Can anyone recommend a good way to preserve fresh horseradish root?

I found a maybe 6-inch chunk of organic(!) horseradish root at the co-op
last week and ground it up yesterday with some salt and apple cider
vinegar for today's rib roast. That yielded well over a cup of knock-
yer-socks-off delicious "prepared" horseradish. Trouble is, even today
it has lost a bit of the character it had yesterday, and I know it's all
downhill from there, maybe keeping a few weeks max in the coldest part
of the refrigerator.

I've tried freezing the prepared stuff in the past, without luck. Is
there a way to preserve a section of the root so that it can be chopped
or grated as needed? The whole root doesn't keep very long in the
refrigerator before spoiling, in my experience, nor does it seem to
freeze well.

Thanks for any tips & Happy New Year.

Bob

On Mon, 1 Jan 2007 14:11:32 -0500, yetanotherBob
> wrote:

>Can anyone recommend a good way to preserve fresh horseradish root?
>
>I found a maybe 6-inch chunk of organic(!) horseradish root at the co-op
>last week and ground it up yesterday with some salt and apple cider
>vinegar for today's rib roast. That yielded well over a cup of knock-
>yer-socks-off delicious "prepared" horseradish. Trouble is, even today
>it has lost a bit of the character it had yesterday, and I know it's all
>downhill from there, maybe keeping a few weeks max in the coldest part
>of the refrigerator.
>
>I've tried freezing the prepared stuff in the past, without luck. Is
>there a way to preserve a section of the root so that it can be chopped
>or grated as needed? The whole root doesn't keep very long in the
>refrigerator before spoiling, in my experience, nor does it seem to
>freeze well.
>
>Thanks for any tips & Happy New Year.
>
>Bob


The root itself will keep for awhile in the fridge in a plastic bag.
That is how one stores them for replanting the next year.

http://horseradishplants.com/cgi-bin...ml?id=NiF8RuyU

Boron

In article >,
says...
>
>
> The root itself will keep for awhile in the fridge in a plastic bag.
> That is how one stores them for replanting the next year.
>
> http://horseradishplants.com/cgi-bin...ml?id=NiF8RuyU
>
> Boron
>
>
Thanks for the link. The stuff I usually see in the grocery stores is
anywhere from 1-2 inches in diameter, while it's the skinnier roots that
can be stored for replanting, according to the article. I guess it's
time to think about planting some come Spring so I can have a steady
supply!

Bob

yetanotherBob wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a good way to preserve fresh horseradish root?

If the info ain't here it probably doesn't exist:
http://www.horseradish.org/homepage.html

Also, not all horseradish roots are the same, some are stronger than
others, some so strong it'll make your hair fall out, other's wimpy
weak... there is no way to tell the strength of a root by looking.

Another place to check:
http://www.jewish-food.org/cgi-bin/w...xchars=10 000


Sheldon

"yetanotherBob" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>>
>>
>> The root itself will keep for awhile in the fridge in a plastic bag.
>> That is how one stores them for replanting the next year.
>>
>> http://horseradishplants.com/cgi-bin...ml?id=NiF8RuyU
>>
>> Boron
>>
>>
> Thanks for the link. The stuff I usually see in the grocery stores is
> anywhere from 1-2 inches in diameter, while it's the skinnier roots that
> can be stored for replanting, according to the article. I guess it's
> time to think about planting some come Spring so I can have a steady
> supply!
>
> Bob

When you do plant the horseradish, drop a barrel or plastic container in the
ground first and fill with planting soil to put the root in. Horseradish is
like a mint and kudzu, a real predatory plant, and will crowd out anything
else you have planted. Best to keep it contained.
-ginny

In article .com>,
says...
>
> yetanotherBob wrote:
> > Can anyone recommend a good way to preserve fresh horseradish root?
>
> If the info ain't here it probably doesn't exist:
> http://www.horseradish.org/homepage.html
>
> Also, not all horseradish roots are the same, some are stronger than
> others, some so strong it'll make your hair fall out, other's wimpy
> weak... there is no way to tell the strength of a root by looking.
>
> Another place to check:
> http://www.jewish-food.org/cgi-bin/w...xchars=10 000
>
>
> Sheldon
>
>
Thank you!

Horseradish.org - who woulda thought? Missing that one is a good
indication that I need to polish my Googling skills a bit more. At any
rate, I will check it out.

The site that Boron Elgar pointed to also sells the "good" roots. I
plan to order a couple (at $10 a pop!), so we'll probably be self-
sufficient, at least in the horseradish sense, by NEXT New Year's Day
year.

Bob

In article >,
says...
>
> When you do plant the horseradish, drop a barrel or plastic container in the
> ground first and fill with planting soil to put the root in. Horseradish is
> like a mint and kudzu, a real predatory plant, and will crowd out anything
> else you have planted. Best to keep it contained.
> -ginny
>
>
Good tip! Thanks. I like horseradish a lot, but I'm not *that* crazy
about it.

We've pretty much gone to container and raised bed gardening for our
veggies, so I'll dedicate a tub to the horseradish once I get my hands
on some planting stock.

Bob

In article >,
yetanotherBob > wrote:


> The site that Boron Elgar pointed to also sells the "good" roots. I
> plan to order a couple (at $10 a pop!), so we'll probably be self-
> sufficient, at least in the horseradish sense, by NEXT New Year's Day
> year.


My local supermarket sells them for a lot cheaper. As someone else
posted, once you plant them, you have them forever.

In article <dabel-8A3729.14592301012007@cor8-
ppp5025.per.dsl.connect.net.au>, says...
> In article >,
> yetanotherBob > wrote:
>
>
> > The site that Boron Elgar pointed to also sells the "good" roots. I
> > plan to order a couple (at $10 a pop!), so we'll probably be self-
> > sufficient, at least in the horseradish sense, by NEXT New Year's Day
> > year.
>
>
> My local supermarket sells them for a lot cheaper. As someone else
> posted, once you plant them, you have them forever.
>
The local markets also sell them cheaper. It sounds like you're
suggesting that you can take any hunk of horseradish root off the
supermarket shelf and plant it. Is that right, or is there more to it?

One potential problem is that the ones I usually see in the store are
truncated pieces of root and large in diameter, and often look fairly
old and/or have mold on them.

The chunk I got last week at the co-op was unique in its "fresh"
appearance and the fact that it was labelled as "organic". I'll be
heading back there tomorrow or the next day to see if there are any
left. If there are, I might buy one just to see if I can get it to
root.

In any event, for $10, the on-line seller guarantees the root for a
year. That's probably worth something for a horseradish-dependent
individual like myself. ;-)

Bob

yetanotherBob wrote:
>> PENMART01 says...
> > yetanotherBob wrote:
> > > Can anyone recommend a good way to preserve fresh horseradish root?
> >
> > If the info ain't here it probably doesn't exist:
> > http://www.horseradish.org/homepage.html
> >
> > Also, not all horseradish roots are the same, some are stronger than
> > others, some so strong it'll make your hair fall out, other's wimpy
> > weak... there is no way to tell the strength of a root by looking.
> >
> > Another place to check:
> > http://www.jewish-food.org/cgi-bin/w...xchars=10 000
>
> Horseradish.org - who woulda thought? Missing that one is a good
> indication that I need to polish my Googling skills a bit more. At any
> rate, I will check it out.

I've posted that site many time over the years, originally I found it
searching for Gold's Horseradish.

> The site that Boron Elgar pointed to also sells the "good" roots. I
> plan to order a couple (at $10 a pop!), so we'll probably be self-
> sufficient, at least in the horseradish sense, by NEXT New Year's Day
> year.

I think $10 is exhorbitant, especially for something the greengrocer
used to give for free along with soup greens to reguular customers...
of course I'm talking over 50 years ago. Just buy a couple roots from
the stupidmarket. Once it gets going you'll have more than you can
ever use. Horseradish is extremely invasive and prolific so be careful
where you plant it. Personally I don't think it pays to grow it, it's
cheap enough to buy already prepared and most folks just don't use all
that much. If you buy Gold's brand I'd advise against getting the
extra hot, the extra heat comes from mustard oil, just too explosive,
and doesn't really impart a true horseradish flavor. And for cooking,
like in stews, meat loaf, etc. I suggest dehy powdered horseradish,
holds its flavor and potentcy through the heat of cooking, fresh goes
wimpy when heat is applied... I like the dehy better in dips too. also
works better than fresh for home made mustards. Think carefully while
deciding to grow your own, I think you'll end up throwing most away,
it's a lot of work to prepare, and you'll never use even a small
portion before it spoils. My mother used to grate horseradish outdoors
on the window ledge with the window sash closed down with just enough
room for her wrists.

Sheldon

I suggest you grow horseradish if it will grow in your climate and
soil. Be sure you pick a spot you consider "permanent", because it is
like mint, and once it is established it is almost impossible to kill!
You will think you have dug every shred up, and the next spring --
there it is again! Anyhow, again depending on your climate, you might
leave it in the ground and just dig a root when you need it (even
through the winter). So your horseradish is free, fresh, and always
available. (I do the same thing with a little patch of garlic tucked
into a corner of a flower bed.)


yetanotherBob wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
> >
> >
> > The root itself will keep for awhile in the fridge in a plastic bag.
> > That is how one stores them for replanting the next year.
> >
> > http://horseradishplants.com/cgi-bin...ml?id=NiF8RuyU
> >
> > Boron
> >
> >
> Thanks for the link. The stuff I usually see in the grocery stores is
> anywhere from 1-2 inches in diameter, while it's the skinnier roots that
> can be stored for replanting, according to the article. I guess it's
> time to think about planting some come Spring so I can have a steady
> supply!
>
> Bob

Virginia Tadrzynski wrote:

> When you do plant the horseradish, drop a barrel or plastic container in the
> ground first and fill with planting soil to put the root in. Horseradish is
> like a mint and kudzu, a real predatory plant, and will crowd out anything
> else you have planted. Best to keep it contained.
> -ginny

I had a friend who could not keep houseplants alive, so he took a kudzu
offshoot and put it in a pot. It died<g>.

The last 3 years, I've planted store-bought sprouting roots, organic
roots my friends have brought me from their farm, and have had no luck.
This year, for the first time, the storebought root actually put out
some leaves, but something kept eating them! By fall, there was
nothing left.

We'll see what sprouts this spring, if all the rain this summer didn't
rot it.

maxine in ri

In article . com>,
says...
> My mother used to grate horseradish outdoors
> on the window ledge with the window sash closed down with just enough
> room for her wrists.
>
>
I have sinus problems, so I consider the aroma therapeutic. Gives the
tear ducts a workout, too.

Thanks for all the advice, folks. I'm gonna give growing my own
(horseradish) a try, whatever the source of the root stock.

Bob

yetanotherBob > wrote:

>Can anyone recommend a good way to preserve fresh horseradish root?

Freeze the root when fresh- then just grate it on stuff as needed.
It isn't too pungent as you grate-- but as it thaws it heats up.

BTW- It's easy to grow if you have even the tiniest spot of ground--
it likes wet feet in my experience-- but it will take a wide range of
abuse. I plant it where I mow on one side and don't care if it goes
to the other-- [its woods and it hasn't spread that way.]

Jim