Rutabaga vs Turnip: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Rutabaga has 1.1 g of protein, while turnip has 0.9 g. Rutabaga contains 37 calories, compared to turnip's 28 calories.

Rutabaga and turnip are both root vegetables commonly used in cooking. They have distinct nutritional profiles that may influence dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Rutabaga and Turnip?

Rutabaga is a root vegetable, a cross between a cabbage and a turnip, known for its sweet flavor and yellowish flesh. It is often used in soups, stews, and mashes. Turnip is a root vegetable that is round and typically white or purple in color, with a slightly peppery taste. It can be eaten raw or cooked in various dishes.

Rutabaga vs Turnip: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of rutabaga and turnip based on their nutritional values.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Rutabaga (raw)	Turnip (raw)
Calories	37 kcal	28 kcal
Protein	1.1 g	0.9 g
Carbs	8.6 g	6.4 g
Sugar	4.5 g	3.8 g
Fat	0.2 g	0.1 g
Fiber	2.3 g	1.8 g
Sodium	12 mg	67 mg

Which Is Better, Rutabaga or Turnip?

For weight loss: Turnip has fewer calories at 28, while rutabaga has 37 calories per 100 g.

For muscle and protein: Rutabaga provides more protein at 1.1 g compared to turnip's 0.9 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Rutabaga has 8.6 g of carbs and 4.5 g of sugar, while turnip has 6.4 g of carbs and 3.8 g of sugar.

How to Track Rutabaga and Turnip Accurately

Portion sizes and macronutrient content can be easy to misjudge when preparing these vegetables. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use, not medical advice. This comparison is based on per-100g measurements. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Rutabaga has 1.1 g of protein, while turnip has 0.9 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Turnip has 28 calories, while rutabaga has 37 calories.

What is the carbohydrate content of rutabaga?

Rutabaga contains 8.6 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

What is the sugar content of turnip?

Turnip has 3.8 g of sugar per 100 g.

How much fiber is in rutabaga?

Rutabaga provides 2.3 g of fiber per 100 g.

What is the sodium content for turnip?

Turnip contains 67 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Rutabaga has 37 calories per 100 g.
• Turnip has 28 calories per 100 g.
• Rutabaga contains 1.1 g of protein.
• Turnip contains 0.9 g of protein.
• Rutabaga has 8.6 g of carbohydrates.
• Turnip has 6.4 g of carbohydrates.