Dissecting Turnips' Taste and Culinary Repertoire: What Do They Really Taste Like?

People have enjoyed turnips for many years. They’re siblings of popular root veggies like radishes and have an autumn harvest, so people stored them for winter meals long before refrigeration existed. People might avoid them because they assume turnips taste bad, but learning the truth may pleasantly surprise you.

Check out everything you need to know about what turnips taste like. You might love them enough to save them in your fridge for stews, soups, and casseroles.

People often note how similarly turnips taste to cabbage. It’s likely because they both belong to the Brassicaceae family, have glucosinolates, and contain the same nutrient profile, according to a study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

However, turnips also have a slightly peppery taste because they contain sulfuric amino acids, as referenced in a 2023 study. A different study published in Molecules in 2022 noted that when fermenting or overcooking, those amino acids break down and release a sulfurous odor. You might think it means the turnips are rotting, but it’s a natural part of their chemical makeup.

If the sulfurous odor remains in your home after you finish your turnips, it could mean your water has sulfur. The smelly element can contaminate unchlorinated water by forming bacterial colonies, per Culligan Water. It’s important to remember since the experts at Mulligan Water recommend filtering sulfurous water to make it safe for drinking again.

Turnips contain sulfur, giving them a peppery taste that potatoes lack. However, the flavors are so similar that some people replace potatoes with turnips in recipes like casseroles to create healthier meals, per Spend With Pennies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms that 100 grams of potatoes (332 calories) has more calories than 100 grams of turnips (117 calories).

Foods Guy notes that turnip greens have the same peppery flavor as the rest of a turnip but can range in flavor between mild and bitter, depending on when harvesters pick them. If you buy turnip greens and discover they’re too bitter, add a sprinkle of salt. Salt suppresses bitterness in cruciferous vegetables like greens, per Appetite.

Once you know what turnips taste like, you can make fun recipes. You could roast them in the oven for 25-30 minutes before topping a quinoa salad with the heart root vegetable, according to Naturally Ella.

You could also make a warm casserole side dish. Chop turnips and apples before combining them with breadcrumbs and baking them for 25-30 minutes, as outlined in Veggie Desserts.

Don’t forget to try subbing turnips for potatoes. The Delicious Spoon notes how to make turnip French fries in the air fryer with paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper.

Give turnips a try the next time you’re feeling adventurous. Making one of the recipes above could expand your list of favorite foods with the extra hint of peppery goodness within each turnip.