Harvesting and Using Dandelion Roots for Food & Medicine
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Dandelion roots have long history of use as food and medicine. I’ll share the best time to dig dandelion roots, tips for preserving them, and how to use them. Who doesn’t like free food and medicine?
Note: Never harvest dandelion roots from lawns or other areas treated with herbicides or pesticides. The roots accumulate anything sprayed on the soil.
I dug up this pile of dandelion roots while harvesting other fall root vegetables from the garden.
Table of contents
When Should I Harvest Dandelion Roots?
Harvest dandelion roots from late fall through early spring, when the plant is dormant and has stored up energy in the root. (Spring dandelion greens are less bitter, if you are using the whole plant.)
For medicinal use, most sources say fall harvest is best. In fall, the levels of inulin (insoluble fiber) are higher and the fructose levels are lower.
The freezing of winter converts the inulin to fructose, which makes spring roots more palatable for eating. Spring roots are less bitter and chewy – just make sure you dig them before the plants start to blossom. Spring roots are also higher in taraxacin, which stimulates bile production.
What’s the Best Way to Harvest Dandelion Roots?
To dig roots, use a dandelion digger or a sturdy fork. Try to damage the root as little as possible so you don’t lose much sap, which is where the medicinal properties lie. Deep, rich soil produces the thickest, easiest to harvest roots.
I always let a few dandelions go in the garden, as they are great for reaching deep into the soil to bring up nutrients.
Select large, vigorous plants – small, spindly plants have small roots that are not really worth harvesting. Sometimes you find larger roots with dark cores. These are older plants, and the roots will be tough. They’re still fine for making dandelion root tea and medicinal use.
You can chop and freeze the roots to use later, but the most common storage method is dehydrating. Rehydrate your dried roots in soups, or use them for teas or tinctures.
How to Dry Dandelion Roots
Begin by scrubbing roots well with a vegetable brush, or peeling larger roots.
Slice thick roots lengthwise into strips of uniform thickness to decrease drying time and encourage uniform drying.
Spread the chopped roots in a single layer on dehydrator sheets. Dry the roots at 95°F (35°C) until brittle.
If you don’t have a dehydrator, spread the root pieces in a single layer and place in a dry location with good air flow. Air dry for 3 to 14 days (until brittle). Dried roots will keep for a year or more.
Don’t have time to dig or a clean spot to harvest?
You can buy clean and prepped roots, teas, and extracts online, ready to use, including:
![Starwest Botanicals Organic Raw Dandelion Root Tea [1 Pound] Bulk Cut & Sifted (C/S) Loose Tea](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412xD7VEKfL._SL160_.jpg)
How to Cook Dandelion Root
If you don’t mind a little bitterness, dandelion roots are safe to eat raw. The flavor is mildest in late winter/early spring. Katrina Blair notes in “The Wild Wisdom of Weeds” that she makes dandelion relish with ground roots, apple cider vinegar, and honey. You can also add the shredded roots to homemade sauerkraut.
Peel roots from older plants before cooking. Younger roots are fine with a good scrub. You can treat them like other root vegetables, though some people may notice the bitterness. My crew is used to the stronger flavors of wild plants.
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Cut the cleaned roots into uniform pieces, and toss with a bit of oil and salt. Spread on a baking sheet. Bake the roots at 375℉ (190℃) for about 30 minutes, until fork tender.
Boil roots for about 10 minutes with a pinch of baking soda in the water. Change the water and boil for 10 minutes more to reduce bitterness. Eat the cooked roots warm or chilled. The inulin in the roots acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon.
If you like bold flavors, simply chop the root and add it to soups or stews. The Wild Wisdom of Weeds includes a simple dandelion root stew recipe, with the following ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh dandelion roots, shredded
- 2 tablespoons sweet white miso
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup scallions, diced
- 1 cup fresh yellow squash, shredded
- 6 cups water
- 1 tablespoon fresh garden herbs, minced
Add all ingredients to a pan and heat through, stirring to blend well. Note that the raw or lightly cooked roots may produce flatulence for some, due to the inulin content.
Medicinal Uses
Dandelion root has been used to treat everything from arthritis to hangovers. In traditional medicine, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root is used many ways, including as a:
- Liver ally and diuretic
- General tonic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Digestive stimulant
- Deobstruent (clears and opens ducts)
- Sedative
Most scientific studies have been in vitro or animal studies. Dandelion root extracts show promise against cancerous cells, type 2 diabetes, liver damage, and more. As a diuretic, dandelion clears excess fluid, lowering blood pressure.
In “A comprehensive review of the benefits of Taraxacum officinale on human health” the authors review 54 studies. They found that the most commonly reported effects of dandelion were hepatoprotective, antioxidant and anticancer activities.
To extract the medicinal compounds from the roots, use a decoction or tincture. Decoctions are water based, while tinctures are generally alcohol based. A decoction is essentially a strong tea.
Make a Dandelion Root Decoction
To make a decoction, place one ounce of dried roots or two ounces fresh roots (by weight) in a pan with one pint of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and compost the spent roots.
See How to Make Dandelion Tea for recipe variations, including roasted root tea and healing tea blends for specific ailments.
Make a Dandelion Root Tincture
To make a tincture, place dandelion root in a jar and cover with 80 proof (40%) vodka. Cover tightly and allow to steep 4-6 weeks, shaking daily.
Strain out plant material and store in a dark glass bottle. Label and date.
Side Effects and Allergic Reactions
While rare, dandelion sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. As a diuretic, it may flush medicines out of your body faster. If you are allergic to plants in the daisy family, you may react to dandelion.
Do not use dandelion root if you have irritable stomach or bowel, or if you have an acute inflammation. (source)
If you suspect you have gallstones larger than 1.5 millimeters, avoid using dandelion root. You might accidentally flush the stones into the bile ductwork. There they can get stuck and cause a lot of pain.
Note: Always talk to a healthcare professional before taking any herbal medicine if you are on prescription medications. This article is not intended to treat, cure, or prevent illness, or replace professional medical advice.
More Information on Dandelions and Using Wild Plants
Wild plants are a wonderful resource for those who seek healthy, nourishing food with abundant nutrition. The flavors can be strong, but I find that the more I eat, the more I crave them. I hope you’ll give this humble weed a chance in your garden and your kitchen.
Don’t forget to check out the other Wildcrafting posts, including:
- Benefits of Dandelion
- How to Make Dandelion Wine
- Easy Dandelion Fritters
- Dandelion Flower Jelly
- Wildcrafting (Foraging) Books and Resources – Learn Which Weeds are Good for Food and Medicine
This article is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie is a lifelong learner with a passion for natural remedies and holistic healing. She’s successfully improved her eyesight and cleared her psoriasis.
A local restaurant, Kismet (Montpelier, VT) makes a delicious dandelion latte with milk (cow’s or soy, your choice) and maple syrup. It’s wonderful. I’ve made my own by digging roots, scrubbing them, roasting them whole until dark brown, and then grinding in a coffee grinder. I use the ground roots just like ground coffee. You can also do this with chicory roots. Thanks for the great information– we have a huge field of dandelions near our house and I’m looking forward to making your dandelion wine!
And for those who don’t have their own stock of dandelions or chicory, Frontier sells bulk bags of both, ground and roasted. I think I’m going to miss dandelion wine season again, as we’re rather behind in the garden due to all the permaculture plantings this year.
first timer here loved all the info packed in here
Thanks, and welcome.
Hi! I have been wanting to purchase a dehydrator for some time now, to dry medicinal herbs and make homemade dried fruit. I’m on a very tight budget, due to major health problems and several surgeries. Could you please suggest a model that’s not too expensive, but will work well for my needs? I’ve read that it’s possible to dry herbs and fruit in the oven at a low temp, but I’m concerned about needing to have the oven on for an extended period of time (with little ones running about) in order to dry everything correctly.
Thank you ahead of time for your help! Have a lovely weekend!
Tracy Spangler
I bought my no frills 4 tray Nesco Snackmaster Dehydrator (pictured in the post) over 15 years ago, and it’s still going strong. Over the years I added two trays , mesh inserts and additional fruit leather inserts. A couple of years ago I bought an Excalibur 9 tray because the Nesco was making weird noises, but whatever was causing the noise must have come unstuck, because now it’s running fine again. Now I use the Excalibur for big jobs and the Nesco for smaller jobs. The current Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Express 4-Tray Food Dehydrator is only $58.42 and qualifies for Prime shipping.
I planning on making some dandelion tea/coffee. Last year I spot sprayed dandelions in this area of my yard. Would this years dandelions be ok to use for making a drink?
Thanks
I know that around here they have to wait three years after spraying for organic certification. I’d highly recommend harvesting from a no spray area if possible.
Lovely article on harvesting and using dandelion roots! I received a lovely gift bag with chocolate in various forms, plus a recipe (& ingredients!) for dandelion cocoa!
3 Tbsp roasted dandelion root
2 Tbsp cacao nibs
1 Tbsp cinnamon chips
1/2 ” sliced fresh ginger
decoct (30 minutes) in 3 cups water
for a cup: 2 Tbsp coconut (or other) milk
Garam Masala or other herb blend
bit of vanilla
honey to taste
I’m interested in harvesting dandelions from our lawn. We used a lawn service a few years ago. How many seasons would you say a lawn needs to be “chemical free” before it is clear for harvest, or is it ever?
Organic certification requires three years, but it’s hard to say exactly how long certain chemicals may persist. As strange as it might sound, you may want to consider dosing your lawn with some version of effective microorganisms, which effectively act somewhat like probiotics for plants. This will speed the growth of healthy bacteria and other soil “good guys”, which help break down and eliminate the “bad stuff”. You can read more about creating healthy soil in : https://commonsensehome.com/grow-tomatoes-organically/2/
You mention that they shouldn’t be harvested after they bloom. Is this just for flavour or are the medicinal properties reduced? Would like to harvest but mine are almost all in flower. Also we rarely get a freeze, never had one this year, would this mean that they would be the same or more similar to autumn roots. Thank you for a great article!
Once they’ve gone to flower, most of the mojo has left the roots. They use up their sugar and nutrient stores to produce those bright yellow bumblebee magnets, and roots at this point will be woody and lower in medicinal value. Even without a hard freeze, the plants still go through their annual cycles, pushing nutrients up during flowering time, and packing them into the roots heading into dormancy. Without the hard freeze, spring roots would not be as sweet, but the medicinal value is still there – before they start putting up flower stalks. You could make dandelion wine with the blossoms: https://commonsensehome.com/fields-of-gold-its-dandelion-time/ 🙂
Dandelion is my favorite herb! I roast the roots for a hot drink that’s better than coffee – and I love coffee! After washing well, I chop them in a food processor before drying. Once dry, spread them out in a roasting pan and roast in a 300 degree oven until quite dark, which can take awhile depending on the thickness of the layer. (I keep it less than a 1/2 inch thick) Be sure to stir occasionally. Simmer about a tablespoon to 2c water for 10 minutes or so. Adjust to taste. Serve with a bit of stevia and milk (or a nut milk)
May I mention also that it’s thought that herbs grow where they are needed. As dandelion is a good liver purifier, is it any wonder is grows so profusely in this country? And may I suggest when harvesting the roots, do so with love, intent and gratitude. When I do that, they release their grip in the ground and come out whole when pulled by hand, as if they are giving a gift to me. Which they are…
Ann, have you ever seen the movie “Like Water for Chocolate”? It revolves around the idea of infusing emotions into food while cooking – and a very strange romance.
My Mother used to dig up dandelion plants every year to make for us to eat. she would cook the leaf’s and drain them then she would take fried bacon and cut up hard boiled egg’s she would put them in a pot together. Then she would mix sugar and vinegar together and pour it over the dandelion it was very good. She also took the dandelion flower and she would wash them and then take and dip in egg’s and flour and fry them they are so good. My Mother was a good cook.
That’s wonderful that you learned to enjoy them at a young age.
That’s how my grandma would cook them in the spring too. She said that you had to eat five messes of dandelion leaves before it flowered. It was wonderful. Never heard of flowers being breaded and fried. I can’t wait to try it.
Dandeliion wine is on my list to make this spring. As always, an excellent resource here, Laurie! Sharing!!
Todd – I need more wine racks! Thanks for your kind words.
During ww2 my uncle roasted the roots to make a coffee substitute. As I was a child I have no idea how it tasted.
On the Continent (Europe) you can still buy Dandelion Coffee. 🙂
You can get it in the States, too, but it’s very much a specialty item. 🙂
It appears to be very good for prostate and some other cancers. Pls see http://www.rense.com/general74/dandi.htm
Thanks for this. I also have a homesteading type blog where I present our adventures as outlier suburban farmers here in North Texas, growing seasonal veggies and a wide selection of medicinal herbs.
I have a bed dedicated to dandelions, and I’ve been tincturing leaves and roots all season. But now that we’ve had a couple of deep freezes, I was wondering whether to continue to harvest my 2+ year old roots, or wait til Spring.
I get the sense that I’m best waiting til early Spring to maximize medicinal content.
Thanks again and I’ll be a frequent visitor to your wonderful blog.
Hmmm…as I understood it, fall is better for medicinal properties, because the plant has stored up “the good stuff” for winter, while flavor was better in spring because of the additional starches converted to sugars by the freeze thaw cycle. I know The Practical Herbalist mentions fall digging for medicine: http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/component/content/article/40-herbal-encyclopedia/46-dandelion-the-liver-cleanser.html
I’m not sure how much of a difference it would make, though. I’m sure all are good when grown in reasonably healthy soil.
Somehow I trust the wisdom of nature. True the root changes with the seasons, however people’s needs do too. Perhaps we need spring roots in the spring and fall roots in the fall.
It could be. All things are connected.
I am thinking of investing in another dehydrator and am wondering what brand is yours, where you got it and what ‘extra’ pieces did you purchase with it, and most importantly given the chance what one would you purchase? Same one or a different one? (Right now we are doing apples with cinnamon and the whole house smells like apple pie!) Thanks for your time in doing all you do. Love the web site and ‘like’ you on FB!
The one in the photos is an American Harvest Snackmaster, and it has been a good workhorse for many years. I bought extra trays, and mesh inserts, and extra fruit leather trays. I bought it at the local hardware store (FleetFarm).
Recently, I bought a nine tray Excalibur, along with fruit leather sheets, from Amazon.com (free shipping). It dries foods faster and holds more, and you can culture yogurt in it in mason jars. If I had to only choose one and had the budget for it, it would be the Excalibur.
https://commonsensehome.com/home-food-drying/
Love my Excalibur… I have 2 of them. Don’t know what I would do without them. Then I have a couple of smaller round one. Sometimes I have all 4 going at one time…..
Did you mean 80 proof vodka. (40% alcohol)
I’m hoping to dig a few fresh roots here as soon as the first hard frost comes through. Fresh works best for tinctures, according to Susun Weed. She (and most other herbalists I’ve read info from) suggest 80-100 proof vodka or alcohol. 40 proof is only 20% alcohol, not enough to draw out the medicinal properties.
Yes, that should have read 80 proof. Thanks for the correction.
After it sits in the vodka, then how do you use it? And can dandelion be used to loose weight? And how?
As mentioned in the description for the “I’m sick of cellulite tea”, dandelion and other herbs may help your body metabolize fats and improve elimination of wastes, which can lead to weight loss. Typically medicinal doses for teas are 3-5 cups per day. Tinctures (steeping the herbs in alcohol) may be used in small amounts as a daily tonic. Some herbalists strain after 4-6 weeks, some let the herbs remain in the alcohol and draw off what is needed. There are many schools of thought on how to use herbs, and each person responds differently.
She did say 80 proof and 40% in brackets.
I love reading about ways to supplement food with wild plants….. I am encouraging my scouting friends to try wild plants as a survival plan… I enjoyed your review and will keep looking into bettering my knowledge on the subject… I already eat dandalion leafs in salads….they are very tasty …. Keep up the great reviews…..
I love reading everything on your site! Could you please tell me the difference in infuse and decoct? I’m interested in trying those for decongestion and cellulite tea…. but am not familiar with the terminology, so I’m not sure how to go about it.
Beth, I’ve highlighted the start of the decoction and infusion instructions in the post. A decoction requires boiling, and is used for tougher materials such as roots, whereas an infusion uses boiling water poured over the material (basically tea).
Can I post and link to your articles/blog?
You may share content from my blog as long as full credit is given and content is linked back to the site.
I love the post on dandelions. This spring, once the young leaves and first flowers were picked, I just let the plants get mowed with the rest of the lawn. We don’t have a specific spot for them, per se. Keeping the uses in mind, I am going to leave a patch for fall harvest, too. Thank you for sharing these tips and for hosting this link-up!
I love the dandelion blossoms in spring time. They bring such a blast of color, and are always covered with bumblebees.
As a huge Dandelion fan my whole life, I have hunted down the sweet weeds that tend to grow in remote place and off the beat places.
I have noticed that the inner city dandelions have been wiped out! They are still growing here and there, smaller and weaker from the assault on them by big phama and weed killer for too long now.
Finding and bring home the large rooted and very mature plants to my home garden has been a wonderful experience for us here in Oregon.
Remember the ” Rolling Stones ” song ” Dandelions will make you wise, tell no lies.
The world around us wants them dead.
Shows the real power that this weed has.
Uses are many and benefits are profound and long lasting.
I have more respect for the Dandelion. then the Rose!
I wasn’t aware of those song lyrics. Thanks for sharing your experiences dandelion hunting.
Jari, thanks for insights into dandelion harvesting and use. Yes, Pharma does not have my best interests in mind, root herbals seem to be the safest and sacred of all medicines.
Warren Schaich
big pharma wants to get rid of anything that they can’t make money off of. dandelions are a super plant.. that is why it’s so hard to get rid of them. they are wonderful for soooo many things and they are mother natures creation. big pharma only cares about you being sick so they can make you buy pills. if we all used what the planet has provided for us from the beginning of time, big pharma would be no more. THEY are the ones that pay scientists to post studies that dismiss or even demonize mother nature. they are evil. mother nature gives us all that we need to be healthy and thrive.
Amen Sister..!!! ✝☺✝
Well said
It’s wonderful to know that you can cure so many serious illnesses for free with that simple little plant growing wild everywhere including one’s own garden. Sometimes I see people in their garden killing these plants with Roundup or similar and it’s so sad because these same people go to their doctor ( or vet ) and get prescribed dangerous drugs to line the pockets of big Pharma. Just like weedkillers line big Pharma’s pockets. And yet these people are ignorant of Nature’s gifts all around them that can help them, they choose to kill them instead. So sad !!!
I have actually found the “government research papers” contain supporting evidence that the Industry who upon receiving this research, tailor it to Fit Their Means, to pick and choose what to share with us and proceed to add on words of anthropomorphism, thus manipulating our subconscious Emotionally, and thus proceeding to create an Environment of FEAR/False Evidence Appearing Real. resulting in getting us to set our sights on seeing only half the picture of what Actually is occurring, and calling the other half of creation a Disease.
The Research language from the Source [the gov.] to us, the Receiver, is being manipulated by the medium in-between ….{i.e. The Industry.}
under the words we all love to hear “We Care for you”
Upon reading and comparing research papers of the Gov, to those formulated by the Industry will show you exactly what I am referring to. Anthropomorphism has no place when describing actions/ reactions occurring within the body.
Microbes ADAPT to their Environment, They do not Invade, Attack or Steal, and Hijack their Host. Since they live within us, that makes us their environment and therefore they are Adapting to each Individual’s frequency matrix. [i.e. Energy field/Aura].
Here’s an Example
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948194/
It is a human characteristic to assign human emotion and behaviour to other living creatures. Yet anthropocentrism may well have ‘infected’ microbiology and misdirected research
So very true !
Hi Jari,
Can dandelion root be eaten raw?
Mike.
It’s not very tasty, but it is safe to eat.
You are very correct. BP wants to kill any anything that we can use for medicinal purposes.
Yes me too