Gransnet forums

Chat

What to do with a turnip? - polite answers only please!

(83 Posts)
Luckygirl3 Sun 22-Jun-25 13:02:06

I have been given a whole pile of veg - I live alone so can't eat it up very fast and tend to cook the same things over and over again.

Amongst this treasure trove is a turnip. What would you do with it?!

watermeadow Sun 22-Jun-25 14:58:22

Peel, chop up then freeze. Come winter you can use it, not in summer.

ViceVersa Sun 22-Jun-25 15:05:02

Why would you chuck it in the bin? What a waste. Chop it up and use it in a stew or casserole, or roast along with other root veg and make a roasted veg soup.

Crossstitchfan Sun 22-Jun-25 15:13:05

it’s ok saying chop it up! How?! I have tried before and come to the conclusion I’d stand a better chance trying to chop a house brick! Any tips please?

Patsy70 Sun 22-Jun-25 15:14:20

Sorry ViceVersa, but I did find that funny.
I wouldn’t throw it in the bin, incidentally, as I like turnips and there are lots of tasty suggestions here.

ViceVersa Sun 22-Jun-25 15:32:54

Crossstitchfan

it’s ok saying chop it up! How?! I have tried before and come to the conclusion I’d stand a better chance trying to chop a house brick! Any tips please?

Microwave it first and then you can chop them up no problem.

Allira Sun 22-Jun-25 15:47:57

Crossstitchfan

it’s ok saying chop it up! How?! I have tried before and come to the conclusion I’d stand a better chance trying to chop a house brick! Any tips please?

They're very small, peel, microwave (in a steamer) as ViceVersa suggests then chop.

Or feed to the cattle or sheep.

Luckygirl3 Sun 22-Jun-25 16:45:36

How long would you microwave it for to get it to a choppable state?

ViceVersa Sun 22-Jun-25 16:49:06

Luckygirl3

How long would you microwave it for to get it to a choppable state?

How long is a piece of string? Depends on the size of the turnip - I'd give it 3 minutes then try to see if it's choppable. If not, bung it in for another minute.

Luckygirl3 Sun 22-Jun-25 17:02:24

It's about the size of a bowls ball. And looks a bit like it.

Astitchintime Sun 22-Jun-25 17:05:42

ViceVersa

Astitchintime

If it is of the parsnip variety I would put it in the compost bin.

A parsnip is totally different from a turnip!

Well, I do beg your pardon ViceVersa but in some areas of the UK, the word turnip is used as a general term to define any root vegetables that aren’t carrots or potatoes.

ViceVersa Sun 22-Jun-25 17:26:42

Never heard of that before - I'm well aware of the confusion between turnips and swedes, but I'm not sure how anyone could mistake a parsnip for a turnip. They're totally different shapes, for one thing.

Witzend Sun 22-Jun-25 17:30:08

I’d chop it small and add it to a multi-veg soup. Freeze it if it’s too hot for soup at the moment.

Turnip IMO goes really well with a lamb stew, but admittedly it’s rather too hot for that now.

Witzend Sun 22-Jun-25 17:32:43

Luckygirl3

How long would you microwave it for to get it to a choppable state?

I’ve never had the slightest trouble chopping turnips, and I use them quite a bit in autumn/winter. Is it a monster one that’s been allowed to get very woody?

watermeadow Sun 22-Jun-25 18:18:45

Are you confusing turnips with swedes, as I believe all of Scotland does? Turnips are golf ball to tennis ball in size and easy enough to chop up.

Allira Sun 22-Jun-25 18:19:38

Luckygirl3

It's about the size of a bowls ball. And looks a bit like it.

If it looks like a golf ball, tastes like a golf ball - it's a turnip, not a swede.

If it's the size of a bowls ball then it's a monster turnip!

Dottydots Sun 22-Jun-25 18:23:25

Oh you Gransnetters on here do make me laugh. What a lot of fun over a blooming turnip!

Grammaretto Sun 22-Jun-25 18:29:28

If it's the size and colour and shape of a golf ball. It is a golf ball. Send it back and ask for a vegetable you like.

White turnips are the small ones. Neeps sneap in Gaelic are large, orange and good for carving at Halloween not ever to be confused with pumpkins.

Ladyleftfieldlover Sun 22-Jun-25 18:31:50

Turnips go well in beef stew as they absorb the beefy flavour and add bulk.

Or, apparently they are a traditional accompaniment to duck.

Turnips are small and white,
Swedes are big and orange.

Allira Sun 22-Jun-25 18:32:50

Yes, neeps are swede.

Good in a pasty. But, just to confuse the issue, in Devon and Cornwall, where the best pasties are made, swedes are known as turnips 😁

Ladyleftfieldlover Sun 22-Jun-25 18:37:08

Allira

Yes, neeps are swede.

Good in a pasty. But, just to confuse the issue, in Devon and Cornwall, where the best pasties are made, swedes are known as turnips 😁

OH is from Yorkshire and calls them the wrong names!

M0nica Sun 22-Jun-25 19:10:44

Dice it and freeze it then get it out when the weather gets cooler and put n a nice beef stew with a carrot and leek.

Marg75 Sun 22-Jun-25 19:11:11

Very true, the turnips I put in my pasties are orange and obviously swedes but I have always called them turnips being in Cornwall.

sharon103 Sun 22-Jun-25 19:39:22

Where I come from, Northants, the orange ones are swedes and the off white ones with a bit of purple on the top are turnips.
Turnips chop up easy. Swedes, orange ones. are a devil to peel and chop.
I use both in a stew.

Luckygirl3 Sun 22-Jun-25 20:34:11

It's definitely a turnip!!!
I like swedes and know them well.

Allira Sun 22-Jun-25 21:20:30

Marg75

Very true, the turnips I put in my pasties are orange and obviously swedes but I have always called them turnips being in Cornwall.

😁

I made that mistake when I moved to Devon.