Turnips are a root vegetable that needs a little bit of time to cook.
But if you have leftover cooked turnip, storing it can be a challenge if you have no idea how.
For most foods, freezing is the answer. Can you freeze cooked turnip too?
The answer is yes; you can freeze cooked turnip. The best way to freeze cooked turnip is by blanching it with iced water and then freezing it in a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container.
You should not use any type of oil when freezing cooked turnips because oils will cause freezer burn and make your food unsafe for consumption.
How to freeze cooked turnips?
Freezing cooked turnip is very easy. But like freezing other foods, there are things you need to take into consideration.
The shelf life of cooked turnip in the freezer depends on how it is stored or handled.
That said, here’s the process you can follow to freeze cooked turnip:
1. Blanch the cooked turnips
You should blanch your cooked turnip first before freezing them.
2. Put the turnip in the bowl full of iced water
Place the bowl of cooked vegetables in a sink full of iced water and let it sit for about 5 minutes, just to make sure the temperature comes down from around boiling point to freezing level.
Quickly drain the vegetable and place into a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container after draining them well.
3. Label the bag or container
Make sure you label your food with freeze dates and contents so that you will be able to identify them correctly.
4. Put them in the freezing compartment of your freezing unit
Immediately put the Ziploc bag or Tupperware container inside the freezer where temperatures are below 0° Fahrenheit.
Try to stack them up and fill spaces around them with other freezer goods so that they don’t get stuck on each other.
This method of freezing cooked turnip is convenient, fast and will ensure that you can save your food for a long time.
How long can cooked turnips last in the freezer?
Frozen cooked turnips can last in the freezer for up to 6 months. But for long-term freezing, it is best that you freeze cooked turnips in portions.
This way, when you are ready to use one of the frozen food cubes, just make sure you thaw a reasonable amount for your family’s needs.
You can do this by putting it into the refrigerator overnight for quick freezing or put it under running water and then place inside a bowl of warm water overnight.
How do I freeze cooked turnip greens?
Freezing cooked turnip greens is very similar to freezing cooked turnip but you’re going to be blanching the greens first.
Here are the steps on how to freeze cooked turnip greens:
1. Wash and clean your cooked veggie
Wash your greens in cold water, then dry them off with a paper towel before freezing them for superior taste when eaten later.
You should make sure that it’s completely free of dirt, rocks, or any debris.
If there is even just one grain of sand stuck in between your fingers and the leaves, you’ll definitely taste it once thawed out.
So make sure they are spotlessly clean.
2. Blanch the greens
Once you’ve washed and cleaned your greens, blanche them in boiling water for about 5 minutes to kill off any bacteria that may be present on its surface.
You can also use an ice bath to stop the cooking process and then drain it well before freezing it.
3. Label your container or bag
Make sure you label your food with freeze dates and contents so that you will be able to identify them easily.
4. Freeze the cooked turnip greens
Put them in the freezing compartment of your freezer immediately after draining the cooked turnip leaves well.
Just like what you did with freezing cooked turnips above.
Try to stack them up and fill spaces around them with other freezer goods so that they don’t get stuck on each other.
Can you freeze fresh turnip greens?
Freezing fresh turnip greens in their natural state is not recommended. This is because freezing fresh vegetables has a risk of losing nutrients when it’s being frozen.
Freezing fresh turnip greens is also not safe because freezing veggies in their natural state will cause freezer burn which may contribute to the food getting contaminated by mold or other bacteria.
But if you’re going to freeze your green anyway, make sure that what you put in your container (or bag) is dry before freezing them.
Let it drain properly until any extra water gets removed.
How to thaw cooked turnips?
Thawing cooked turnip is easy too. Just put them into a microwave and heat up until they’re completely thawed.
You should never thaw food at room temperature because bacteria can get into your food and make it unsafe for human consumption.
As soon as they are completely thawed, you can use them again just like any other vegetables in recipes or as a side dish.
If the thawed cooked turnips have been in freezing temperatures for an extended period of time, then you may need to cook them longer than usual before consuming them.
Can you freeze cooked turnip roots?
Yes, you can freeze cooked turnip roots. Cooked turnip roots are usually prepared by boiling them first, then freezing it in its frozen form.
It’s a simple process. Just wash and peel the turnip roots, cut them into smaller pieces before freezing to make sure they will fit inside your freezing compartment once solid in its frozen state.
To conveniently thaw out cooked turnip roots just put them back inside the freezing compartment of your refrigerator for about 1-2 hours until thawed enough to be used again.
You can also use other techniques on how to freeze cooked turnips like using a vacuum sealer or freezing freshwater inside ice cube trays so that you will have as many frozen portions as possible once all of the cubes are stacked up in a plastic bag or container.
However, freezing cooked turnip roots is not a perfect strategy to store them because freezing them in their natural state can cause a freezer burn on their surface.
But if you really want to do this, make sure that you store the cooked turnip roots properly.
You may also vacuum seal it with an appliance called a vacuum sealer (check my recommended vacuum sealer on Amazon).
But again, this method requires quite an investment up front so freezing cooked turnips is still a better choice.
Can you freeze raw carrot and turnip?
Yes, you can freeze raw turnips and carrots since freezing food is a much safer option than freezing cooked turnips.
However, freezing both root crops takes a little more time to prepare before they’re ready to be frozen compared to freezing other vegetables like freezing broccoli.
Conclusion
You can freeze cooked turnip as long as you follow the freezing instructions described in this article.
Freezing cooked turnips is easy, convenient, and safer than freezing raw turnips.
Freezing vegetables ensures you’ll always have them at hand for when a recipe calls for it without having to worry about going out shopping just to find that ingredient needed for your meals.
In addition, freezing cooked turnips will still save you money because lower prices are set by sellers of vegetables that are in the season compared with freezing fresh food.
