cook and Serve Turnips: Roots, Greens, and Recipe Ideas
– Kitchen-friendly post that links to growing and harvesting.
How to Use Turnip Greens in the Kitchen
– Zero-waste kitchen content that connects gardeners and cooks.