This Fiery Homemade Horseradish Is in a League of Its Own (2025)

  • In The Kitchen

Have fresh horseradish root? Make the best prepared horseradish ever in just 10 minutes.

By

Elise Bauer

This Fiery Homemade Horseradish Is in a League of Its Own (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated June 03, 2024

27 Ratings

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In This Recipe

Do you like horseradish?

I find that people either love it or hate it. Some people can't resist it, and some people will leave the room if it's on the table.

One bite of pungent prepared horseradish is enough to clear out anyone's sinuses, right?

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How to Grow Horseradish

Horseradish is both easy to grow and easy to prepare!

Plant a section of root in a sunny part of your yard, make sure it gets some water, and soon you'll have more horseradish than you can use.

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Where to Buy Horseradish Root

If you don't have access to a garden plant, you can often find the roots at markets such as Whole Foods.

Homemade prepared horseradish can be twice as strong as store-bought versions and lasts for a month or more in the refrigerator.

Do you have any horseradish growing or preparing tips to share? Please comment below!

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A Quick Guide to Horseradish

Horseradish is a part of the mustard family along with another spicy condiment, wasabi. The harvested or purchased whole root will keep in the crisper drawer for a week or so and will dry out over time. The potency of each root can range greatly depending on the freshness, size, age, and characteristics of the individual plant.

Grating or processing fresh horseradish can cause eye and nose irritation. Crack any and all windows and make sure the kitchen is well-ventilated before beginning.

How to Harvest Horseradish Root

You grew horseradish...and now you just need to get that root out of the ground without damaging the plant!

For those in temperate climates, it's best to harvest the roots in the fall or winter, after a frost. The frost will improve the root's flavor, as long as you like it really kicky! Spring will work, too, as long as the plants are still dormant.

Because horseradish roots grow out rather than down, be mindful when digging them up. First, loosen the soil all around the plant. Probe the ground with your hand to see if you can locate the roots. Then keep digging until you can raise the whole plant out of the soil.

Make sure to save some roots to replant! You can do this on the spot or overwinter them and plant them later.

Any roots you harvested to use in the kitchen will last at least a few months in the fridge if you tuck them into a breathable bag (if it's plastic, punch some holes in it).

Food Processor, Blender, or Box Grater?

  • Since this recipe is for such a small amount of prepared horseradish (a little goes a long way), a small or mini food processor or chopper works best. Six-cup capacity or smaller will work.
  • To use a large food processor (more than 6-cup capacity), you can double the recipe to yield 1 cup of prepared horseradish.
  • Alternatively, you can use a high-power blender if you stop and scrape down the sides several times to keep everything incorporated.
  • Finally, you can always do it the old-fashioned way and grate the horseradish by hand using the small holes on a sturdy grater or a grinder and some elbow grease.

How to Store Prepared Horseradish

Homemade prepared horseradish will keep for at least 1 month in the fridge, often for much longer. If it turns gray, toss it out. While it's unlikely you'll need to store it for longer, you can freeze it and defrost when ready to use. It will lose some of its potency this way.

Use Your Prepared Horseradish In These Recipes!

  • Horseradish Sauce
  • Bloody Mary
  • Remoulade Sauce
  • Deviled Eggs with Horseradish and Dill
  • Shrimp Cocktail

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Homemade Prepared Horseradish

Prep Time10 mins

Total Time10 mins

Servings24 servings

Yield1/2 cup

This recipe uses a small root to make 1/2 cup of prepared horseradish. Because of the small amount, a small or mini food processor (6-cup capacity or smaller) or chopper work best. Double the recipe for a large food processor, making 1 cup.

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 to 10-inch long) piece horseradish root (4 to 5 ounces)

  • 2 tablespoons water, more as needed

  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar, more as needed

  • Pinch salt

Method

  1. Dig up or buy an 8 to 10-inch horseradish root:

    If you have access to a garden horseradish plant, use a sturdy shovel to dig up an 8 to 10-inch long tuber of horseradish. (You can't pull it up.)

    Remove the leaves (if needed) and rinse the dirt off of the root.

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  2. Peel and chop:

    Use a vegetable peeler to peel the surface skin off of the tuber. Chop into pieces.

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  3. Grind with water, then add the vinegar and salt:

    Put into a small food processor. Add a couple of tablespoons of water. Process until well ground, adding more water a teaspoon at a time if needed.

    Tip

    A small food processor or chopper (6-cup capacity or smaller) works best for this amount of horseradish. Double the recipe if you have a large food processor.

    Be careful! A ground-up fresh horseradish is many times as potent as freshly chopped onions and can really hurt your eyes if you get too close. Keep at arm's length and work in a well-ventilated room.

    Strain out some of the water if the mixture is too liquidy. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar and a pinch of salt to the mixture. Pulse to combine.

    Note that the vinegar will stabilize the level of hotness of the ground horseradish, so do not wait too long to add it to the mixture. Add more vinegar, 1 teaspoon at a time, if needed.

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  4. Transfer to a jar:

    Using a rubber spatula, carefully transfer the grated horseradish to a jar. It will keep for at least 1 month in the refrigerator.

    Did you love this recipe? Leave us a rating and review!

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  • Passover
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
3Calories
0g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories3
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 30mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 1g0%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg7%
Calcium 3mg0%
Iron 0mg0%
Potassium 15mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

This Fiery Homemade Horseradish Is in a League of Its Own (2025)
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