How to freeze/thaw turnips, storage period, and 5 recipes [Explanation with photos]

Did you know that you can easily freeze turnips?

Turnips can be stored at room temperature in a cool place, and they can also be stored for a reasonable period of time in the crisper.

However, if you are reading this article now, you probably have more turnips than you can store using normal methods.

Or maybe you're looking for a way to freeze turnips because they're suitable for baby food.

Here, we introduce freezing methods that allow turnips to be stored for long periods of time, as well as ways to freeze turnips for baby food, as well as thawing methods, storage periods, and recipes using frozen turnips.

If you are looking for ways to preserve turnips, we have the perfect information for you, so please read on.

Advantages of freezing turnips

Source: http://www.umai-aomori.jp/season-report/seasonal/noheji-kokabu_201307.html

Retains deliciousness even after long-term storage

One of the benefits of freezing is that food retains its flavor even after long-term storage.

Turnips are a food that is well-preserved, so they can be stored for a long time even in the crisper. However, during that time, it is exposed to dryness in the refrigerator and odors from other foods, so it is difficult to say that it will still taste the same a month later.

However, freezing is what makes this possible.

Store frozen in plastic wrap or freezer bags. Therefore, you can protect your food from dryness and odors. In addition, the deterioration rate of ingredients is slowed down during freezing, so they can maintain their deliciousness for a long time.

Soft enough for baby food

The second advantage of freezing is that it becomes soft enough to be used as baby food.

Turnips are originally said to be a suitable ingredient for baby food.

It has a mild taste and a slight sweetness, making it easy to pair with other ingredients. It also has the advantage of aiding in the digestion of rice, as it contains enzymes that break down starch.

And by freezing it, you get the added benefit of making it softer.

When many vegetables are frozen, many cells break down due to the shock of temperature changes (this is because the water inside the cells expands and breaks the cell membranes). When the cells are destroyed, the crunchy texture is lost and the texture becomes sticky.

Normally, these are considered to be disadvantages of frozen storage, but when frozen for baby food, it becomes ``softer'' which is an advantage.

How to freeze turnips

When freezing raw

[How to freeze the white part]

1. Cut off the leaves and wash them with water.

2. Peel the skin to a thickness of about 3 to 5 mm.

3. Cut into pieces according to the purpose of cooking, such as ginkgo slices or half-moon slices.

4. Place in a freezer bag and freeze.

★You can peel the skin either from the bottom up or like an apple. The peeled skin can be used for cooking such as Kinpira-modoki.
★If you are concerned about the smell transferring, it is a good idea to wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag before step 5.
★If you have a metal tray, you can rapid freezing. In step 5, place the freezer bag on a metal tray and freeze.

[How to freeze leaf parts]

1. Cut off the leaves and wash them with water.

2. Boil plenty of water in a pot and add a pinch of salt.
*Adding salt will make the green color more vivid.

3. Add the stems first and boil for about 1 minute.

4. Once boiled, cool under running water.

5. Drain the water and cut it according to the purpose of cooking (in the photo, it is cut into about 4 cm pieces).

6. Wrap each amount in plastic wrap according to the amount you can use.

7. Place in a freezer bag and freeze.

★Like the white part, you can rapid freezing if you have a metal tray.
★You can also freeze it without boiling it in salt, but in that case, it will deteriorate more easily due to the action of enzymes (boiling will slow down the speed of deterioration).

When freezing for baby food

The leaf part is as described above. Here, we will only talk about how to freeze the white part.

1. Cut off the leaves and wash them with water.

2. Peel the skin to about 5mm thick (it's easier to peel if you peel from the bottom in a hexagonal pattern).

3. Boil plenty of water in a pot and simmer until it becomes thick (*).

(*) Depending on the heat level and the size of the turnips, the approximate cooking time is about 30 to 40 minutes.

4. Grate it (if you are concerned about fibers, remove them).

5. Divide into portions that can be used at one time (*) and freeze.

(*) As shown in the photo, if you make creases with chopsticks or the like before freezing, you can easily fold it up when you want to use it.
★If you want to freeze it in plastic wrap as shown in the photo, we recommend freezing it in plastic wrap and then putting it back into a freezer bag after it hardens (as the liquid may leak).
★If you have an ice cube tray, you can also pour it into the ice cube tray and freeze it in step 5.

How to thaw turnips and storage period

How to defrost turnips

If you have frozen turnips, just cook them without thawing both the white part and the leaf part. Use them in cooking as you would with unfrozen turnips.

Even if it is for baby food, it can be used for cooking without thawing. However, if you need it for cooking, please defrost it using a microwave etc.

Turnip storage period

The storage period of frozen stocks is as follows.

[Usually frozen]

About 1 month (both white part and leaf part)

This is just a guideline, so if you notice discoloration or a strange odor, it is best to refrain from using it even within the period.

[For baby food]

About 1~2 weeks

Since it is eaten by infants and young children, try to use it up as soon as possible.

5 easy recipes using turnips

Turnip potage

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4279762

☑材料（2人分）
・じゃがいも　2個
・冷凍かぶ　2個分（白い部分のみ）
・玉ねぎ　1/2個
・にんにく　1かけ
・ガラスープの素　小さじ1/2
・塩　小さじ1

<How to make>
1) Use thinly sliced turnips and boil in plenty of hot water (you will use the broth later).
2) Peel the potatoes, cut them into thin slices, and boil them in a separate pot.
3) Use a food processor to make (1) and (2) separately into a paste.
4) Fry the chopped onions and garlic in a frying pan.
5) Add the broth from (1) to a frying pan, bring to a boil, then transfer to a pot.
6) Add turnip paste to (5), add gara soup base and heat over low heat.
7) Remove the garlic, grate it and return it to the pot.
8) Add the potato paste to the pot, season with salt, and bring to a boil.

Turnip minced chicken stew

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4361041

☑材料（2~3人分）
・冷凍かぶ　2個分
・鶏ひき肉　100g
・ごま油　適量
・しょうが　1かけ
●水　200cc
●ほんだし　小さじ1
●醤油　大さじ1
●みりん　大さじ1
●酒　大さじ1
●砂糖　小さじ1
■片栗粉　小さじ2
■水　大さじ1+1/3

<How to make>
1) Cut the frozen turnips in half, then cut them into quarters lengthwise, then cut the leaves into 1cm-wide pieces.
2) Finely chop the ginger.
3) Heat the sesame oil in a pan and add the ginger from (2).
4) When the aroma rises, add the minced chicken, and when the color changes, add the turnips and stir-fry.
5) After lightly frying the turnips, add the seasonings listed in ●, cover with a lid, and simmer over medium-low heat for 7 to 8 minutes.
6) Insert a bamboo skewer into the turnip and it should be fine if it slides through easily.
7) Add the leaves from (1) and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
8) Turn off the heat and add the potato starch dissolved in water.
9) Turn on the fire again and heat until desired thickness is reached.

Turnip leaves with sesame sauce

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/705820

☑材料（１人分）
・冷凍かぶ（葉）　3株分
●味噌　大さじ1/2
●砂糖　大さじ1
●醤油　小さじ1
●すりごま　大さじ1~2
・ごま油　適量

<How to make>
1) Use turnip leaves cut into easy-to-eat pieces (about 3 to 4 cm).
2) Mix the seasonings.
3) Add sesame oil to a pot and fry the leaves from (1) lightly (just enough to add aroma).
4) Combine (2) and mix everything together to complete.

[Early baby food] Tomato and turnip melty

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4446772

☑材料（1食分）
・トマトペースト　小さじ2
・冷凍かぶペースト　小さじ2

<How to make>
1) Use tomato paste that has been boiled and strained, with the skin and seeds removed.
2) Use turnip paste that has been frozen.
3) Heat both (1) and (2) in the microwave (500W for 40 seconds).
4) Once it's warmed up, mix the two together and it's done.
★Tomato paste is loose, so you can thicken it by adding potato starch dissolved in water.

[Mid-term baby food] Turnip and apple soy milk potage

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4524795

☑材料（2食分）
・りんご　80g
・冷凍かぶペースト　60g
・小松菜　5g
・豆乳　100cc
・水　200cc

<How to make>
1) Peel the apple and cut it into appropriate size pieces.
2) Use the soft tip of the leaves of the komatsuna and cut them into appropriate sizes.
3) Add the frozen turnip paste and the apples from (1) to a pot of boiling water and boil for about 4 minutes.
4) Add the komatsuna from (2) to (3) and simmer for another minute.
5) Transfer from the pot to a blender and make a paste.
6) Return to the pot, add soy milk, heat again for 1 minute, and it's done.

Conclusion

How do you freeze turnips?

The key to freezing is to peel the skin before freezing. This way, you can use it for cooking without waiting for it to thaw.

A quick look back at freezing methods:

・If you want to freeze the white part, peel it, cut it into appropriate size pieces and freeze it.

・If you want to freeze the leaves, boil them for about 1 minute, then cut them into appropriate sizes and freeze them.

・If you want to freeze it for baby food, boil it until it becomes mushy, mash it, then freeze it.

was.

The shelf life is approximately one month, and there is no need to thaw it, just cook it as is. When cooking, it is best to refrain from using it raw, such as in salads, and use cooking methods that add heat.

Please use this method of freezing turnips in your daily life.