Some mistakenly refer to parsnips as white carrots, but while they may be related to carrots distantly, they are actually part of the parsley family. They are a cream-colored, gnarled, carrot-shaped root vegetable that can be eaten raw but are best prepared by roasting, frying, grilling or steaming to bring out their distinct succulent flavor and nutty sweetness according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Parsnips have a tan peel that is typically removed before use to remove their gnarly surface. The flesh is cream-white. They are a very versatile vegetable with recipes ranging from roasted side dishes, soups and stews, mashed, turned into fries, and even made into wine. They pair well with other root vegetables, too.
Like potatoes or an apple, parsnips oxidize when exposed to air after their peelings are removed. If not prepared right away, cut parsnips should be placed in water to reduce the effect.
Being white in color, one would tend to believe that they offer little nutrition. Quite the opposite is true. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a half-cup serving of parsnips are high in heart-healthy fiber providing 3 grams of fiber and only 55 calories. They are a low-fat food yet a good source of numerous vitamins (especially C and K), minerals (especially folate and manganese), and antioxidants. Note that the level of vitamin C is somewhat reduced with cooking.
Spring is the best time to give them a try if you are new to parsnips. Choose fleshy, fresh, firm, medium-sized and even surfaced roots. Avoid woody, over-matured, long, thin, and tail-like roots as they are off-flavored and have tough fiber. Also avoid soft, pitted, shriveled, knobby, or damaged roots. The best way to tell if raw parsnips are bad or spoiled is to smell and look at the raw parsnips. Discard any raw parsnips that have an off smell or appearance and if mold appears.
Spring-dug parsnips are characterized as “the cream of the crop”. They are a great roasted vegetable in the fall, but nothing like those left in the ground for a winter deep freeze. The extreme cold converts the starches into sugar and allows the flavor to mellow. Parsnips need to be dug as soon as you can get into the ground with a shovel or fork and just as their tops start to show new growth. If they are left in the ground too long in the spring and the tops start to grow out, they become woody.
Fresh parsnips should be stored in a plastic bag in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator, where they should last three to four weeks. Use cooked, refrigerated parsnips within three days. Parsnips can also be frozen for later use by cutting into 1/2-inch cubes, water blanching for 2 minutes, cooling promptly in cold water, draining, and packing and sealing into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Properly stored, parsnips will maintain best quality in the freezer for about 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. Fully cooked parsnip puree may also be frozen for up to 10 months for best quality. Drying is another method for preserving parsnips.
Article released April 5, 2021
