# Turnip greens **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616 "2015-01-22T20:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/1 "2015-01-22T20:28:14Z")
An odd thing to obsess about,but I can’t find canned unseasoned turnip greens. Not on line,not in stores. The only thing I can find is “Glory” which has enough sugar to turn them into a “sometimes” food and also has smoked turkey in them. I don’t like turkey in any form. Next time you’re in a store,and you happen to think of it,could you look for unseasoned canned greens,please? I don’t think they make them any more.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/2 "2015-01-22T21:31:01Z")
Just curious - any reason you can’t start with fresh turnip greens? I suspect one reason the plain canned variety are becoming less common is more people are trying to start from fresh. I’ll keep my eyes out for your request, though. Where are you located? It wouldn’t make sense for me to recommend a small, local shop if you’re located thousands of miles away. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/3 "2015-01-23T00:25:59Z")
Located in Texas. Fresh is $3.00 a bunch. Bunch cooks down to about a cup. 2.5 cups in a can. I guess I’ll try to grow some next Fall… also some Swiss Chard (which doesn’t come in a can or frozen) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/4 "2015-01-23T01:48:56Z")
yeah, honestly, hearty greens are something I’d cook myself, no matter the inconvenience. canning- by necessity- overcooks a lot of things, and overcooked greens are to me unappealing. ---
**Author:** ![Nelson\_Pike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Nelson\_Pike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nelson_Pike)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/5 "2015-01-23T01:56:34Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Located in Texas. > Fresh is $3.00 a bunch. Bunch cooks down to about a cup. 2.5 cups in a can. > I guess I’ll try to grow some next Fall… also some Swiss Chard (which doesn’t come in a can or frozen) That sounds like an outrageous price for something that cooks down to $1.20 per cup which is about what the damn stuff costs per can in the store. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/6 "2015-01-23T02:03:04Z")
Yes, well, greens are surprisingly expensive. I’ve moved to growing my own. I especially like chard (and you’re right - you never see it canned or frozen. It does freeze - I still have a couple pounds in my freezer from my garden). I find chard, kale, and turnips are much easier to grow than spinach. They’re like weeds, surviving all sorts of weather and insult. Haven’t tried growing collard or mustard greens, but I expect they aren’t that different. [At one point I was even growing chard indoors hydroponically.](http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/BroomBroomstick/media/Plants/Hydropon01.jpg.html?o=49) Fresh greens all winter long in Indiana is almost like working magic. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/7 "2015-01-23T14:05:20Z")
Moving from MPSIMS to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/8 "2015-01-23T14:11:52Z")
I feel your pain. I love canned turnip greens. If I’m going to saute them with garlic & nutmeg, I want fresh; but there is a certain inexplicable charm to canned greens too. when you said “canned greens” I immediately thought of Allen’s brand, my favorite. Sadly, [they recently went out of business.](http://www.vault.com/company-profiles/food-beverage/allens,-inc/company-overview.aspx) Maybe that’s why you can’t find them. Found two or three other brands online, but it looks like they’re all seasoned. Alas. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/9 "2015-01-23T14:57:31Z")
Some days/weeks I don’t feel well enough to cook. I can put a can of greens in a bowl in the microwave,add a can of pinto beans(in their own bowl) and have a good Southern lunch… The seasoned greens have sugar in them… Not much,but enough to mess up diabetes… _sigh_ I’ve contacted the canning company/brand and they swear they have low sodium… Great – not what I want. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/10 "2015-01-23T15:00:51Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Yes, well, greens are surprisingly expensive. > > I’ve moved to growing my own. I especially like chard (and you’re right - you never see it canned or frozen. It does freeze - I still have a couple pounds in my freezer from my garden). I find chard, kale, and turnips are much easier to grow than spinach. They’re like weeds, surviving all sorts of weather and insult. > > Haven’t tried growing collard or mustard greens, but I expect they aren’t that different. > > [At one point I was even growing chard indoors hydroponically.](http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/BroomBroomstick/media/Plants/Hydropon01.jpg.html?o=49) Fresh greens all winter long in Indiana is almost like working magic. I’m stuck in low income housing… They had a fit when I grew tomato plants(they didn’t know what they were:eek:) and really don’t like us having flower pots… they make the lawn crew have to work.:mad: tough. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/11 "2015-01-23T15:12:50Z")
I’ve seen frozen black eyed peas, okra, and I am positive, turnip greens and other kinds. PictSweet, in the grocery store freezer case. Along side the regular frozen vegetables like corn, peas, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/12 "2015-01-23T15:22:20Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I’ve seen frozen black eyed peas, okra, and I am positive, turnip greens and other kinds. PictSweet, in the grocery store freezer case. Along side the regular frozen vegetables like corn, peas, etc. I’ve definitely seen turnip greens in the freezer case, but not at all stores. I suspect they’re just the greens with no added stuff. They might not be as tender as the canned, but just as microwavable, so maybe worth a look? Good luck! It sucks when something you love becomes unavailable. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/13 "2015-01-23T15:28:08Z")
Frozen I still need to cook… I’m old,taught to cook by my mom who was old when I got here,so greens/any vegetables are cooked until they’re dead,then cooked an hour more to make sure… Yep,Texas… I’m getting better at cooking,but the taste/texture one grew up with is what I crave… ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/14 "2015-01-23T15:35:18Z")
I have never liked the Glory ones, but there is a brand named Margaret Holmes that makes excellent versions of turnip, mustard and collared greens. They are seasoned, but I can’t detect sugar as much as salt. All canned greens tend to be a bit overcooked. When we eat these, we have to add bacon grease (a tablespoon) and of course the vinegar/pepper stuff. But then, why would you eat them any other way? I have been known to add chick peas, but my wife thinks that they are gross. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/15 "2015-01-23T15:36:42Z")
At Walmart, they stock fatback and that is excellent in greens. Texas ain’t southern; its Texas, a quality all its own. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/16 "2015-01-23T15:53:52Z")
How do you feel about [restaurant-sized cans](http://www.webstaurantstore.com/chopped-mustard-greens-10-can/99903110.html?utm_source=pricegrabber&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=99903110&utm_campaign=consumables)? How hungry are you at dinner time? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/17 "2015-01-23T16:15:05Z")
Guess I could use the can for a flower pot :big grin: Thanks – I’ll see if they sell to regular people ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/18 "2015-01-23T17:00:44Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > I’m stuck in low income housing… They had a fit when I grew tomato plants(they didn’t know what they were:eek:) and really don’t like us having flower pots… they make the lawn crew have to work.:mad: tough. Yeah, one of the neighbors spotted the grow-lights I was using for the chard and reported us as a possible pot growing operation. Because, of course, poor people = criminal or something. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/19 "2015-01-23T17:10:31Z")
I grew a Balsam flower plant… People were looking at me really funny because of the leaf shape:( but then it started to bloom. It didn’t make the cut here tho… so far Snapdragons,Pansys,Cosmos,Sweet William,Zinnia and a mini rose have lived through my “care”:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616/20 "2015-01-23T20:52:02Z")
Total hijack, but throw some nasturtium seeds into your next patch of dirt if you bulldog your way into having a pot or two after all. They sprout quickly and bloom prettily, and the leaves are edible too; they have a bite similar to the taste of black pepper, and are nice to add to a salad. Here in Texas, they’re a spring/fall annual, during that brief lovely time when it’s neither too hot nor too cold, but other than that they’re super-easy to grow. I will attempt to redeem my hijack by promising to look out for unseasoned canned greens - I’m in DFW. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turnip-greens/710616.md?page=2)