How to Store Radishes for Longevity: 11 Tips

How do you store radishes in a way that they won’t rot?

You want to be able to easily find some fresh radishes whenever you need them.

But storing radishes can be difficult.

They can grow very quickly and if not stored properly, they can rot in just a few days.

The thing is…

If radishes rot, you will have to throw out most of the radishes.

This means that you will have wasted money and effort growing the radishes in the first place.

In this article, I would like to reveal some simple ideas that will make it easier to store radishes for a long time.

These ideas are designed to make your radishes last longer so you don’t have to waste time and money trying to find some fresh ones every time you want them.

Sounds good?

Let’s dive in…

How To Store Radishes

1. Keep them moist

When it comes to storing radishes, the most important thing is to keep them dry. Keep them away from moisture and any type of dampness, such as in the fridge. This is because when radishes are exposed to moisture, they begin to rot.

Radishes are also known to rot quickly when stored in a plastic container. Plastic, along with other non-porous materials, does not allow for good air circulation.

2. Keep them cool

Store radishes in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Radishes don’t ripen after they’re harvested, so it’s important to keep them as fresh as possible. Storing radishes in the fridge will keep them nice and crunchy for longer periods of time.

3. Don’t store them for too long

Storing radishes and other vegetables is easy, but if you’re not careful, you can end up with some serious kitchen waste. Radishes are great on a sandwich, but when they start to go bad, the best thing to do is chop them and use them in a soup or stew. They’re best used within a week after being harvested.

4. Don’t leave them out in the sun

You should not leave radishes out in the sun if you want them to last longer because radishes need to stay dark in order to keep their vitamin C content. The sun will burn the radishes and cause them to lose vitamin C.

5. Store them in the fridge

Storing radishes in the fridge will keep them fresher for longer.

Storing radishes in the fridge is important because they tend to lose their flavor when exposed to light. Light also affects the vitamin content of the radishes.

6. Keep them in a dark, dry place

This method is perfect for those of you who want your radishes to last for the entire summer. We don’t have that much of a cold season so we only need to worry about keeping them until we use them.

If you do this, make sure you keep them in a dark, dry spot. You can use anything from a dark closet to the top shelf of a refrigerator. Just make sure there is no direct sunlight and it’s not too warm or hot.

If you live in a climate where it doesn’t get cold enough, just place them in your root cellar in a cool, dark area. I know a lot of people store their potatoes and onions in the basement but if you have that room free you can do it with radishes.

7. Don’t store them in plastic or Styrofoam

The main thing to remember about storage methods is that they all affect the flavor of your radishes. Storing your radishes in any type of plastic, Styrofoam, or even plastic wrap will affect the quality of the radish.

Storing them in a Styrofoam box will also give off an off smell that will keep them from lasting. If you store them in a bag or in the produce bin at home then you can avoid this problem but when you store them in the fridge you don’t have much control over how long they will last.

So make sure that your storage methods are done thoughtfully. You don’t want to end up with a bunch of radishes that were barely edible.

8. Use the right containers

Radishes aren’t a salad green but I do recommend using a small container like a glass or plastic bowl when storing your radishes. They don’t like moisture and will get moldy very quickly.

A plastic storage container will work great but I recommend that you cover it with a lid.

9. Label your radishes

The best way to keep track of your radishes is to label them with the date they were harvested.

The easiest way to do this is to cut a small slit in the root and then write in pen on the inside.

This is perfect for tracking how many days your radishes will last you before they go bad. 

10. Rinse your radishes

It’s very important to rinse them off before storing them. If you have ever stored a bunch of carrots in a bag in the fridge and then taken them out to find that they were mushy and disgusting then you know what I am talking about. This is one of the worst things you can do for your radishes.

This is why I recommend rinsing them off.

The dirt and any debris left on the radishes will cause bacteria to grow and then you have a big problem on your hands. You can keep the leaves attached to the radishes as they are a great place to store in the refrigerator.

11. Use your radishes

The last way I would recommend for storing radishes is to use them. I know it’s a cliché but it’s true. They can be used like lettuce as a salad addition.

You can also add them to salads or sandwiches. You can even slice them up and sprinkle them with salt, pepper, and vinegar. You can then drizzle some olive oil over them and toss with some fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and mint.

There are so many ways that you can use radishes, you just have to be creative!

The Ideal Storing Conditions for Radishes

You can store your radishes almost anywhere if you are careful. If you aren’t careful your radishes could go bad.

The main problem is that the radishes are pretty sensitive to moisture and humidity. If you are storing them in a plastic bag then you need to make sure that you are using one that has a tight seal or they will get damp.

If you aren’t using a plastic bag then I would suggest using a paper bag and putting some paper towels around them. If you are storing them in the fridge then you want to make sure that they are in a dry environment.

If you have a room that stays humid or is very dry you can still store your radishes but make sure that you rotate the location where you store them. 

Conclusion

Storing your radishes correctly means that you won’t have to worry about them spoiling and you can take advantage of their wonderful flavor and color. You can choose from a variety of different methods.

I personally prefer to use a canning jar to store them in because it’s a quick, easy, and reliable method. If you want to store your radishes for a few days, then it’s best to store them in the refrigerator.

If you need your radishes to last you upwards of five or seven days then I recommend storing them in the fridge. You can either put them in a canning jar or place them in a small box with some damp dirt.

As long as you store your radishes correctly you will not have to worry about their freshness.