How to Clean Wax Off of Rutabaga

Rutabagas can be very versatile.

Rutabagas look similar to large turnips, and can be used in many of the same ways that you would use a potato. However, because they're often dipped in a wax to protect them from drying out, it can be difficult to peel them. You can get rid of this wax to make using the rutabaga easier.

Things You'll Need

• Paring knife
• Vegetable peeler
• Cutting board

Instructions

1. Put the rutabaga in the refrigerator for at least one hour to make the wax harder. Use the flat side of the knife and your fingers to peel away most of the hardened wax.

2. When you have removed as much wax as you can with the knife, run the rutabaga under hot water and scrub it to remove as much of the remaining wax or dirt as possible.

3. Slice the top and the bottom of the rutabaga off so that it has flat surfaces, making it more stable and therefore easier to peel. Use a vegetable peeler or the paring knife to remove the skin; this will remove any remaining wax.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a large kitchen knife to cut off the tops and bottoms of the rutabaga and then cut off the sides to remove much of the skin from the rutabaga, which also removes the wax. However, this wastes some of the rutabaga.

• Be careful not to cut yourself with the knife. Cut away from yourself, and don't skip the step where you cut off the top and bottom of the rutabaga to stabilize it.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Turnip/Rutabaga
• Fine Cooking: Turnip or Rutabaga?