Radishes are those crunchy, crisp, and slightly spicy purple-red things that we often put on our salads. They are root vegetables and can be eaten raw or cooked.
However, something that often eludes people who buy radishes for the first time, is the business of storing them. Where on earth do they live in our homes? The refrigerator? A cool, dark place? Out on the kitchen worktops?
Well luckily for you, the storage of radishes will be a mystery no more! In this article, we will be exploring some of the methods that can be used for storing radishes, as well as some top tips for keeping them as fresh as can be!
If that sounds like something you are interested in, or if you are concerned about how to store your freshly harvested radishes, then this is the article for you!
Table of Contents
Refrigerator and Bag Method
The first type of storage method for radishes is to simply place them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The plastic bag needs to be tightly sealed up, to ensure that the radishes are completely kept fresh and that they maintain their distinct crunch.
Do not let air get at them or you risk them losing their taste and texture.
Simply prepare your radishes by ridding them of any visible dirt. You do not need to wash them at this stage. You can if you want to, but they will not keep as fresh for as long. It is better to wash them as you use them.
Unwashed radishes can stay fresher for much longer, even by days and weeks in some cases.
You should then proceed to remove the roots from the radish, as well as the leafy green tops. If you do not do this, the radish will dry out since the green leafy tops will attempt to draw all of the water out of the roots.
Because you are cutting off the roots, which is the way the radishes stay hydrated, you need to ensure that the radishes have another way of being hydrated.
To do this, you need to dampen some paper towels and place them at the bottom of the airtight refrigerator bag before placing the radishes on top. You should then put a damp paper towel on top of the radishes.
Flatten the bag out to remove all of the air, and then seal it tightly. Keep the radishes in the crisper compartment of your refrigerator, if it has one. If not, any cool, dark palace inside the refrigerator will do.
They will keep for around 1 to 2 weeks. You should, however, check them often fr signs that they are going bad. Mushy radishes are not a good sign and will mean they are no longer crisp and fresh.
Bowl of Water Method
Another way of storing your radishes to keep them crisp and fresh is to keep them in a bowl of water, either on your worktop or in the refrigerator. This is also known as hydro-cooling.
Hydro-cooling should only be used for short term storage, as it will not keep your radishes for longer than 3 days if you place them on the worktop. However, they do keep slightly longer in the refrigerator.
All you need to do this is a bowl, water, and your radishes. Ideally, the bowl should be large enough to hold all of your radishes but does not need to be especially deep.
You should also ensure there is enough room in your refrigerator for the bowl to fit with the radishes if you are using the refrigerator method.
Fill your bowl with around 1 to 2 inches of water. If you work in centimeters rather than inches, this is around 2.5 to 5 cm. If you do not have a suitable bowl you should use a pan instead.
Grab your bunch of radishes by the green leaves. Do not remove the roots or the leaves or they will go bad much more quickly.
Place the radishes in the water altogether, and then spread them out evenly. It should look as though the radishes are growing out of the water bowl, as the leafy green ends will be sticking out.
Ensure the roots and bulbs of each of the radishes are submerged. The leaves do not need to be submerged, hence the need for just 1 or 2 inches of water. Ensure they remain spread out evenly for the duration.
They will keep in the refrigerator for around 5 days and a maximum of 8 days. If you want to keep them out on your worktop at room temperature, they will only last for around 3 days so use them up quickly!
The Jar Method
For this method, you will need to trim your radishes, taking off the roots and leaves. Wash them to ensure all of the dirt is off them, especially if they have been freshly harvested. The reason for this is because you will be placing them in a sealed jar.
Prepare a glass jar, ensuring it is clean and totally dry. The lid should be air-tight and you should be able to fit in your radishes without them getting stuck.
Be sure not to overfill the jar by using two or three jars if needed. Place your radishes in the bottom and then fill your jar with clean, fresh water, ensuring all of the radishes are submerged.
Ensure that the water is cold, rather than room temperature or warm, as this will keep them even crisper.
You should then seal the lid and place it in your refrigerator. They will keep for up to 8 days if kept in this way. They may start to lose their crispness if the lid is not on tightly. Check them regularly to see if they are still firm.
If they have turned soft then they will no longer be crisp to the bite. They should be discarded (unless of course, you don’t mind mushy radishes…), or used up immediately!