Root Vegetables – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are root vegetables?

Root vegetables are a grouping of different vegetables that are considered underground plants and feature green stems. Root vegetables are the healthiest vegetables because as they grow underground, they absorb nutrients from the soil.

Root vegetables come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The most well-known root vegetables are potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, onions, garlic, and radishes.

Where did root vegetables originate from?

Because there are various root vegetable options, it is believed that root crops have been grown since the earliest civilizations, starting in Mediterranean Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. These ancient civilizations learned how to forage for foods and began gardening and cultivating crops that have resulted in today’s root vegetable produce.

What are the nutritional value and benefits of root vegetables?

Root vegetables positively impact our daily diet because they absorb nutrients as they grow in the soil. They are also some of the most popular and enjoyed groups of vegetables because of how delicious they are.

Onions are a staple in many recipes. They complement many recipes by infusing flavor in cooked dishes. They offer a lot of fiber, which helps with digestion. Onions assist with immunity with vitamin C. They also are loaded with antioxidants, which help protect cells in the body against diseases.

Sweet potatoes are a very popular vegetable because of how delicious they are. They have rich coloring and offer a lot of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A, which helps promote vision and skin health. Sweet potatoes have many antioxidants. These nutrients have also been known to help improve blood sugar levels in the body for those who suffer from diabetes.

Turnips offer fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium. These nutrients may help decrease the chance of developing stomach, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers.

Beets are one of the healthiest root vegetables. They offer a high amount of fiber, folate, and manganese. They also feature many nitrates, which help heart health by lowering blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels. This also helps increase the blood flow to the brain and body, which improves exercise performance. Beets also have antioxidant properties, which may help limit or prevent the spread of cancer cells in the body.

Garlic is another popular root vegetable that offers an abundance of flavor to any recipe. It has manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin B. Garlic is beneficial in helping boost immunity. Its nutrients promote heart health by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride numbers in the body, which help lower blood pressure. Garlic has a compound called allicin, which has medicinal properties and is released when the cloves of the garlic are crushed, chewed, or cut up.

Radishes are the perfect crunchy addition to any salad or sandwich, and even though they’re small, they pack a mighty punch with an ample amount of nutrients. They are low in carbohydrates and have plenty of fiber to promote energy and digestive health. They are loaded with vitamin C, and radishes may help protect and prevent stomach ulcers.

Carrots are a great snack and make a tasty addition to any cooked meal. They are loaded with vitamins A and K and several carotenoid and beta carotene antioxidants that may prevent or limit the chance of developing cancer. Carrots are most widely known for helping prevent vision loss through age-related macular degeneration.

Potatoes are one of the most popular and commonly used root vegetables. While they’re loaded with nutrients, you’ll lose those health benefits once you fry, salt, or add fat to the recipe. So it’s best to bake, boil, or steam them. Potatoes have a lot of fiber, vitamins C and B6, as well as potassium and manganese. They do have starch, which will help you feel fuller for more extended periods.

How are root vegetables grown?

Root vegetables are some of the easiest produce to grow. Rich and loose soil is the ideal growing condition that will allow the plant to send its roots down. Root vegetables grow best in cooler weather with access to some shade but not full sun since that will hinder their growth. They need ample space, about 2 to 4in apart, for their roots to spread out underground.

When are root vegetables in season?

Since root vegetables grow in cooler temperatures, they are usually planted in mid to late summer and are harvested during the fall.

What should I look for when buying root vegetables at the store?

When looking for root vegetables at the store, make sure to look for vibrant colors. Root vegetables should be firm but not too hard. Fresh root vegetables will have a fragrant aroma.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for root vegetables via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for root vegetables.

How to store root vegetables

Root vegetables should be stored at room temperature in a kitchen or pantry and away from any cold temperatures or moisture. It’s best to keep them in a wire or natural fiber basket. Depending on the specific root vegetable variety, how fresh they were when you purchased them, and their storage conditions, they can last anywhere from a few weeks or 3 months.

How to tell if root vegetables are bad

When root vegetables go bad, they start showing blemishes and bruises on their surfaces. They’ll usually start to go soft, and you’ll notice a foul aroma coming from the root vegetables.

What can I substitute for root vegetables?

Depending on the recipe and the taste and texture that’s required, root vegetables can easily be interchangeable.

There are a variety of potatoes and sweet potatoes that can be substituted in a recipe. Turnips are an excellent substitute for potatoes. Onions and garlic are great seasonings that can also be interchangeable with one another.

Root vegetables are popular and are available throughout the year, which will make finding a fresh vegetable substitute easier.

Where to find and buy root vegetables

Instacart has the freshest produce available. We offer same-day pick-up or delivery options that are suitable for your daily schedule. Use Instacart to start shopping and find available root vegetable produce. If you decide to use the delivery option, you can have your shopper leave your purchases at the door. For added convenience, your shopper will inform you when it has arrived. See root vegetables available near you now.

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