How to Store Radishes: 6 Ways to Store Radishes

A radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus) is a widely available root vegetable and member of the mustard family Brassicaceae. Fresh radish bulbs are known for having crispy textures and pungent flavors. Some chefs use radish greens in salads or sautées as well. Daikon radishes, which resemble white carrots, are also popular.

Gardening beginners can look to radishes as a low-maintenance crop to plant in a variety of conditions. Radishes grow using a tap root system, which makes them ideal for gardens with loamy soil or even damp, sand-based soil. They tend to be one of the first crops of spring, and they work well as companion plants to cucumbers, peas, and lettuce.

Left on the kitchen counter at room temperature, unwashed radishes will turn mushy in a couple of days. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to preserve radishes over both the short-term and the long-term.

1. 1. In cold water: Whole radishes can last for over a week in a jar of cold water. Simply wash these veggies, cut off the radish greens and root ends, and place them in a tightly sealed jar filled with water. They will last in the refrigerator for one week and often longer.
2. 2. Frozen: Freezing radishes will mute some of their distinctive flavors, but consider this an option for long-term storage. For best results, take quartered or sliced radishes and blanch them by submerging them in boiling water and then a large bowl of ice water for about two minutes each. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Then place the cut radishes into freezer bags for long-term storage. Be sure to squeeze excess air out of the plastic bag to prevent ice crystals from forming.
3. 3. Pickled: Pickled radishes can last up to six months in a refrigerated canning jar. When pickling radishes, use a formula that combines a half-pound of radishes with a half-cup of sugar, a half-cup of white vinegar, a quarter-cup of water, and a teaspoon of salt. You can also add items like black pepper and lemon juice to taste.
4. 4. In dirt: If you have a root cellar or just a cool room in your basement, you can keep radishes there, covered in soil or damp sand to mimic their natural environment. Radishes stored this way can last upwards of three months.
5. 5. Dehydrated: If you own a dehydrating machine, you can try preserving radishes by removing their moisture. Take note that these veggies have a high water content, and dehydrating them may deprive them of their distinctive flavor and texture.
6. 6. In the crisper drawer: Radishes stored in your crisper drawer may not last as long as those stored by other methods, but this is undoubtedly the simplest DIY option. Simply wrap radishes in a damp paper towel, place them in a food storage bag, and place the bag in your refrigerator's crisper drawer. If your radishes are particularly fresh, they may last upwards of a week.

Radish freshness depends on the storage method you use.

• Kitchen counter: Left on a kitchen counter, radish greens will start wilting and bulbs will start turning mushy within two to three days.
• Plastic bag: Radishes stored in a plastic bag in your refrigerator's crisper drawer may last five to seven days.
• Jar with water: Radishes in a jar full of cold water may last upwards of two weeks.
• Dirt: Radishes stored in the dirt in a root cellar can last upwards of three months.
• Pickled: Pickled radishes can easily last six months.
• Frozen: Frozen and dehydrated radishes can last six months to a year, but they may retain little of the vegetable's distinctive flavor and texture.

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