Radishes are crunchy, refreshing and delicious; in addition, they offer numerous health benefits. Like many other vegetables, they don't keep fresh and crunchy for long, so it's important to keep them at their best. This article outlines four ways to keep them fresh for as long as possible.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Store Radishes in Water
Step 1. Take a large bowl and pour a few inches of water into it
Choose a large bowl or pot and pour 3-5 cm of cold water into it. Make sure it's big enough to fit all the radishes.
Step 2. Leave the radishes in the water for a couple of days
Arrange them vertically in the bowl, as if they were growing in water. Radishes must be whole, do not cut the leaves if they are present. Each should be partially submerged in water with the roots pointing downwards; try to space them evenly from each other. This method is suitable for short-term storage of radishes by keeping them at room temperature. They will keep fresh and crunchy for at least a couple of days.
Step 3. Place the bowl in the refrigerator if you want the radishes to last longer
By keeping them cool, you have the option of making them last up to 5-8 days. Decide whether to store them at room temperature or in the refrigerator based on when you intend to use them. By keeping them cold you can delay wilting and make them last for about a week.
If the leaves turn limp or brown it is because the radishes are spoiling
Method 2 of 4: Store the Radishes in a Plastic Bag
Step 1. Remove leaves and roots from radishes
Cut the leaves and roots from each radish using a knife or pair of scissors. If you don't remove these parts, the leaves will drain water from the roots and the radishes will wilt.
You can wash the radishes, but in that case they are likely to last less. Excess moisture causes vegetables to spoil faster; this means that radishes that have been washed may rot many days or weeks earlier than others
Step 2. Place the radishes in a plastic bag interspersed with damp paper towels
Open a resealable food bag and place a wet paper towel on the bottom. Place a first layer of radishes on the sheet without overlapping them, then cover them with another wet sheet of paper. Repeat the process until you have placed all the radishes in the bag. Even the last few radishes should be covered with a damp sheet of kitchen paper.
- If you don't have kitchen paper at home, you can use clean paper or cloth napkins.
- Since you have removed the roots, it is important to keep the radishes moist to keep them fresh.
Step 3. Remove excess air and seal the bag
Once all the radishes are in, let out the excess air. Flatten the top of the bag or use a straw to suck the air out. Seal the bag carefully to protect the radishes from any foreign elements.
Step 4. Place the bag in the refrigerator and store the radishes for 1-2 weeks
The ideal is to place it in the drawer reserved for vegetables to keep the radishes at a cool and dark temperature. This method allows you to store radishes for a couple of weeks.
Check them out from time to time. If they are mushy or shriveled, it means they are going bad, so it is best not to eat them
Method 3 of 4: Store Radishes in a Jar
Step 1. Wash the radishes and remove leaves and roots
Rinse them thoroughly to remove any soil residue, then cut the leaves and small roots using a knife or scissors.
Since you will be removing the roots, you can wash the radishes without compromising their shelf life
Step 2. Put the radishes in a glass jar
Use a canning jar or similar container to store radishes. Make sure it's big enough to fit all of them before filling it. Arrange the radishes in the jar neatly, layer by layer.
Step 3. Fill the jar with water and put it in the refrigerator
When all the radishes are in the jar, submerge them with water. Screw the lid onto the jar and make sure it is properly sealed. Put the jar in the refrigerator, the radishes will keep crisp and fresh for up to 8 days.
Check from time to time to make sure the radishes aren't limp or shriveled. Eat them only if they are crunchy, a sign that they are still fresh
Method 4 of 4: Storing Radishes in the Cellar
Step 1. Fill a box with moist sand and find a place for it in the cellar or basement
It must be a place where the temperature remains cool and stable. Find a box that fits all the radishes and add a thick, even layer of sand.
- Sprinkle the sand with water to moisten it. You can use a garden hose or a spray bottle.
- The sand should be moist, not soggy. Try mixing it with your hands, if it is very compact and you have difficulty moving it, it means that it is too wet.
Step 2. Put the radishes in the box without washing them
Distribute them evenly in the sand. You have to make sure that the roots don't touch each other, otherwise if one radish goes bad it will rot the others too. Also make sure the sand stays moist to keep the radishes cool.
There is no need to wash the radishes before putting them in the sand. Any wet vegetable tends to rot quickly, and in this case, radishes will draw the moisture they need from moist sand. Also, even if they have already been washed, you should still rewash them once they have been extracted from the sand
Step 3. You can store radishes in the sand for up to 3 months
Surrounded by moist sand, radishes can stay fresh for up to 3 months. To make sure you don't forget when you put them in the box, write the date on the outside or on a label.
Step 4. Check the radishes once a week
Approximately every seven days, check that none of the radishes are rotting or moldy. If you find one that has gone bad, immediately remove it from the box to prevent the problem from expanding.
Touch the sand every week to make sure it's still wet. If necessary, spray it again with water as you did before
Advice
- Radishes will become chewy if you leave them at room temperature for more than a day.
- If you have a cold greenhouse in your garden, you can store radishes there over the winter.
- Inspect radishes once a week if you have chosen a method that allows you to store them for the long term. Make sure they haven't lost their firm texture and vibrant color.
