How to Cook Rutabaga

Rutabaga is a root vegetable that’s actually a cross between a turnip and a cabbage. These vegetables are full of vitamins and nutrients, including beta carotene, calcium, potassium, and fiber, among others. There are many ways you can cook rutabaga, but some of the most popular include mashing and roasting. The key with rutabaga is to cut it up into small chunks before cooking, otherwise cooking time will be long and the center may not heat through properly.

Ingredients

Mashed Rutabaga

  • 2 pounds (907 g) rutabagas
  • Cold water, to cover
  • ¼ cup (57 g) butter
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Roasted Rutabaga

  • 1 pound (454 g) rutabaga
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making Mashed Rutabaga

  1. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 1
    1
    Wash the rutabaga. Rinse the rutabaga under cool water and scrub the skin with a vegetable brush. This will remove any excess dirt from the surface of the vegetable.[1] Pat the rutabaga dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
    • Make sure that the rutabaga is completely dry to prevent an accident when you're peeling and chopping.
    EXPERT TIP

    When picking out a rutabaga to eat, it's typically thought that the smaller roots yield a sweeter taste.

    Vanna Tran

    Vanna Tran

    Experienced Cook
    Vanna Tran is a home cook who started cooking with her mother at a very young age. She has catered events and hosted pop-up dinners in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 5 years.
    Vanna Tran
    Vanna Tran
    Experienced Cook
  2. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 2
    2
    Peel the rutabaga. Carefully slice off the top and bottom stems from the rutabaga. Trim about ½ inch (1.3 cm) off the top and bottom. Stand the rutabaga on the top end and cut it in half. Use a paring knife to carefully peel off the top layer of skin.
    • Vegetable peelers aren't always effective for rutabaga, which has a skin that’s often covered in a thick waxy coating.[2]
    EXPERT TIP
    Vanna Tran

    Vanna Tran

    Experienced Cook
    Vanna Tran is a home cook who started cooking with her mother at a very young age. She has catered events and hosted pop-up dinners in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 5 years.
    Vanna Tran
    Vanna Tran
    Experienced Cook

    Vanna Tran, experienced cook, suggests: "For extra stability when peeling your rutabagas, cut your rutabaga in half lengthwise and place the freshly cut, flat side onto your cutting board."

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  3. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 3
    3
    Chop the rutabaga into small chunks. Use a kitchen knife and cut the peeled halves into 1-inch (2.5-cm) chunks. This will help the rutabaga to cook faster. Cut all the chunks to the same size and thickness to ensure even cooking.
  4. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 4
    4
    Boil the rutabaga. Transfer the chunks to a large stockpot and cover the rutabaga with water. Add an extra inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm) of water to ensure the rutabaga is completely covered. Put on a lid and heat the rutabaga over medium-high heat. When the water comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for another 30 to 40 minutes.[3]
    • The rutabaga is ready when a fork can easily pierce the flesh.
  5. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 5
    5
    Drain and mash the rutabaga. When the rutabaga is cooked through, pour the contents of the stockpot through a colander to drain the water. Return the rutabaga to the pot. Add the butter and nutmeg. Use a potato masher, hand mixer, or fork to mash the rutabaga until it’s smooth.
    • You can leave some small chunks of rutabaga in the mash if you like, or puree it until it’s completely smooth and free of chunks.
    • For an extra creamy mash, add a dollop of sour cream to the rutabaga as well.
  6. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 6
    6
    Season before serving. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and stir the seasonings into the mash. You can also add fresh or dried herbs, such as dill, oregano, or rosemary, or other seasonings like minced garlic.[4] Serve the mashed rutabaga while it’s still hot, either on its own or as a side dish with roast beef, duck, or stir fry.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making Roasted Rutabaga

  1. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 7
    1
    Preheat the oven. Rutabaga is best roasted at 425 F (218 C), so set the oven and let it preheat to that temperature. Line a baking sheet with cooking spray, parchment paper, or a silicone mat. This will prevent the rutabaga from sticking to the pan.
  2. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 8
    2
    Wash, peel, and chop the rutabaga. Scrub the rutabaga with a vegetable brush under running water. Cut off the top and tail, and cut the rutabaga in half. Peel the skin off with a paring knife, being very careful not to cut yourself. Chop the rutabaga into 1-inch (2.5-cm) chunks.
  3. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 9
    3
    Oil and season the chunks. Transfer the chunks to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the oil over the chunks. Season the rutabaga with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss everything together to coat the chunks with the oil and seasonings.
    • Other seasonings you can add to the rutabaga include garlic powder, dried rosemary, fresh minced garlic, onion powder, or a small minced onion.[5]
  4. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 10
    4
    Roast the rutabaga in the oven. Spread the rutabaga out evenly on the baking sheet and place it in the oven. Bake the rutabaga for about 40 minutes, until it’s tender and golden brown.[6]
    • After 40 minutes, pierce a chunk with a fork. The rutabaga is ready if the fork enters easily and the rutabaga feels soft.
  5. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 11
    5
    Serve hot. Use an oven mitt to remove the cooked rutabaga from the oven. Transfer the roasted chunks to a serving bowl, or portion them out onto individual plates and serve with meat, fish, or a vegetable-based protein.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Cooking Rutabaga Other Ways

  1. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 12
    1
    Stir fry it. Heat a tablespoon (15 ml) of vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet. Wash, peel, and cut a rutabaga into thin slices. When the oil is shimmering, add the rutabaga slices. Cook the slices for about seven minutes, until golden brown and soft. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, and other seasonings if desired.
    • You can either eat stir fried rutabaga on its own, or cook it with other vegetables, meats, or rice.
  2. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 13
    2
    Braise it. Wash, peel, and thinly slice a rutabaga. Arrange the slices in a thin layer in a large skillet. Add enough broth, stock, water, or cream to the pan to completely cover the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan and cook the rutabaga on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft.[7]
    • As the rutabaga cooks, stir it every two to three minutes to ensure even cooking.
  3. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 14
    3
    Try steamed rutabaga. Wash, peel, and dice a rutabaga into 1-inch (2.5-cm) chunks. Place the chunks into a metal steamer basket or the steamer basket that comes with a steamer. Fill the bottom of a saucepan or steamer with water. Turn on the steamer and cook the rutabaga for 25 to 35 minutes, until tender and soft.[8]
  4. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Step 15
    4
    Add it to soup. Rutabaga is a delicious root vegetable that can be used in many different types of soups. You can add rutabaga chunks to vegetable, beef and vegetable, minestrone, or even potato and leek soups. You can also use rutabaga to replace some of the vegetables called for in potato, carrot, or other root vegetable soups.
  5. Image titled Cook Rutabaga Final
    5
    Finished.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can rutabagas be mashed like potatoes?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, they are delicious mashed. Try mashing them coarsely and then pan-frying them in bacon grease.
  • Question
    Are aluminum pans microwave safe?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, I would advise not using aluminum pans in a microwave. I think the photograph does not match the Microwave Section correctly. Preferred microwavable containers would be approved plastic or ceramic for microwaves.
  • Question
    Do I have to store cut rutabaga in water if I am not going to use them right away like potatoes?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, store it for a day in the fridge in a pot of water and make sure the water covers the top of the rutabaga.
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.irishamericanmom.com/how-to-peel-and-cut-a-rutabaga/
  2. ↑ http://www.finecooking.com/item/5703/rutabaga
  3. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mashed-rutabagas-recipe-1950553
  4. ↑ http://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/mashed-rutabaga/
  5. ↑ http://allrecipes.com/recipe/230404/rutabaga-oven-fries/
  6. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/roasted-rutabaga-recipe-2104064
  7. ↑ https://www.udc.edu/docs/causes/online/Rutabaga%2012.pdf
  8. ↑ https://www.udc.edu/docs/causes/online/Rutabaga%2012.pdf

About This Article

VT
Co-authored by:
Vanna Tran
Experienced Cook
This article was co-authored by Vanna Tran, a trusted member of wikiHow's volunteer community. Vanna Tran is a home cook who started cooking with her mother at a very young age. She has catered events and hosted pop-up dinners in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 5 years. This article has been viewed 252,897 times.
38 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: July 6, 2021
Views: 252,897
Categories: Basic Cooking Skills
Article SummaryX

Before you cook rutabaga, wash it and use a paring knife to peel off the top layer of skin. You can then cut it into small chunks, cook it in a pot of water for 30 minutes, and drain and mash it. If you’d rather roast your rutabaga, first chop it into larger chunks. Then, drizzle oil over the chunks, and add salt, pepper, and other seasonings, like garlic powder or dried rosemary. To finish, spread the chunks on a baking sheet and bake them for 40 minutes, or until they’re tender and golden brown. To learn how to steam or stir fry your rutabaga, read on!

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