Whether you picked up some kohlrabi at the farmer’s market, received a bunch in your CSA box, or harvested a bumper crop from the garden, you may want to know how long the veggies will hold at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Also known as cabbage turnip or turnip cabbage, this cool-season crop is a member of the Brassicaceae family bred for its swollen, bulb-like stem.
Kohlrabi can be eaten raw in salads, roasted, added to soups, or prepared in many other ways.
If you need a refresher about how to grow this vegetable, check out our kohlrabi growing guide.
This guide explains how to store your harvest effectively, from preparation steps to ideal storage conditions.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
What You’ll Learn
Preparation for Storage
If you’ve just harvested your kohlrabi crop, you may be wondering what’s the best way to store it.
First of all, remove the greens if you haven’t yet done so. These greens are edible and can be prepared much like beet greens.
Our guide to harvesting and cooking kohlrabi greens has more information.
Next, these globe-shaped cruciferous vegetables need to be washed before storage.
I recommend dunking them into a large bowl filled with water to remove any sand or soil.
After that, pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
Storing at Room Temperature
If your fridge is packed full of other perishables, you may be wondering how long you can keep a few of these vegetables on the counter before they’ll go bad.
Kohlrabi will only last a day or two at room temperature before it starts to lose its succulent texture, and quickly after that, the risk of becoming woody or rotting will increase.
So be sure to use room temperature storage only if cool storage isn’t available, and only for very short periods.
Cool Storage
Ideally, you will keep your harvest in cool temperatures, where it will last much longer.
Kohlrabi will last for at least several weeks when stored in the fridge at 32 to 40°F.
You can also store the trimmed and cleaned veggies in perforated plastic bags to prolong their life even longer – the plastic will increase humidity while the perforation will provide some airflow, reducing the risk of rotting.
You may wonder how to tell when this vegetable is starting to go bad.
If you notice black spots or fuzzy white patches on the surface that’s a sign that mold has started to grow and you should toss it on the compost heap.
Or if you forget about a bag of these vegetables in some back corner of your fridge and it doesn’t go moldy, eventually the bulbous stems will become fibrous, developing a texture that will make them inedible.
Trust me, it’s not worth the effort to try to salvage them at this point – they are nearly impossible to cut when they go fibrous.
Keep it Cool for the Long Haul
These vegetables can be hard to find at the local supermarket. So when your farmer’s market or garden offers you a haul, keep them cool to make them last!
Do you have any other questions about storage? Or do you have any creative tips to make them last longer that you’d like to share with our other readers? Drop your questions and tips in the comments section below!
And for more information about growing kohlrabi in your garden, add these guides to your reading list next:
