How to Make Homemade Prepared Horseradish

Have fresh horseradish root? Here's how to make homemade horseradish by adding vinegar and grinding it in a food processor. It's the best prepared horseradish you'll ever taste!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
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 August 26, 2022
Elise Bauer
How to Make Homemade Prepared Horseradish

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

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?

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.

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.

How to Make Homemade Prepared Horseradish

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

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.

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!

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

How to Make Homemade Prepared Horseradish

Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Servings 24 servings
Yield 1/2 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.

    Horseradish Recipe

    simplyrecipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  2. Peel and chop:

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

    Peel Raw Horseradish for Homemade Horseradish
    Horseradish Cut into Pieces
  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.

    Simple 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.

    Horseradish in Food Processor for Homemade Prepared Radish
    Blended Horseradish in Food Processor
    Vinegar Added to Homemade Horseradish Recipe
  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? Give us some stars below!

    How to Make Homemade Prepared Horseradish

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
3 Calories
0g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 3
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 30mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 15mg 0%
*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.