Learn to cook beets in nine exciting ways, including methods like grilling and roasting to enhance their natural flavors.

Although pre-cooked beets from the store offer convenience, mastering how to cook fresh beets at home can be cost-effective and rewarding. Beets are one of nature's most stunning and nutrient-rich vegetables. They're full of flavor and adaptable, but they don't always get the attention they deserve. Compared to other root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots, beets may require longer cooking times, have an earthy taste that isn't for everyone, and can stain your hands if not handled carefully. Here, we explore different cooking methods, various beet varieties, and tips on selecting and preparing this unique root vegetable.

Different Types of Beets

Beets are packed with antioxidants, folate, and manganese, making them a great choice for healthy meals. But did you know that there are several types of beets beyond the typical red beet? Here are some popular beet varieties you might find at a local store or farmer's market.

• Red beets: The most common type of beet you'll see in grocery stores, with its vibrant garnet color.
• Golden beets: These beets share a similar flavor with red beets but stand out with their yellow hue.
• Chioggia beets: Often called the candy cane beet, these have a reddish-pink exterior and a unique red-pink and white striped inside.
• Avalanche beets: These white beets, known for their sweet flavor, are ideal for avoiding the mess of red-dyed hands and surfaces.
• Baby beets: Though not a distinct type, baby beets are simply smaller, early-harvested beets, and their size makes them perfect for cooking whole.

How to Select and Prepare Beets for Cooking

Beets, despite their vibrant colors and versatility, can intimidate some home cooks. With these tips on how to select and prepare them, you can enjoy their rich flavor and nutritional benefits all year round. Whether served as a side dish or incorporated into a recipe, beets offer endless possibilities in the kitchen.

Consider incorporating beets into a salad, topping a grain bowl, serving as an appetizer with ricotta, feta, or yogurt, blending into a vibrant dip, or spreading on a sandwich. Beets complement olive oil, salt, pepper, and both fresh and earthy herbs.

How to Shop for Beets

When shopping for beets, opt for small to medium-sized ones, as they are generally more tender and cook quicker than their larger counterparts. Look for beets with a firm texture, rich color, bright, fresh leaves, and smooth, unblemished skin. The beet should have its taproot (the long root at the bottom) still attached, but avoid those with a hairy appearance, as this suggests they may be tough and old.

How to Prepare Beets

To prepare beets for cooking, remove the greens first to save them for sautéing, and then give the beets a thorough wash to rid them of any dirt. A vegetable or produce brush works great for this task. It's best not to clean the beets until you're ready to cook them, as washing them too early can cause them to spoil more quickly. You can add flavor to beets with various herbs and spices, and there's no need to peel them before cooking—you can simply rub the skin off with a paper towel after cooking.

How to Cook Beets

Once you've prepared your beets, it's time to cook them! The cooking time will depend on the size of the beets, but in general, they should be cooked until they're tender when pierced with a fork. After cooking, allow the beets to cool. You can store leftover beets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Roasting Beets

Roasting intensifies the natural sweetness and earthy taste of beets. All you need is a hot oven and some aluminum foil for this simple yet effective cooking technique.

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Wrap each prepared beet loosely in aluminum foil and arrange them on a rimmed baking sheet. (If you're roasting smaller beets, you can group them together in foil.)
3. Roast the beets, checking them halfway through, until they're tender when pierced with a fork, which should take about 45 to 55 minutes. If they seem to be drying out, sprinkle a little water over them, rewrap in foil, and continue roasting.
4. Allow the beets to cool until they're manageable. Use a large piece of paper towel to hold one beet and rub off the skin; discard the skin. Trim the ends if necessary. Repeat with the remaining beets.
5. Slice the beets into wedges, rounds, or chop them, then dress with olive oil, salt, and pepper, if you like.

Oven-Steaming Beets

Oven-steaming beets, rather than baking them, helps maintain their valuable vitamins and minerals. This method also helps preserve the bright, vivid color of the beets.

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Place the prepared beets in a shallow baking dish along with 3 tablespoons to ¼ cup of water. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. If you wish, add rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, or sage for extra flavor.
3. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil, then bake until the beets are tender when pierced with a fork, around 45 to 60 minutes. Set the beets aside to cool.
4. Rub the skins off with paper towels and discard them. Trim the ends if necessary.
5. Cut the beets into wedges, slices, or chop them, then season with olive oil, salt, and pepper, if desired.

Steaming Beets

Steaming is a great method for cooking small batches of beets, typically ranging from one to four pounds, and helps prevent the beets from drying out.

1. Fill a saucepan with about 2 inches of water.
2. Place a steamer basket inside the saucepan, ensuring the water doesn't touch the basket.
3. Add the prepared beets, bring the water to a boil over high heat, then cover the pot. Cook the beets until they're tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 to 45 minutes. Set them aside until they cool enough to handle.
4. Peel the skins off by rubbing them with paper towels; discard the skin. Trim the ends if needed.
5. Cut the beets into wedges, slices, or chop them, then drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Boiling Beets

Boiling beets is a simple and quick method. To retain nutrients while cooking, leave about 1 inch of the stem attached to the beet.

1. Place the prepared beets in a large saucepan and cover them with water. Add a generous pinch of salt.
2. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and cook the beets at a rolling boil until they are tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 to 45 minutes. Set the beets aside until they cool enough to handle.
3. Use paper towels to rub off the skins; discard the skin. Trim the ends if needed.
4. Cut the beets into wedges, slices, or chop them, then drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Grilling Beets

Grilling beets is best done in a tightly sealed foil packet, similar to roasting them in the oven. This technique helps the beets retain their tenderness and prevents them from drying out or becoming chewy if sliced and grilled. Although you can grill beets of any size, small ones really shine in this method.

1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (375°F to 450°F).
2. Layer two large sheets of aluminum foil and place the prepared beets, ideally small ones, on top of the foil. Add optional herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, or bay leaves for extra flavor.
3. Drizzle the beets with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Fold and seal the edges of the foil to form a packet. Make a few small vents in the foil to allow steam to escape during cooking.
4. Place the packet on the grill grates and cook until the beets are tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 to 50 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
5. Rub the skins off with paper towels to peel them away; discard the skin. Trim the ends if necessary.
6. Slice the beets into wedges, rounds, or chop them, then dress with olive oil, salt, and pepper, if desired.

Sautéing Beets

Sautéing beets in a hot pan cooks them quickly while enhancing their flavor. You can even toss in other vegetables or beet greens for added taste. It's a fantastic way to breathe new life into leftover or pre-cooked beets. Alternatively, you can peel fresh beets with a Y-shaped vegetable peeler, slice them thinly into half-moons, and then sauté them.

1. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add about 3 prepared medium beets and season with salt and pepper. Stir in chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, sage, or your choice of dried herbs, such as Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence.
3. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through (if using pre-cooked beets), about 2 to 3 minutes. If using raw beets that have been peeled and cut into half-moons, add 3 tablespoons of water to the skillet and cover. Cook until the beets are just tender, around 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Add the beet greens and continue cooking, stirring regularly, until the greens are wilted, which should take about 5 minutes.

Cooking Beets in an Instant Pot

If you have an Instant Pot, take advantage of its efficiency. It reduces cooking time significantly while keeping the beets soft and tender.

1. Add 1¼ cups of water to the Instant Pot. Place the steamer insert inside and arrange the prepared beets on top.
2. Close the lid and set the pressure release valve to seal. Choose the manual setting and cook at high pressure for 15 minutes.
3. Once the cooking time is up, turn off the Instant Pot and let it naturally depressurize for about 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure, open the lid, and transfer the steamer insert with the beets to a surface lined with paper towels. Let the beets cool enough to handle.
4. Use paper towels to rub off the skins and discard them. Trim the ends if necessary.
5. Cut the beets into wedges, slices, or chop them, then drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Air Frying Beets

Using an air fryer essentially roasts beets, but it saves you a considerable amount of time. However, unlike other methods, beets need to be peeled before air frying. A Y-shaped vegetable peeler works best for this task. After peeling, chop the beets into evenly sized pieces for consistent cooking. To avoid stained hands, use disposable gloves or peel the beets under cool water.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
2. Trim and peel two pounds of beets, then cut them into 1-inch pieces.
3. In a large bowl, toss the beets with a drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Arrange the beets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 8 minutes, toss the beets, rearrange them, and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until fork-tender.

Microwaving Beets

Microwaving beets is a quick and convenient method, allowing you to easily incorporate them into your meal plan without losing their nutritional value. Like with air frying, beets should be peeled before microwaving.

1. Peel the prepared beets and cut them into 1/2-inch pieces. Place them in a microwave-safe baking dish.
2. Add about 1/3 cup of water to the dish, along with olive oil, salt, and pepper. If desired, add additional herbs. Stir the mixture to coat the beets evenly.
3. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in it. Microwave on high for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until the beets are fork-tender.