Burdock

APPEARANCE: Also known as gobo in Japanese, burdock is a long, long root. It sometimes appears in markets as a single 2-3 foot long piece, but more commonly is cut into shorter lengths for packaging. The roots are ½-1” in diameter, with a rough, dark brown skin. The center is light colored when freshly cut, but darkens after exposure to air and with age. Slender root hairs can be found along its length.

QUALITY: Check the cut ends; the center should be light colored and fine-textured. With age, the roots become coarse and woody; with exposure to air, the ends darken. Check the surface for any signs of rot or mold. Because burdock is not particularly commonly used, turnover could be slow, and packages may be left on supermarket shelves longer than they should. Finally, the smaller diameter pieces tend to be more tender as they are closer to the growing tip of the root.