Turnip
Turnips have a strong flavour and distinctive purple-white colouring. Large turnips were once used to carve Jack-O-Lanterns prior to the pumpkin.
Nutrition
The bulb part of turnips is a source of vitamin C to support our immune system with the green parts containing folate, calcium and vitamin E.
Shopping Guide
Try to pick up turnips that feel heavy for their size and are on the smaller side as these are typically sweeter.
Storage
Store your turnips in a cool area, this could be your fridge. Put them in a container and ensure the lid is left slightly open to allow for airflow or put them in a perforated bag which will keep good moisture levels.
Preparation
Raw turnips grated into a slaw or salad will be a completely different flavour to ones roasted and seasoned with salt, pepper and lemon juice, or mashed with sweet potatoes and butter.
Kids in the Kitchen
For a younger child, why not give them a bowl with some chopped turnips that they can toss in oil and salt and lay out on a tray ready for roasting. Get them to set a timer for you, and maybe even show them how to set the oven temperature to preheat.
For an older child, it could be a great opportunity to teach some essential knife skills. Show them how to safely chop the turnip using the bridge and claw grips.
Find more ideas for involving kids in the kitchen here.
Sensory
Explore the look and feel of a turnip. What does it look like? What colours do you see? What does it remind you of? What does it feel like? Is it bumpy, smooth, soft, hard, rough? How would you describe it to someone who had never seen one before?
Find more sensory ideas, tips and videos here. If you get stuck and need a little help with describing words, we have a selection for you here, too!
Serving
Next time you make a meal with turnips, try to get your kids involved in small ways wherever you can – when serving it up, why not let your child help you plate it and see if they can come up with a funny name for the dish. You could even see if they want to design a centrepiece for the table using items that are all white and pink like the turnips!
Find the best ways of involving your own child and their skills and interests on our Roles for Kids page.
Activities
Why not try making a turnip face mask by printing out our carrot face mask and colouring with turnip colours instead?
Kids more interested in science? Get inspired for at-home science fun with veg with our videos from Stefan Gates’ here.
Seasonality
Buying veg in season is not only great for the planet, it can be good for your wallet, too! Buying turnip over the winter will get you the best flavour and price, so keep an eye out from October. Root veg often taste even sweeter after the first frost, so if it’s too bitter for you in November, maybe give it another go in January or February and see if it tastes any different!
At Its Best:
October - February
Your Food
Turnip’s bitter flavour can be a tough sell, but some kids will love this, and including it in meals with sweeter ingredients or roasting it can make it taste delicious! Use our favourite dishes that work well with turnips to bring everyone around to this British-grown veg.
Recipe Inspiration
The Hairy Bikers’ Winter Vegetable Soup
Si King & Dave Myers (The Hairy Bikers)
The Wonderful World of Veg
Check out our vegepedia. When to buy in-season. How to store them to keep for longer. How to engage children with each veg, and simple ideas of how to prepare and cook them for maximum taste and minimum waste. Select a veg…