Parsnips are rather inconspicuous and not everyone knows them. The white root is similar to a carrot, but tastes completely different. Its nutty taste can be compared to that of celery, but when cooked it tastes slightly sweet.

A potato peeler works well for peeling parsnips

Before using the root vegetables, they are cleaned and, if necessary, peeled.

Tips and tricks for peeling parsnips

If you buy parsnips, make sure they are fresh. The root vegetables should be firm to the touch and not have any mushy patches. Small beets do not need to be peeled. It is sufficient if you simply brush off the thin and delicate skin under running water. Use a soft nail or vegetable brush to do this.

Large and thick parsnips should be peeled off as their skin is quite hard.

  1. First wash the roots to remove most of the dirt.
  2. Now take a vegetable peeler and remove the skin.
  3. Start at the thick end of the root and slowly pull the peeler to the tip. If you only peel off a thin layer of skin, the nutrients underneath are largely retained.
  4. If there are dark spots under the skin, you should cut them out.
  5. Very thick parsnips are often woody in the center. Quarter the root and remove the center section as you peel.
  6. Place the peeled parsnip in a bowl of cold water until ready to use, as the root will brown quickly.
  7. You can use the peels and boil them into a vegetable broth.

The use of parsnips

The parsnip is a winter vegetable and needs some frost to develop its delicious, nutty flavor. Since they are easy to digest and contain a lot of sugar due to the cold, parsnips are often used as baby food.
But their popularity is also increasing again in the kitchen.
The parsnip was one of the staple foods of the population before the potato was introduced. With the discovery of the potato and its rapid spread, the parsnip fell into oblivion.

Parsnips have many uses. They can be boiled, fried, baked and are excellent combined with other vegetables. The white root is good in soups, stews and casseroles. With a little skill you can prepare delicious vegetable fries from parsnips.

If you want to eat parsnips raw, it's best to only use the small, tender ones. Thinly slice or grate the root and mix into a seasonal salad.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

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Vegetable garden