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How to Cook Beets (2 easy methods!)

5
/5
1 hr 5 mins
22 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 01/06/2014Updated: 12/04/2022

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

How to Roast Beets: Find it on RachelCooks.com

Roast a few beets (it is so easy!) and have endless possibilities for salads and more! Or just eat them plain. Once you know how to cook beets, you’ll be making it a weekly thing!

Two beet slices on round white plate, with fork and patterned fabric in background. Text overlay that reads "How to roast beets."

Okay — I hope you like roasting vegetables as much as I do, because yeah….I’m probably going to write a post about every single vegetable under the sun. Probably fruit too. I should just leave my oven on 425 degrees 24/7 and just keep a steady stream of vegetables roasting.

PS: I’ve been loving roasting acorn squash lately too – do you know how to cook acorn squash?

Now, I realize beets are sort of in the same camp with Brussels sprouts — people either love ’em or hate ’em. I have to admit that personally, it was an acquired taste.  However, I’ve really grown to love them. And you can’t go wrong with their beautiful deep red color. They are so gorgeous.

Beets are perfect to make ahead or meal prep.  Simply cook the beets right away when you get them (or within a day or two). Beets keep well in the fridge for up to a week and then you can easily use them as a side dish or a salad topping.

I love beets drizzled with a bit of olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. E loves them that way too! I’m always scared to give her beets though….we have white carpet. It’s like asking for trouble.

Close up top view of sliced beets on white plate.

It’s really, really, really simple to learn how to cook beets. I’ll cover two of my favorite ways in this post – roasting and boiling.

How to Cook Beets

How to Cook Beets: Roasting

  • Scrub them until clean, wrap them in foil (with a touch of water) and throw in the oven.
  • Most of the time, I roast these at whatever temperature I happen to be cooking something else at — they just take a little less time or longer depending on the temperature. If I have a choice, I go for 400°F – 425°F.
  • Once they are fork-tender, let them cool and rub the peelings off. I throw gloves on for this step but my mom is hard core and does it bare-handed. Pink hands!

How to Cook Beets: Boiling

  • Place beets in a large pan and cover with water so beets are submerged by 1-2 inches of water.
  • Place on the stove over high heat and bring to a boil, covered. Boil for 30 minutes (or longer, depending on size of beets), until fork tender.
  • Drain water off and fill pan with ice water.
  • When beets are cool, rub peelings off – they should come right off! Rinse beets lightly to remove dirt or peelings and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Front view of two beet slices, with dish of beets, partial wooden salt and pepper mills, fork, and patterned cloth.

How to Use Cooked Beets

  • Salad with Beets and Feta
  • Asparagus Ribbon Salad with Beets and Burrata
  • Farro Salad with Chicken, Beets, and Red Wine Vinaigrette

Not a beet fan but still made it this far in the post? Try: Roasted Sugar Snap Peas, Roasted Cauliflower, Roasted Broccoli, Spicy Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash, Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Shallots, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Mushrooms with Balsamic, Thyme and Dijon, or Roasted Carrots with Thyme and Nutmeg. And definitely don’t miss my entire compilation of roasted vegetables!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Sliced beets on round white plate.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: How to Cook Beets

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
4 beets
Print Rate Recipe
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Learn how to cook beets two easy ways! Roast or boil a few beets (it is so easy!) and have endless possibilities for salads and more! Or just eat them plain. You might just become a beet lover, if you aren’t already!

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch of beets, stems and greens removed

Instructions

To Roast:

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Cut leaves off beets, leaving about 1/2 inch attached. Scrub beets well to remove any dirt.
  • Wrap each beet individually in aluminum foil. Place these packets onto a baking sheet (just in case they leak!). Cook for 60 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork. Check every twenty minutes — if they look like they are drying out or burning, add a tablespoon or so of water to the foil packet before closing back up and returning to oven.
  • Cool enough so that you can handle them before using a paper towel to rub off peelings. I’d also recommend wearing kitchen gloves unless you like pink hands.
  • Store covered in fridge for up to a week.

To Boil:

  • Place beets in a large pan and cover with water so beets are submerged by 1-2 inches of water.
  • Place on the stove over high heat and bring to a boil, covered. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes (or longer, depending on size of beets), until fork tender.
  • Carefully drain out water and fill pan with ice water or submerge beets in a bowl of ice water.
  • When beets are cool, rub peelings off – they should come right off! Rinse beets lightly, and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Store covered in fridge for up to a week.

Notes

  • Cooking times may vary based on the size of your beets. Larger beets will take much longer and smaller beets cook more quickly.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g, Calories: 38kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 2g, Sodium: 46mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
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  1. Marcia says

    October 26, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    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 

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      November 1, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks so much, Marcia! Happy cooking!

      Reply
  2. Dwoodman says

    August 1, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    Is the re something I should put on the cooked beets.  , ie: butter 

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      August 3, 2020 at 9:10 am

      Butter would be good! I like a little olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. :)

      Reply
  3. Dave Hayes says

    June 19, 2019 at 1:30 pm

    Can beets be eaten raw or must be cooked? Also I read the leaves are HEALTHY to eat too.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      June 21, 2019 at 12:52 pm

      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!

      Reply
  4. Joe says

    May 26, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    If I boil the beets, can I use the leftover red water and drink it since it contains nutrients?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      May 28, 2019 at 9:54 am

      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.

      Reply
  5. Gareth says

    May 9, 2019 at 10:53 am

    My beets are cooking right now!  So all I have to do is find several recipes.  Beeet salad with goat cheese sounds perfect.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      May 9, 2019 at 3:46 pm

      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!

      Reply
  6. Sonia Kathleen Saldana says

    March 11, 2019 at 12:35 pm

    I love beets! My mom gave us all kinds of veggies at an early age! Just love them, Especially roasted! Who does’nt Love Roasted vegetables, right?! Right?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      March 12, 2019 at 8:21 am

      I agree! Roasted vegetables are the best!

      Reply
  7. Renee E says

    December 23, 2018 at 10:29 am

    I used the boil method as I was scared of the red hands, and it was so easy to peel them with minimal red hands!  They tasted really good too!  Thanks for an easy beet recipe!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 26, 2018 at 7:58 am

      Perfect! That’s my favorite way to make beets, too. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

      Reply
  8. Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says

    January 7, 2016 at 12:50 am

    Love, love, love beets Rachel – one of my favorites. :-)

    Reply
  9. Tracey says

    January 6, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    Confession time: I’ve never had a beet! They’re on my must-try list for 2014, thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply
  10. Liz @ Virtually Homemade says

    January 6, 2014 at 11:16 am

    Those are the prettiest beets I’ve ever seen. I love them in a salad with goat cheese :)

    Reply
  11. denise says

    January 6, 2014 at 11:04 am

    I have loved beets from an early age.

    Reply
  12. Anna @ Garnish with Lemon says

    January 6, 2014 at 9:47 am

    Roasted beets are amazing. And if I could get someone to bring the beets right to my doorstep, that would be even better!

    Reply
  13. Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas says

    January 6, 2014 at 9:21 am

    LOL! I love your comment about how you should just leave your oven on all the time and continuously roast veggies. I totally understand =) Thanks for linking to my napoleons!

    Reply
  14. Julia says

    January 6, 2014 at 7:52 am

    Beets were totally an acquired taste for me too… but now I love them!

    Reply
  15. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    January 6, 2014 at 5:57 am

    I love roasted beets and I do just like you – roast and save. I grate with roasted garlic for a lovely salad or just eat them on their own like candy. :)

    Reply

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