How To Store Radishes - The Complete Storage Guide

Radishes have many benefits and are probably one of the crunchiest vegetables we can eat. But sometimes it’s hard to keep them fresh and crisp for a few days.

So how do you preserve radishes? There are several ways to preserve radishes. You can keep them at room temperature or in a container of water, but the easiest and most effective way is to store the radishes in the fridge (up to 2 weeks). You can also keep them in the ground (up to 3 months) or freeze them (6 months).

Read on for detailed instructions on how to freeze radishes and much more.

How long do radishes keep?

The shelf life of radishes depends on the method of storage.

If you store the radishes at room temperature, they won’t keep very long . The radishes will keep for about 3 days if you decide to store them in the pantry.

Radishes keep much longer in the fridge : about 2 weeks if you store them well.

Properly pickled and canned radishes can last up to 6 months in the fridge. However, if you like your pickled vegetables crunchy, eat them as soon as you can, once they have set sufficiently in the pickling liquid.

The longer you keep pickled radishes, the less crisp they will be.

Do radishes need to be refrigerated?

You do need to refrigerate the radishes, assuming you don’t plan to use them for 2-3 days after purchase, of course.

Although they usually keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge, they can still be good to eat afterwards. Storing radishes in the crisper drawer can help extend their shelf life for a few days. However, this also depends on how you store the radishes.

In any case, keep in mind that the longer you keep them in the fridge, the less crisp and juicy the radishes will be.

How to preserve radishes

There are many ways to store radishes . Depending on how long you need them to be kept, you can choose the method that suits you best.

Storage in the kitchen at room temperature

If you are going to use the radishes within 2-3 days, you can store them in your kitchen effortlessly. However, if you want to keep these crunchy vegetables for longer, there is a way to store them in your kitchen at room temperature.

To keep radishes at room temperature, try this storage method in a container of water:

1. Put the unwashed radishes in a large bowl. Make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold the radishes.
2. Fill the bowl with water so that it covers the bulbs. Make sure the water is cold and the leaves are not touching it.
3. Change the water daily and closely inspect the radishes. As soon as you notice the leaves are drying out and the radishes don’t seem quite as firm, pull them out and use them before they go bad.

Radishes stored in water will keep for about 3 days if stored in a container of room temperature water.

Storing radishes in the fridge

Radishes keep best in the fridge. So they stay crisp and firm for longer. There are several ways to freeze radishes in the fridge.

Cool radishes in water

You can easily move radishes stored in a bowl of water from the kitchen counter or pantry right into the fridge. This is a great step if you notice that your radishes are not doing well at room temperature.

Moving them to the fridge will extend their life to about a week.

Refrigerate the radishes in a plastic bag

You can refrigerate just about anything in plastic bags , and radishes are no exception. Here’s how to do it:

1. Cut the leaves and the ends of the roots. You may or may not wash the radishes. If you decide to wash them, be sure to pat them dry to remove excess moisture.
2. Line the plastic bag with two layers of slightly damp kitchen paper.
3. Place a few radishes in the bag and cover them with another layer of a damp paper towel.
4. Repeat the operation until the bag is full.
5. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible and put it in the fridge.

With this method of preserving radishes, it is important to cut off the green parts, as they take moisture from the bulb.

Refrigerate the radishes in jars with water

Refrigerating radishes in jars filled with water is a great way to keep them crisp for a little over a week. Here we explain how to do it.

1. Prepare the radishes by washing them and cutting off the leaves and root ends.
2. Put the radishes in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
3. Pour water into the jar so that it covers the radishes.
4. Store them in the refrigerator and consume them in 7 or 8 days .

This is a good way to store your radishes in the fridge if you want to always have clean radishes on hand.

Storing radishes in the ground

If you have a cellar or cellar and you are not afraid to go there, this method of storing radishes is for you. It takes some work, but the fact that you can keep radishes fresh for up to 3 months makes up for the extra work you have to do.

To save radishes in the ground, just follow these steps:

1. Find a box you don’t use and fill it with dirt. This must be wet.
2. Place the radishes in the soil so that only the green ones stand out.
3. Store the box with the radishes in the ground in your basement or cellar, or somewhere where it is cool and dark.
4. Mark the box with the date and check it every few days. Moisten the soil whenever it feels dry to the touch.

Can radishes be frozen?

Radishes are at their best when fresh. They are a rich source of minerals , such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as well as folate, vitamin K, and vitamin B-6. You get all these vitamins and minerals when the radishes are fresh.

You can freeze radishes if you find that other methods of storing these root vegetables do not preserve them long enough.

Freezing isn’t the best way to preserve radishes, but it certainly works and is a good way to extend the shelf life of these vegetables if you’re cooking them instead of making a fresh salad.

How does freezing affect radishes?

If you have decided to freeze radishes, you must do it well to preserve their flavor and minimize changes in texture.

Improperly prepared radishes will undergo flavor changes and you will not be able to enjoy them well after thawing. Texture changes , on the other hand, are unavoidable. Radishes have a high water content. Therefore, they may not be as crisp as they were before freezing.

You should take your time preparing the radishes for freezing and storing them properly. This way you will not only prolong its useful life, but you will enjoy good-tasting radishes once thawed.

How to freeze radishes

If you just harvested a lot of radishes and you know you won’t be able to finish them in a few weeks even if you eat them every day, freezing is a good option.

Here’s how best to prepare and freeze radishes:

1. Clean the radishes by removing any dirt. Radishes in the produce sections of the supermarket are cleaner than those in the garden.
2. Wash the radishes under cold water. Let the water run to clean them quickly.
3. Trim the stems and root end. Eliminates spots on the skin of radishes. Do not peel the radishes. The skin protects the inside of the radish when you freeze it.
4. Cut the radishes in half if they are small. If they are larger, you can divide them into four parts. If you freeze whole radishes, the skin will crack in the freezer.
5. Blanch the radishes. Leave them in boiling water for about 3 minutes. This step is crucial to slow down the ripening process of these root vegetables. Blanching will also preserve the bright color of the radishes.
6. Have a bowl of ice water handy . When you have boiled the radishes for a few minutes, put them in cold water to stop the cooking process.
7. Drain the radishes and let them dry out a bit.
8. Divide them into portions and place the radishes in resealable plastic bags, removing as much air as possible.
9. Mark the freezer bags with the date.

How to thaw frozen radishes

Thawing radishes is quick and easy. Just take them out of the freezer and run them under the tap. Make sure the water is not too hot or lukewarm. They will thaw perfectly in cold water or at room temperature.

How to Store Sliced Radishes

If you’ve sliced a lot of radishes but haven’t eaten them, you can refrigerate them for later use.

Just keep in mind that sliced radishes lose their water content and crunch much faster than whole radishes. Therefore, it is always better to save them whole when planning ahead.

In any case, if you have leftover sliced radishes, there are a few ways to store them in the fridge.

In an airtight container : Dry the radish slices and put them in an airtight container. Make sure there isn’t a lot of moisture left on the slices, as this can lead to mold. Stored in an airtight container, sliced radishes won’t keep as long as whole ones.

On damp paper towels : You can store the radishes wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel. This way, the radish slices won’t dry out quickly.

In water: If you want to preserve the crunchiness of your radish slices, it is best to store them in water. Fill a bowl with cold water and put the slices in it. Do not cover the water with an airtight lid, as the radish will go bad quickly.

Storing sliced radishes in ice water is a good way to make them extra crisp . In this case, however, you should leave them in the fridge for only a few hours before serving.

How to preserve pickled radishes

Pickled radishes should be stored in the refrigerator. They must be refrigerated both during the pickling process and afterwards. You should store them in the fridge in a jar with an airtight lid.

How to store radish leaves

If you’ve ever thrown away the leaves of a radish, now you don’t have to! They are actually edible and can be very tasty if you know how to use them.

Turnip tops on radishes have a short shelf life, as once you cut them, they don’t receive any nutrients.

Here we explain how to preserve radish leaves, step by step:

1. Cut the leaves off the radishes.
2. Put them in a plastic bag without washing them.
3. Remove the air from the plastic bag to better preserve the turnip tops.
4. Store green radishes in the fridge drawer.
5. Consume them within 3 days. 

You can make a fresh salad with the radish leaves or use them for your morning omelet. Since radish leaves are very delicate, they are perfect for making a pesto sauce.

You can also freeze the radish leaves. However, when freezing them, you should blanch them first to preserve color and flavor.

Here ‘s how to freeze radish leaves:

1. Cut the radish leaves and wash them.
2. Blanch them in boiling water for less than 20 seconds.
3. Drain the leaves and run them under cold running water.
4. Let the leaves dry on a paper towel.
5. Put the leaves on a cookie sheet to freeze individually first.
6. Once the leaves are frozen, divide them into portions and freeze them in resealable plastic bags.

How to store white radish

The best way to preserve a larger white radish is by trimming the leaves and refrigerating it. It is also recommended to wrap it with paper before putting it in the fridge.

Also known as Daikon radish, white radish can be stored in the fridge in the same way as regular red radish. 

Store in resealable bags after cutting the leaves and it will keep well for up to 14 days. You can also freeze it in the same way as a red radish.

How to tell if radishes are bad

Radishes are perishable and should be inspected before eating, whether they are freshly picked, refrigerated, or frozen and thawed.

Do not eat radishes that are dry and have lost all their moisture. If the radishes are dark, it can also be a sign that they are not good to eat.

Stains on radishes and any other produce are fine as long as you remove them and the radish is well underneath.

Here are some signs that radishes have gone bad:

• Soft texture . The radishes are firm and crisp. If your radishes are soft to the touch and mushy, it means they have gone bad. Thawed radishes may be slightly soft. This does not indicate that they are damaged.
• Unpleasant smell . Radishes do not have a characteristic odor. But if you think your radishes smell bad, they may have gone bad.
• mold . If there is mold on the radishes, throw them away.

Even if you’re sure you’ve stored your radishes correctly, it’s always a good idea to inspect them before eating or cooking.