Ed’s Produce: Preparing Beets 101

Beets are a popular root vegetable known for their distinctive bright red or gold coloring that can get messy while being prepared. Keeping beets in the cooking rotation can seem intimidating if you have no idea where to start. The root of the beet is the most common part that is eaten, but the stems and greens are edible as well. Beets contain numerous vitamins and minerals, with manganese, potassium, folate, and vitamin C being most abundant, along with other nutrients crucial to our health. Their vibrant color comes from betalain pigments, which are found naturally in beets. Beets are water-soluble and become messy when they come in contact with some surfaces. The best way to avoid a mess is to cook beets whole with the skin left on and peeling them after they are cooked. 

One of the cleanest ways to prepare beets while keeping the natural flavors intact is roasting. Trim the stem and leaves of the washed beets, leaving only a small portion of the stem connected. Wrap each beet loosely in foil or place in a covered roasting dish. They can be placed in the oven at 400°F and roasted for 45-65 minutes depending on the size. Once they are cooled, use a paper towel or your fingers to rub off the skins. The beets can now be sliced with little to no mess since the skins act as a barrier. It is best to cut the beets on a plastic or glass surface, as opposed to wood, so any remaining juice does not cause a mess.

Using a pressure cooker is another efficient way of preparing beets mess-free. Place the beets inside the pressure cooker with 1 cup of water. After around 15-25 minutes, the beets should be cooked and can rest to cool. Once cooled, peeling them should not cause any juice to leak since the skins stayed intact. 

Steaming in another effective way to prepare beets with no mess. This method does remove some of the natural flavors, so the beets may not be as sweet. Steam whole, unpeeled beets in a pot of boiling water and cover tightly for 30-60 minutes. Once they are cooked and cooled, the skins can be removed in the same way since they remained intact while steaming. 

Beets are excellent in providing nutrients, aiding in digestion, and supporting healthy blood flow. Now that you have an understanding of how to prepare beets in a mess-free way, you can confidently incorporate them into everyday meals!