How to Cook Beets (4 Different Ways)

Beets are so versatile and are packed with a ton of vitamins and nutrients. Whether you’re a huge fan of the superfood or just looking to go back to basics and learn some new ways to prepare them, we’ve got you covered in this foolproof guide.

The Health Benefits of Beetroots

It’s hard to look at a beet and not be overcome with its beautiful, fuchsia coloring. It’s also easy to tell that this root vegetable is packing some major health benefits, antioxidants, and overall nutritional value. Among the top contenders include potassium, folate, manganese, folic acid, and vitamin C, A, B6, & K. To top it all off, they are low in calories and high in fiber, making them a wonderfully filling part of any diet.

4 Ways on How to Cook Beets

Here, you’ll find easy step-by-step guides on how to roast, boil, steam, and microwave beets. Each method works great, so feel free to choose the one that resonates with you most!

How to Roast Beets

1. Clean the Beets: Rinse the beets under cold water in the sink and slice off the greens. Peel them or leave the skin on depending on your preference.
2. Slice the Beets: Slice the beets into evenly-sized pieces.
3. Season the Beets: Lay the beets out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
4. Bake the Beets: Bake the beets in the oven for 35-40 minutes at 400°F.

How to Boil Beets

1. Clean the Beets: Rinse the beets under cold water in the sink and slice off the greens.
2. Boil Water: Bring a pot of salted water to boil.
3. Clean the Beets: Rinse the beets under cold water in the sink and slice off the greens.
4. Boil the Beets: Boil the beets for 30-40 minutes depending on the size.
5. Peel the Skins Off: Once the beets have cooled enough to handle, rinse them under cold water and peel the skins off (the skins should slide off super easily). Slice the beets into bite-sized pieces.

How to Steam Beets

1. Clean the Beets: Wash the beets under cold water and remove the greens.
2. Steam the Beets: Place the beets in a steamer basket and cook them for 30-50 minutes, or until fork-tender.
3. Cool the Beets: Once the beets cool to room temperature, rub the skins off and cut the beets into bite-sized pieces.

How to Microwave Beets

1. Clean the Beets: Wash the beets under cold water and remove the greens. Peel the beets or leave the skin on – it’s up to you.
2. Poke Holes in the Beets: Poke holes in the beets with a fork to let the steam escape (you don’t want them to explode!).
3. Wrap the Beets: Wrap the beets in a paper towel or place them on a plate and cover them loosely with a damp paper towel.
4. Microwave the Beets: Cook the beets on high for 3 minutes. Turn them over and cook them for an additional 1-2 minutes (this will depend on the size of the beets). Check them with a fork or knife to ensure they are the right texture for your liking.

BONUS! How to Cook Beets in an Instant Pot

If you want to let the pressure cooker do the work for you, whip up the beets in it instead. Here’s how to do it:

1. Clean the Beets: Wash the beets under cold water and remove the greens. Peel the beets or leave the skin on – it’s up to you.
2. Poke Holes in the Beets: Poke holes in the whole beets with a fork to let the steam escape (you don’t want them to explode!).
3. Prepare the Pressure Cooker: Pour a couple of inches of water into the Instant Pot. Place the trivet inside the pressure cooker and assemble the beets on top.
4. Pressure Cook the Beets: For small to medium-sized beets, cook on MANUAL mode at high pressure for 15 minutes. For large beets, increase the cooking time to 20 minutes.

Different Kinds of Beets

There are too many kinds of beets out there to count, but here’s the lowdown on the 3 most common varieties out there.

• Red Beets (Most Common) – Red beets are what come to mind when most of us think about what beets look, feel, and taste like. When you can, select the varieties that have the leafy greens still attached – that’s how you know they are freshly harvested. When it comes to using them, they can be roasted or used for traditional borscht.
• Golden Beets – Golden beets are a tad less sweet than red beets, tout a mild flavor, and have beautiful yellow flesh. Use them anywhere you would use red beets and you’ll be golden (pun intended).
• Baby Beets – Baby beets can be any kind variety of beets. The only difference is that they are harvested early (much like new potatoes). They are ultra-tender and have super tasty leaves that you can saute with garlic, salt, and pepper for a yummy side dish.

The Best Way to Store Beets

Whether you’re stowing away raw beets or prepping a batch of cooked beets for easy snacking throughout the week, find all you need to know here.

Storing Raw Beets

Trim the greens off the tops of the beets, leaving about an inch of stem. Rinse the beets under cold water and pat them dry with a towel. Then, place them in a plastic storage bag and remove as much air out of the bag as possible. Pop the beets into the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to 3-4 weeks.

Storing Cooked Beets

To keep cooked beets on hand for 3-5 days, store them in shallow airtight containers or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. If you want the beets to last even longer, use a vacuum sealer machine and accompanying vacuum sealer storage container to keep the citrus fresh for up to 5 times longer than conventional airtight storage containers.

Tasty Beet Recipes to Try

We. Love. Beets. There are just so many ways to use them. Check out a couple of ideas here to inspire you.

• Salads: Make beet arugula salad, beet quinoa salad, or a Russian vinaigrette salad.
• Soups: Beets are the base of traditional Slavic soups, such as vegetarian borscht (the creaminess comes from sour cream) or classic borscht with bone-in meat.
• Pickled: Whip up a batch of quick-pickled beets or a marinated beet salad for everything from snacking to charcuterie boards. You can also whip up beets for tasty pickled beets and pate smørrebrød.

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Recipe

How to Cook Beets (4 Different Ways)

Print Pin

Servings

4 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This guide on how to cook beets will show you four ways you can prepare this superfood. We’ll also share everything from storage tips to recipes ideas!

Ingredients

• 4 medium beets

Instructions

Boil

• Rinse the beets under cold water in the sink and slice off the greens.
• Bring a pot of salted water to boil.
• Boil the beets for 30-40 minutes depending on the size.
• Cool the beets, rinse them under cold water, and peel the skins off. Slice the beets into bite-sized pieces.

Roast

• Rinse the beets under cold water in the sink and slice off the greens. Peel them or leave the skin on depending on your preference.
• Slice the beets into evenly-sized pieces.
• Lay the beets out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
• Bake the beets in the oven for 35-40 minutes at 400°F.

Steam

• Wash the beets under cold water and remove the greens.
• Place the beets in a steamer basket and cook them for 30 minutes, or until fork-tender.
• Once the beets cool to room temperature, rub the skins off and cut the beets into bite-sized pieces.

Microwave

• Wash the beets under cold water and remove the greens. Peel the beets or leave the skin on – it's up to you.
• Poke holes in the beets with a fork to let the steam escape.
• Wrap the beets in a paper towel or place them on a plate and cover them loosely with a damp paper towel
• Cook the beets on high for 3 minutes. Turn them over and cook them for an additional 1-2 minutes or until your desired texture is reached.

Nutrition Facts

How to Cook Beets (4 Different Ways)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 35 Calories from Fat 1

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.1g0%

Saturated Fat 0.02g0%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.03g

Sodium 64mg3%

Potassium 267mg8%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 27IU1%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 13mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.