Why Cook Beets?
If you don’t love beets already, knowing how to cook beets properly is a game changer. Juicy and earthy, with a touch of sweetness, beets make a tasty topping for salads and grain bowls. They’re also perfect as a vegetable side served with just about any meal, from weeknights to holidays. If you’re new to cooking this tasty root vegetable, welcome to Beets 101. You’re about to become their biggest fan!
What Are Beets?
Beets are the root of a beet plant. You’ll find these hardy root vegetables in supermarkets all over the world. Also called garden beet or red beet, they have an earthy, sweet taste that’s brought out even more by cooking. Although red is the most common color, you’ll also see golden, purple, white, and candy-striped beets. They’re all cooked in a similar manner.
Did you know that beets are also yummy to enjoy raw? The trick to eating raw beets is to grate or slice them thinly before adding them to salads. They are crunchy much like a radish or carrot.
How Do I Pick a Good Beet?
When choosing beets from the store, look for beets that are dark red and on the smaller side, but heavy for their size. They should be firm with bright green leaves. Sometimes the leaves are already removed, and that’s okay. If the beet looks large with a hairy taproot (the thin pointy tip), give it a pass. There’s a good chance that it will be tough once it’s cooked.
Tips for Cooking Beets
Here are some tips for perfect beets:
- Trim the beets before cooking. Trim off the leaves, stem, and taproot from the cleaned beets before you cook them.
- Peel the beets after cooking (usually). Beets are easier to peel after they are cooked; however, if you are roasting diced beets, you should peel the beets before dicing them.
- Don’t overcook. Start checking your beets for doneness near the end of the cooking time. Your beets are done when you can pierce them easily with a fork or knife. The exact cooking time varies depending on the size of your beets and the method you’re using. Expect to cook most beets for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Try a seasoning. Give your cooked beets a sprinkle with all-purpose seasoning or Italian seasoning for more flavor.
How to Prepare Beets
How to Boil Beets
Instant Pot Beets
Roasted Beets
Air Fryer Beets Recipe
Recipes using Beets
Beet Bruschetta with Orange Tarragon Goat Cheese
Salad with Beets and Feta
Asparagus Salad with Beets and Burrata
More Serving Suggestions
Side Dish: As a side dish, earthy beets pair great with sweet-savory dishes like pork tenderloin with apples, these zesty citrus beef skewers, or baked honey mustard chicken.
Serve Cold: Beets taste great cold in a vegetable wrap or quinoa bowl.
Love more than ever Cooking At Home. So Already Have Great Recipes originally from New Orleans, Louisiana Best Home Cooking Around The World Yet Love New Ideas Spice up Life. Thank You
p.S I always combine Recipes Looking Forward To Seeing Whatcha Got!
GOD’s Pure Wonderful Blessings Continuously Always Marcia
Thanks so much, Marcia! Happy cooking!
Is the re something I should put on the cooked beets. , ie: butter
Butter would be good! I like a little olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. :)
Can beets be eaten raw or must be cooked? Also I read the leaves are HEALTHY to eat too.
Beets can be eaten raw! I’ve grated them and used them in a salad. Messy but delicious! The leaves are very healthy as well, you are right!
If I boil the beets, can I use the leftover red water and drink it since it contains nutrients?
I don’t wash my beets before I boil them (I rinse after I peel them), but I supposed if you cleaned them really well, you could drink the water if you wanted to.
My beets are cooking right now! So all I have to do is find several recipes. Beeet salad with goat cheese sounds perfect.
I hope you love the beets! I love this salad and this salad, but goat cheese and beets is also a match made in heaven!