Radishes are by no means the most popular vegetable out there, but they can be great for adding a bit of crunch to a salad or some extra flavor to a soup or stew.
They’re typically sold in bunches, and it’s unlikely you’ll use all of them in one go, which raises the question:
Do radishes go bad? How long do they last?
Here’s the lowdown. Like all vegetables, radishes begin to go bad as soon as they’re harvested, and they don’t tend to last very long.
The most common form of radish is the red one, and these will last for two to three days if left at room temperature. When stored in the fridge, they can last for up to two weeks.
Black radishes will last longer in the fridge – roughly 1-2 months.
Of course, it helps to be aware of the best ways to store radishes to ensure they stay fresh for as long as possible. Here, we’ll go through how to tell if radishes have gone bad, as well as the best storage options for them.
Signs Radishes Have Turned Bad
One of the defining features of radishes is their firmness all around. Once they begin to go soft, that’s a clear sign of them going bad.
Radishes have high water content, and if areas of a radish become soft, this means it has lost water and is going bad.
At this point, it’s still safe to eat, but if the entire radish is soft, then it’s past its best and should be thrown out.
Mold is another clear sign of radishes going bad. Black spots might also form on the outside of the radish. Either way, it means the flesh inside is no longer safe to eat – so get rid of them!
Radishes might also smell off once they’ve gone bad. When fresh, their smell is very subtle, so if they are giving off a strong scent, then that’s a sign they’re no longer edible.
If your radishes came with greens, these could also be eaten and used in meals. Signs that these have gone off are the leaves wilting, losing their color, or giving off a strong smell.
How To Store Radishes
To keep radishes fresh for as long as possible, they need to be kept cool, so the fridge is the best place to store them.
When stored in the fridge, radishes should be placed inside an airtight container or freezer bag in order to retain their moisture.
The exception to this is black radishes, as they tend to last longer when they’re dry. They can still be stored in the fridge but should be kept inside a perforated plastic bag instead.
If you intend to use the greens and want to store them, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and keep them in the fridge.
One tip to make life a little easier is to prepare your radishes once you buy them and bring them home.
First, remove the greens and then slice or chop the radishes to your preference. Before placing them in an airtight container, cover the bottom of the container with a paper towel, then place the radishes on top.
The paper towel will absorb moisture from the radishes, rather than the water pooling at the bottom of the container and making the radishes mushy and soft.
You can keep radishes at room temperature if you prefer, but they’ll only last a couple of days.
Can You Freeze Radishes?
You can store radishes in the freezer to make them last longer, but this will affect their quality when used.
Freezing radishes changes their texture, so once you thaw them back out, they will not be as crunchy, so wouldn’t be great for a salad though they could still be used in a soup or stew.
The most important thing to be aware of when freezing radishes is to prepare them first; if you freeze them whole, they will crack and become ruined. Sliced and cut radishes will suffer from freezer burn.
So, before freezing, you need to blanch radishes. Cut the radishes up and then boil these pieces in water for 2-3 minutes.
Then, place the radish pieces in ice-cold water and drain well before placing them in an airtight container or freezer bag and storing them in the freezer.
How Long Do Radishes Last?
Radishes go bad as they lose moisture, so the cooler they are kept, the longer they will last.
If kept at room temperature, radishes will only last around two days. If your home is particularly warm, then they might only last a day.
In the fridge, red radishes will last up to two weeks if stored correctly. Black radishes can last up to two months when refrigerated.
Radish greens do not last nearly as long; they should be stored in the fridge and will only last 2-3 days.
In Conclusion: Radishes
Radishes are usually sold fresh and in bunches, though they often won’t come with a “use by” date.
However, there are clear signs to look out for; if they’re soft all over, or have mold, or give off a strong scent, then they are likely bad and should be thrown out.
When stored correctly, red radishes will last up to two weeks, and black ones up to two months. Radish greens, however, will only last a few days.
