How Long to Boil Turnip

Turnips are a root vegetable that are edible and enjoyed in different cultures across the world. They’re also incredibly easy to prepare: simply boil them! You only need to know how long to boil turnips to make tons of different kinds of delicious turnip dishes. Whether you want to eat them plain, mashed or add them to another recipe, this guide will help you determine how long to boil turnips in all kinds of different scenarios.

How to Boil Turnips

Boiling turnips is a simple process that doesn’t require much culinary expertise or experience. Follow these easy steps to make perfect turnips every time.

1. Thoroughly wash and dry the turnips. Remove the greens and set aside for other dishes. If you need to cut or slice them, do that now.
2. Then, bring a saucepan or pot of salted water to a boil.
3. Add the turnips and boil them for the appropriate amount of time (see below chart).
4. Strain the water from the boiled turnips and serve or use in another recipe.

How Long to Boil Turnips

How Long to Boil Whole Turnips

Whole turnips (with the stems and leaves removed) should be boiled for 25-30 minutes.

How Long to Boil Cut-up Turnips

If you decide to dice or cube the turnips, boil them for 15-30 minutes until tender.

How Long to Boil Turnip Greens

Once you separate the greens from the root bulb, boil for 2 minutes. You can boil both whole and cut-up turnip greens for the same amount of time.

How Long to Boil Turnips for Mashing

If you plan on mashing the turnips after you boil them, boil them for 20-30 minutes until they’re soft and easily pierced with a fork. Once they’ve been boiled, you can strain them and mash them.

How Long to Boil Turnips for Salad

If you’re adding turnips to salad, you don’t necessarily need to boil them. You can cut them up or shave them thinly and eat them raw. However, if you’d like to cook them before adding them to the salad, boil them for 20 minutes.

How Long to Boil Turnips for Roasting

If you’re roasting the turnips after boiling them, boil them for 10-15 minutes.

How Long to Boil Small Turnips

Small turnips can be boiled for 15-25 minutes. Use a fork or wooden skewer to determine if the center has been cooked to the desired consistency.

How Long to Boil Large Turnips

If your turnips are on the larger side, boil them for 30-40 minutes. You can also cut them into smaller pieces to make the boiling process faster and easier.

Table: How Long to Boil Turnips

Type of Turnip	How Long to Boil (in minutes)
Whole Turnips	25-30 minutes
Cut-up Turnips	15-30 minutes
Turnip Greens	2 minutes
Mashed Turnips	20-30 minutes
Roasted Turnips	10-15 minutes
Salad Turnips	20 minutes
Small Turnips	15-25 minutes
Large Turnips	30-40 minutes