This guide to radishes has everything you need to know about spring radishes. Learn how to pick fresh radishes, when they’re in season, and get the best radish recipes to up your intake of this spicy root vegetable.

Fresh radishes on a white surface.
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Radishes are a cruciferous vegetable with a slightly peppery taste to them. In salads, they add a delicious crunch and a pop of white and red flavor. They grow underground and taste the best in late spring.

Though they’re most commonly eaten raw, you’ll see from the recipes below that they can be dressed up into a lot of delicious dishes. In fact, even the tops of radishes can be eaten! Take advantage of this spring vegetable and use this guide to radishes to work them into your daily life.

Nutritional Benefits Of Radishes

Why is this spring vegetable one you should be on the hunt for? Because radishes contain a ton of vitamins!

Some of their health benefits include:

  • Being high in folic acid
  • Containing a good amount of vitamin B6
  • Lots of potassium
  • For their size, they’re high in vitamin C
  • They’re full of fiber but very low in calories

Radishes are also high in antioxidants making them a great vegetable to add to your diet.

How To Buy Radishes

If you’re new to including this vegetable in your diet, you’ll want to know when the best time of year is to stock up on radishes. This radish guide goes over how to pick radishes and prepare them. Keep in mind though, that you can also learn to grow your own radishes at home.

When Are Radishes in Season?

Typically, radishes are in season in the late spring. You’ll get the freshest radishes between May and June. Either enjoy them immediately or learn how to ferment vegetables so that you can store and enjoy them for much longer.

How To Choose Fresh Radishes

When you’re purchasing radishes at the store or farmers market, you want to make sure that they’re firm more than anything. Aim to grab a bundle that’s not wrinkled or soft which suggests they’ve been sitting for a while.

In addition to the texture, they should be bright and colorful, without brown spots.

The tops of the radishes (the greens) should still be attached. These are edible and loaded with nutrients so don’t discard them! We’ve included a radish greens pesto recipe below as one way to use the greens.

Roasted radishes on a white plate with dipping sauce.

Types Of Radishes

Though there are a lot of varieties of radishes, the ones you’ll see the most are called Cherry Belle radishes. They have a classically red bulb and a white interior. Other kinds of radishes include:

  • Daikon radish
  • Watermelon radish
  • French breakfast radish

All of these radish varieties will be similar but have slight differences in their coloring and flavor. Some are sweeter than others and can bring a flavor profile to a dish.

How To Store Radishes

Once you’ve brought them home, if you’re not using your radishes immediately, you’ll want to store them. Though they will stay fresh at room temperature for a few days, chilled is best.

There are a few ways to store fresh radishes in the fridge:

You can wash them and store them in a glass container. Like this, they will last a few weeks. Most people remove the green topping before they’re washed as the leaves will wilt long before the radishes do.

Likewise, some people store the radishes in a jar of water after removing the greens. They will stay fresh for a week like this.

How to Prepare Radishes

Most commonly, radishes are washed and then sliced or grated onto a salad immediately after. However, there are so many other options!

Roasting radishes provides a whole new flavor to the peppery vegetable. They can be roasted whole or sliced depending on how long you want to cook them. When you roast them, they taste most similar to potatoes as their peppery nature reduces. Find our favorite roasted radish recipe below.

Pickling is another option and helps them last longer once the season is over. You can learn more about the ins and outs of pickling with our quick pickling guide or try your hand at one of these recipes:

How To Prepare Radish Greens

If you’ve kept the radish greens, not only are they a great swap in salads but they can be made into delicious recipes like pesto or sautéed greens.

Radish greens can be treated like any other leafy green so take full advantage of them. Toss them into casseroles, salads, etc. They’re very similar to carrot greens like seen in this candied carrots recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Radishes

What do radishes taste like?

Radishes have a light peppery taste to them when eaten raw. They’re crisp and crunchy but slightly spicy. They add a kick to any salad they’re tossed in.

What’s the best way to eat radishes?

Radishes can be sliced or grated raw and tossed into salads. However, raw radishes can also be used on sandwiches and wraps for texture. They can be roasted to bring out a lighter flavor and used as an easy side dish. Pickling radishes is a great way to preserve them. Use pickled radishes on tacos and nachos!

Should you eat the skin on radishes?

Yes! The skin on radishes is healthy and contains a lot of nutritional benefits. Wash the radishes first and then you can enjoy them with the skin on, sliced or grated.

The Best Radish Recipes

Learn some new and unique ways to enjoy this spring vegetable! Stock up on a fresh harvest and scroll through these radish recipes to gain new recipe inspiration for your next meal.

Roasted radishes on a white plate with dipping sauce.
4.60 from 10 votes

Roasted Radishes with Rosemary and Honey

These oven roasted radishes with rosemary and honey are a simple way to prepare radishes and mellow out their intense flavor. A great spring side dish!
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Radish greens pesto.
5 from 48 votes

Radish Greens Pesto

Save those radish greens and use them to make this bright and peppery pesto. This dairy-free recipe leaves out the cheese for a nutrient-dense flavorful pesto everyone can enjoy!
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Citrus infused creamy arborio rice is tossed with fresh spring peas and Meyer lemon dijon roasted radishes. Topped with crumbly bacon and freshly grated parmesan, this is pea and radish risotto is spring comfort food at its best!
5 from 1 vote

Spring Pea and Radish Risotto

Citrus infused creamy arborio rice is tossed with fresh spring peas and meyer lemon dijon roasted radishes. Topped with crumbly bacon and freshly grated parmesan, this is risotto is spring comfort food at its best!
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5 from 1 vote

Peach and Radish Salad with Crispy Prosciutto

This peach and radish salad is topped with crispy prosciutto and toasted hazelnuts.
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Blue Corn Blini with Avocado Salad and Fried Radishes

Blue Corn Blini with Avocado Salad and Fried Radishes

Blue Corn Blini with Avocado Salad and Fried Radishes- an adorable appetizer or snack with vibrant colors and healthy ingredients!
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Spring Radish Tart

Spring Radish Tart

It’s true, radishes are often considered the “Rodney Dangerfield” of vegetables…no respect. But that’s too bad because they are so much more than an afterthought, a garnish or a decoration. They are spicy and delicious and add great texture to any dish. And look at the color they give this amazing tasting tart. My love … Read More about Spring Radish Tart
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Pickled Radishes with Carrots and Green Garlic

Pickled Radishes with Carrots and Green Garlic

Pickled Radishes with Carrots and Green Garlic
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Apple Radish Slaw with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

Apple Radish Slaw with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

Tart apples, crunchy radishes and a sweet and spicy vinaigrette all come together to create a healthy and mayo free slaw recipe perfect for BBQ season.
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Air Fryer Radish Chips

Air Fryer Radish Chips

Looking for an easy, healthy, and delicious snack that also happens to be vegan? This air fryer radish chips recipe has only five ingredients and is packed with flavor.
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Easy Homemade Daikon Salad

Easy Homemade Daikon Salad

This simple daikon and carrot salad has a refreshing sweet and sour dressing, and comes together in under 10 minutes!
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Mooli Paratha Recipe (Radish Stuffed Flatbread)

Mooli Paratha Recipe (Radish Stuffed Flatbread)

Mooli paratha, is a flavorful and wholesome dish that combines the goodness of whole wheat flatbread with grated white radish.
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Red Radish Crostini with Lemon Ricotta

Red Radish Crostini with Lemon Ricotta

Red Radish Crostini make a gorgeous spring appetizer. Buttery crostini toasts topped with lemon ricotta spread and sliced radishes. Wondering what you can
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Radish Mango Salsa

Radish Mango Salsa

Easy recipe for Radish Mango Salsa – this simple fruit salsa is perfect for fish, shrimp, quesadillas or other summer dishes.
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Radishes

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Radishes

Air fryer radishes wrapped in bacon are sometimes called keto potatoes and you'll know why once you take a bite!
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Spicy Cucumber Salad

Spicy Cucumber Salad

Take your salad to the next level! This easy spicy cucumber salad with harissa marinated feta and bold flavors is an unforgettable taste experience.
View Recipe

More Spring Vegetable Guides:

A Guide to Asparagus
A Guide To Peas
A Guide To Leeks
A Guide To Artichokes

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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13 Comments

  1. Ooooh, I have some radishes in the fridge right now, I used a couple as a topping for some flank steak tacos and was wondering what to do with the rest. I have never thought to roast them, I’m definitely doing to give it a try! Thanks!

  2. Yes, I can’t help feeling the same way. I feel like spring is never going to hit New York (though, it’s supposed to be in the 50s and 60s next week, yay!)

    Anyway, this post was really helpful! I will have to take it with me the next time I go to the farmer’s market.

  3. Radishes are so underrated in my opinion! Thanks for sharing these recipes and including one of mine!

  4. I really do LOVE radishes, especially when roasted. I feel like they’re soooo underrated.
    This series awesome Gina, looking forward to all the veggie love. And thanks for sharing my Roasted Radishes with Fresh Chives + Roasted Root Vegetable Fajitas!

    XO SHERRIE

  5. I’m loving these posts, Gina! So informative and inspiring. Thank goodness spring is finally coming!

  6. So funny I do a door to door organics box subscription and just got radishes this week. They were so good and have me excited for spring!!

  7. I was just thinking about radishes the other day…can’t wait for them to come back in season! Love this series, Gina! Keep the spring produce coming!

  8. Great post Gina! I have only ever had them raw…and I didn’t like ’em. But they sound amazing roasted. So i’ll give them another go! Pinned