rutabaga vs. turnip

rutabaga vs. turnip: What's the difference?

The rutabaga is a variety of turnip—a root vegetable that’s a member of the mustard family. Rutabagas are typically larger and sweeter than other turnips. Rutabagas have a rough and waxy exterior and typically have yellow flesh, while other turnips have white flesh.

rutabaga

noun

  1. a brassicaceous plant, Brassica napobrassica, having a yellow- or white-fleshed, edible tuber.

  2. the edible tuber, a variety of turnip.

turnip

noun

  1. the thick, fleshy, edible root of either of two plants of the mustard family, the white-fleshed Brassica rapa rapifera or the yellow-fleshed rutabaga.

  2. the plant itself.

  3. the root of this plant used as a vegetable.