How to Store Turnips
Turnips are dependable autumn and winter roots, with smaller specimens usually keeping best. Harvest before prolonged hard frost where soil freezes deeply, choosing firm, dry roots with their skins intact. Remove the leaves promptly, leaving a short stem, and sort out any damaged or soft turnips for immediate cooking.
Best storage conditions
Aim for 0 to 4 degrees C with high humidity, around 90 per cent, so roots do not shrivel. A dark, frost-free shed, garage, cellar or porch is suitable if it remains cool and has some air movement. Keep turnips away from radiators, sunny windows and ripening fruit. They should be dry on the outside before storage, but the surrounding sand or compost may be just barely moist.
How long it keeps
Well-grown, sound turnips commonly keep for 2 to 4 months in suitable conditions. Check weekly, especially during mild spells, and use any that begin to soften first. Turnips left in the ground can be lifted over winter in milder districts, but are less reliable where soil becomes frozen solid.
Storage methods
Twist or cut off the leafy tops, as they draw moisture from the roots, then do not wash the turnips. Pack them in shallow boxes or crates between layers of barely moist sand, keeping individual roots from pressing together. Alternatively, use a traditional clamp: layer dry straw and roots on well-drained ground, then cover with more straw and a thick layer of soil, leaving ventilation near the top. In mild areas, leave a row in the ground and lift roots as required. Keep only sound, unblemished turnips, and remove any showing mould or rot at once.
Preserving
For a chest freezer, peel and dice turnips, blanch briefly, cool quickly, dry and freeze in portions. They can also be roasted before freezing for speedy winter meals. Pickled turnip is another useful option, particularly for smaller roots; follow a trusted British recipe. Turnips also work well in mixed chutneys, although their firm texture is usually better preserved by freezing than by bottling.
Tips
Avoid storing turnips alongside apples or tomatoes, as ethylene can encourage quality loss. Label boxes with the harvest month and work through the oldest roots first. If roots are muddy, allow soil to dry and brush it off rather than washing them. One decaying turnip can quickly spoil its neighbours, so inspect every batch regularly.
Storing Turnips: frequently asked questions
How do I store turnips?
Twist or cut off the leafy tops, as they draw moisture from the roots, then do not wash the turnips.
How long does turnips keep in storage?
Well-grown, sound turnips commonly keep for 2 to 4 months in suitable conditions.
What are the best conditions for storing turnips?
Aim for 0 to 4 degrees C with high humidity, around 90 per cent, so roots do not shrivel.
Store only sound, dry produce and check regularly. For bottling and preserving, follow a trusted recipe. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.