Can You Freeze Turnips?

Turnips are root vegetables generally available in the winter months. Buying vegetables in bulk is comparatively cheaper. So, you usually end up with more turnips on hand than you can consume immediately. Should you worry about storing them for future use? That should not be a problem because you can freeze turnips and preserve them for extended periods.

So, Can You Freeze Turnips?

The answer is YES. You can freeze all types of turnips, roasted, diced and blanched, cooked and roasted. The procedure differs slightly, but freezing turnips is not an issue.

How Do You Freeze Fresh Turnips?

The ideal way to freeze vegetables is to cook them partially before placing them in the freezer. This process is known as blanching. The process involves boiling the vegetables partially to destroy the enzymes that affect their color and texture. So, have your turnips ready for blanching.

1. Clean the vegetables and peel them. It is better to chop them into small cubes.
2. Keep a bowl of iced water ready.
3. Add the turnips to boiling water and boil for two minutes.
4. Drain the turnips and transfer them to the ice water bowl. It stops the cooking process.
5. Wait for some time and drain the turnips again.
6. Spread the cubes out on a baking sheet, ensuring that the turnip cubes do not clash.
7. Place the baking sheet deep inside the freezer for two hours.
8. Remove the turnips after they freeze and transfer them to a freezer bag or an airtight container.
9. Press the bags slightly to remove excess air. Seal the bags/containers, label them, and freeze them inside the freezer.
10. The frozen turnips can last for six months in the freezer.

How Do You Freeze Mashed Turnips?

Mashed turnips are similar to potatoes but have a creamy texture and sharp taste. You can freeze mashed turnips and have them with your roasted meats and other dishes.

1. Wash the vegetable, peel them, and cut them into chunks.
2. Boil water in a large pot.
3. Add the turnip chunks into it and boil for 25 minutes until they become tender.
4. Drain the water out and mash the turnips or puree them using a blender.
5. Cool the mashed turnips to room temperature.
6. Pack the mashed vegetable into freezer bags. Leave some space above the turnips and seal them.
7. Label the bags and freeze them comfortably for three months.

How Do You Freeze Roasted Turnips?

Many people love to roast turnips before eating them. The exciting news is that you can free roasted turnips to maintain their freshness.

1. Prepare the oven and keep the temperature at around 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Wash the turnips, scrub them, and cut them into small cubes.
3. Toss the turnip cubes in a bowl with salt and olive oil.
4. Spread the turnips on a baking sheet and roast for half an hour in the oven until they become tender.
5. Cool the turnips in a pan to room temperature and place the pan inside the freezer. Label the bags and freeze them for three months.

How To Defrost Turnips?

You do not have to defrost frozen turnips. You can transfer the frozen turnips directly from the freezer bag into the frying pan. If you wish to add turnips to stews and soup, toss the frozen turnips cubes into the soups/stews and boil them. If you want to prepare turnip vegetables, you can transfer them from the freezer to a pan of boiling water for 30 minutes until they become tender.

However, the procedure discussed above does not work for frozen mashed turnips. You can defrost frozen mashed turnips inside the refrigerator overnight by transferring the required quantity of mashed turnips into another container. The thawing process takes around six to eight hours.

Once they become soft to touch, you can place them in a pan and warm them. Then, you can add some milk or butter to make it smooth and silky.

Is It Possible To Refreeze Turnips?

Turnips can lose their texture rapidly if you refreeze them. Therefore, we advise cutting them into small cubes and freezing them in convenient portions for simplified usage. We do not recommend refreezing turnips under any circumstances.

Can You Freeze Turnip Greens?

There should not be any problem with freezing turnip greens. The process is the same as freezing spring greens or kale. However, blanching them before freezing is crucial because it helps retain their nutrients for long periods.

Can You Freeze Carrot And Turnip Mash?

Yes, the procedure for freezing carrot and turnip mash is the same.

Why Do You Remove Air Entirely From The Freezer Bags Before Freezing Turnips?

Removing air prevents the turnips from spoiling inside the freezer. It also protects them from freezer burn.

How Do You Remove Air From The Freezer Bags?

You can remove air from the freezer bags in two ways. Vacuum sealing is a simple way to remove air. You can also place a straw through the small opening in the zip-lock bag and suck the air out.

The water displacement method is the alternate method of removing air from freezer bags. Fill a large bowl with water. Seal the bag partially by leaving out a small opening. Push the bag into the water but ensure that the water does not enter it. The water pressure will push the air out from the bag. You can remove it and seal it immediately.

Is It Necessary To Peel The Turnips Before Freezing?

Though you can cook and consume turnips without peeling them, it is advisable because you can avoid the sharp taste that remains in the mouth after eating unpeeled turnips. Besides, peeling turnips facilitates the freezing process. If the skin is not thick enough, you can also scrub them to remove as much skin as possible.

Final Thoughts

Turnips are the easiest vegetables to freeze because they do not require much preparation. So can you freeze turnips? Yes, you can freeze all kinds of turnips and enjoy them later.