What Are Beets and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with beets? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 204 recipes to put them to work.

What are beets?

This vegetable is the enlarged red root of a plant which is a member of the Beta genus and first cousin to chard. In their wild state, beets seem to have originated in the Mediterranean, where they have been known since Roman times.

Beet greens, the tops of the plants, are also edible, and some varieties are purposely grown for this. Beets are also grown for sugar.

"Blood Turnip" was once a common name for beet root cultivars for the garden.

It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is probably the red or purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet.

beets

The "earthy" taste of some beetroot cultivars comes from the presence of geosmin. Researchers have not yet answered whether beets produce geosmin themselves, or whether it is produced by symbiotic soil microbes living in the plant.

The roots and leaves of the beet have been used in folk medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments.

Availability

The peak season is June, July, August. Available in smaller amounts the rest of the year. The chief sources of beets in the US are California, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado.

Beets are available canned and in jars, whole, diced, and sliced in various ways. Harvard beets and pickled beets are also available.

Purchasing Guide

Sold in small bunches with tops, or with the tops removed, or completely trimmed and wrapped.

Look for beets with a globular shape, which are smooth and firm to the touch. Small and medium-sized beets are usually more tender.

beets

There are a variety of heirloom beets of various colors which are wonderfully sweet and delicious that can be found in larger supermarkets or farmers markets.

One pound of beets, cooked = 2 cups

Beet tops or beet greens, frequently taken and sold for greens, should be fresh and unwilted.

Storage

Remove tops to store beets in the refrigerator. Treat the tops like spinach or swiss chard.

Refrigerator shelf or vegetable compartment, uncooked whole beets: 1 to 2 weeks or more. Beet greens, washed, drained and stored in plastic bags, 1 to 2 days.

Refrigerator freezer, prepared for freezing: 1 month

Deep freezer, prepared for freezing: 9 to 12 months

Food Value

It is not true that beets are good for the blood (an old myth), but beets do contain some vitamins and minerals. Beet greens are far more nutritious than the root, are and excellent source of Vitamin A.

Beets, cooked, diced or sliced, 1 cup = 55 calories

Cooked, whole, 2 inches in diameter, 2 beets = 30 calories

Canned, solids and liquids, 1 cup = 85 calories

Greens, leaves and stems, cooked and drained, 1 cup = 25 calories

Basic Preparation

Cut off the tops about 2 inches from the root (to help keep color loss at a minimum). Young fresh tops that are in good condition may be washed and saved for use in salads salads or to cook for greens. Larger older leaves that are in good condition can be used similar to swiss chard.

Wash greens in 3 changes of water to remove any trace of grit.

To boil

Cook whole and unpeeled, in boiling salted water to cover; cook covered until tender, for 30 to 40 minutes depending on their size. Drain but save some of the cooking water. Cool until you can comfortably handle them, or under cold running water, and slip off the skins, stems and roots by rubbing with your fingers and tidy up with a paring knife if needed.

Beets may then be served whole (if very small), or sliced, diced or cut into shreds.

Season to taste and reheat in a little of the cooking water, adding butter and lemon juice or cider vinegar. Or, use in preparing other recipes, such as Quick and Easy Pickled beets, Glazed beets, Beets in Orange Sauce or Harvard Beets.

Beets pair wonderfully with other earthy ingredients such as goat cheese, walnuts, basil and balsamic vinegar.

More beet recipes

To Roast

Wash, rub with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper and place in a roasting pan (or even just wrap in aluminum foil).

Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 1 hour, or until tender.

Peel the beets as above, season with salt and black pepper, butter and some lemon juice.

The red pigment in beets is more stable when an acid is added. This is why vinegars and lemon juice is called for in more recipes. This adds flavor as well.

To cook beet greens

Use washed young tender greens, fresh in salad.

Cut large leaves into pieces, rinse, leaving water clinging to the greens (or add a small amount to your pan) sprinkle with salt and cook, covered for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the greens are tender. Drain and server with butter.

To Freeze

Use smooth tender beets of small to medium size. Remove the green tops and wash thoroughly. Cook beets in boiling water until tender. Drain and chill in ice water. Remove skins, slice and dice as desired. Package, allowing ½ inch of head-space, and freeze.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1/2 cup slices (85g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 37Calories from Fat 1

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.2g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 65mg 3%

Total Carbohydrate 8.5g 3%

Dietary Fiber 2g 7%

Sugars 6.8

Protein 1.4g

Vitamin A 1% Vitamin C 5%

Calcium 1% • Iron 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find beets: Beets are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Beets are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 甜菜
British (UK) term: beetroot
en français: betteraves
en español: remolacha

How much do beets weigh?

Amount	Weight
½ cup slices	85 grams
2 beets (2" dia, sphere)	100 grams

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Alfalfa sprouts 47 Artichoke hearts 250 Artichokes 82 Asparagus 449 Bamboo shoots 144 Lima beans 129 Green beans 543 Beets 204 Broccoli, frozen 129 Cabbage 684

Recipes using beets

There are 204 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Buckwheat, Beet & Manchego Salads

Buckwheat, Beet and Manchego Salads

Beet Raita

Diced cooked beets toss with cardamom and fresh mint, then layer with honey-sweetened Greek yogurt for a vibrant Indian raita that's tangy, earthy, and subtly sweet in every spoonful.

Beets, Chorizo & Pomegranate Braise with Cilantro Salsa

This delicious and well-balanced one pot meal will for sure satisfy everyone around the dinner table with all the yumminess and goodness.

Glazed Roasted Beets, Basil & Goat Cheese Salad

The earthy beets, spicy basil, creamy goat cheese and sour-sweet balsamic glaze make this salad with complimentary layers of flavors and textures.

Beets & Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese

Earthy-sweet beets, peppery arugula and creamy goat cheese are tossed with a red wine vinaigrette. Quick, easy and tasty!

Roasted Beets With Toasted Garlic & Walnut Sauce

Chilled Vegetable Soup

great dish when it is hot outside and/or inside.. sometimes a main dish with separately served potatoes, often with meat or sausages.. I like to serve it as a side dish to grilled food.. similar to Lithuanian chilled beat soup, which is fantastic, however they add a lot of cream, hard boiled eggs and do not add radish rather..

Paleo Australian Hamburger

Without buns and cheese, this juicy and delicious paleo Australian hamburger will satisfy your craving without giving any empty calories.

Heirloom Beets, Warm Goat Cheese, Arugula with Green Olive Vinaigrette

Sweet roasted heirloom beets, warm goat cheese rounds on a bed of fresh arugula with flavors highlighted by a green olive vinaigrette.

Ravioli Bundles of Roasted Beets with Roasted Garlic Sauce

Basil and beets inside ravioli bundles served on a bed of roasted garlic cream sauce.

Beet, Walnuts, Dry Prunes & Garlic Salad

This is Eastern European recipe of a very tasty salad. It is known to be beneficial for digestion. Enjoy.

Mixed Vegetable Salad with Maple, Soy Sauce & Mustard Vinaigrette

Different kinds of fresh vegetables are tossed with this flavourful vinaigrette, it goes well with any kind of main dish, or even good on its own!

Roasted Beet & Carrot Salad with Arugula & Light Vinaigrete

Beets and carrots are both earthy vegetables, roasting really help to enhance the great taste, tossed with light vinaigrette and peppery arugula, a tasty salad that goes well with any kind of main course.

Beets & Carrots with West Indian Spices

Sugar beets and carrots covered a sweet, tangy, warmly spiced coating. West Indian spices and ginger.

Spring Beet soup (Polish Botwina)

There are hundreds versions of this very Polish soup. Here you have an original proposition of mine. I used to cook it on the base of my favorite duck and chicken stock. The cream is a must to create wonderful pink color. Optionally you may add a quarter or a half of hard boiled egg to your bowl. By the way, I change my recipe sometimes, for instance by adding dried California prunes instead of sugar, or by adding some white vinegar instead of lemon juice.

Beets & Onions Vinaigrette

A simple yet tasty and healthy beet salad. thinly sliced onions are tempered in boiling water then marinated with the beets in extra virgin olive oil and vinegar.

Australian Veggie Burger

This vegetarian burger is layered with grilled pineapple, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms and roasted beets with a slice of juicy steak tomato and some shredded lettuce on top. It delivers the most delicious veggie burger ever!

Roasted Root Salad With Carrot Vinaigrette (Thanksgiving)

Thanksgiving comes to mind! Healthy and interesting recipe. From my MIL's recipes but I think she got this from her SIL! This could be a salad or a side dish and could be made a day ahead and brought to room temperature before serving.

Roasted Root Vegetable Galette with Black Olives

Black olives are mixed into the whole wheat galette dough, different kinds of fresh, seasonal and roasted root vegetables, it is delicious!

Beets in Mustard Sauce

An easy and tasty way to serve healthy beets; in a creamy mustard sauce.

Bulgar Burgers

Vegetarian bulgur burgers built on cooked cracked wheat with grated beets, carrots and cabbage. Baked instead of fried for crisp edges and a tender, hearty interior. Plant-based, freezer-friendly, beet-pink.

Beet Bottomed Goat Cheese Soufflé

Fluffy and light the roasted beets add beautiful color rising from the bottom.

Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese Salad

Roasted beet and goat cheese salad: whole beets slow-roasted in foil until sweet and tender, sliced over mixed greens with creamy goat cheese and a simple lemon-olive oil dressing. Earthy, tangy, and light.

Sweetheart Salad

Creamy, crunchy and refreshing. This sweetheart salad is not only good on Valentine's Day, but also a great side dish at any occasions. Apple and beets are tossed with creamy dressing, delicious!

Beetroot, Green Bean & Preserved Lemon Salad

Tender-crisp green beans added the nice crunch to the salad. The peppery arugula and the final touch of creamy goat cheese were the musts. Definitely will make it again!

Asian Beet & Carrot Salad

Found this recipe on heatherchristo's blog. It looks beautiful and sounds delicious, I have all the ingredients on hand, and will have to give it a try very soon.

Beet & Walnut Salad

Beet, walnut, blue or goat cheese are perfect combination. The salad tastes earthy, nutty and creamy. A refreshing and wholesome salad on a hot summer day with any your favorite BBQ.

Russian Beet & Potato Salad

Russian beet and potato salad with cooked beets, potatoes, green peas, carrots, hard-boiled egg, and scallions in a tangy yogurt and cider vinegar dressing. A lighter take on classic vinegret.

Balsamic-Honey Glazed Beets & Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese

The balsamic-honey glaze gives the earthy beets a nicely caramelized flavor that goes very well with peppery arugula and creamy goat cheese. The toasted walnuts adds the nutty flavor and crunchy texture, which is well paired with the dried cranberries or cherries. A delicious combination and refreshing salad.

Apple Beet Salad with Creamy Diil Dressing

Tangy and tasty salad that combines fall/winter fruit and beets with a creamy dressing. Feel free to use canned or pickled beets in place of the fresh beets to save time.

Beet & Goat Cheese Crostini

This is a great appetizer, the beets are delicious and easier to prepare, and I used more garlic too, very yummmy.

Mixed Greens Salad with Beets & Goat Cheese

The goat cheese mellows the pepperiness of the mixed greens, and the beets offer a sweet contrast to its bitter quality. Chopped walnuts add a little more texture to the salad. Tasty!

Roasted Beet Salad with Honey Roasted Walnuts

Sweet roasted beets along with tender greens, goat cheese for balance and honey roasted walnuts for some earthy crunch. The combination of the flavours = YUM

Australian Hamburger

The Australian hamburger with the lot: a beef patty stacked with a fried egg, bacon, cheese, grilled pineapple, and the all-important slice of pickled beetroot, plus caramelized onions and barbecue sauce on a toasted bun.

Veggie Flavored Pasta - No Egg

Vegan vegetable pasta dough kneads semolina flour with pureed carrots, beets, spinach, or tomato juice for natural color. No eggs needed, made by hand, food processor, or bread machine.

Beet Green Souffle

This may be one of the most exceptional souffles you'll ever serve. The beet color spreads upward from the bottom layer, creating a rosy hue throughout.

Beets Glazed with Orange Vinaigrette

Steamed fresh beets match perfectly with this balance of orange and balsamic vinegar.

Quick & Easy Pickled Beets

A quick and easy way to make pickled beets, you don't have to wait for days, or do the canning process. Within 30 minutes, you will be able to enjoy these delicious picked beets.

Best Beet Relish

Beet relish made with shredded cooked beets, red onion, Dijon mustard, and red wine vinegar. Quick mix-and-chill condiment for sandwiches, salads, or grilled meats. Five-minute prep, no cooking required.

Beets in Sour Cream

Tender diced beets warmed in tangy sour cream with a splash of apple cider vinegar, garlic salt, and a pinch of sugar. A classic Eastern European-style side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Beet Pancakes with Yogurt Dill Sauce

This is an excellent way to prepare beets. Reminiscent of potato pancakes, shredded beets and carrots are mixed with eggs and then cooked in a skillet until crispy on the outside. The earthy sweetness of the beets go perfectly with the creamy yogurt dill sauce, simply delicious!