Beets are best stored in the fridge or a dry, cool place. You can also place them in a vegetable basket or reusable produce mesh bag. Beets store best at about 4°C, or 33°F. However, they will lose their flavor and firmness if they are left out at room temperature for more than a few days.
Beets can be frozen for several months, but they will remain best if eaten within a year. As they are high in water, you should vacuum seal them before storing them in the freezer to prevent freezer burn. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, be sure to remove any excess air from the freezer bag and seal it tightly. Beets can also be frozen in slices and cut up later to use.
How to Freeze Beets
Pick sensitive, young, bright red beets that are firm but not soft. Then divide them into two piles according to size: one for little beets and one for medium. Cooking times vary depending on the size. Save time by selecting beets that are roughly the same size if you’re buying them rather than growing them yourself. You’ll be able to cook them all at once if you do this.
Each beet’s top leaves should be removed by trimming them off by about a half-inch. Set these leaves aside because they are tasty.
Leave a portion of the top and the roots intact for now; doing so will stop the beets from bleeding when cooked.
Scrub the beets thoroughly to get rid of any dirt.
Then, put the beets in a pot, cover it with water, and bring it to a boil. Beets should be cooked for 25 to 30 minutes for small ones and 45 to 50 minutes for large ones. When a fork can be used to puncture your beets with ease, they are finished.
To stop the cooking, place your cooked beets in an ice-water bath. Give them some time to sit there so they can have a chance to cool off.
The beets should be chopped or sliced, then spread out on a baking sheet, and quickly frozen. The beets won’t freeze in clumps as a result of this.
Put your beets in freezer bags after they have completely frozen, then put the bags back in the freezer. Although they can be stored indefinitely, it is better to use them within a year. Beets contain a lot of water, so you might want to think about vacuum-sealing them. It will lessen the risk of freezer burn. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, try your best to squeeze out every last bit of air from the freezer bags before tightly sealing them.
Advice on How to Prepare and Store Beets
Slice your beets if you aren’t sure how you will utilize them just yet. Slices can always be divided into portions afterward.
When working with your beets, think about donning some disposable gloves. Your fingertips will turn bright pink from the juices. Keep in mind that your kitchen floor and counter are similarly susceptible to messes as you work. A bleach-water solution works well on bleach-safe surfaces to erase stains from your cutting board or countertops. Of course, while working with beets, it’s usually simpler to simply forgo using your preferred kitchen tools.
Use the beet leaves to make a salad or cook them with some garlic and olive oil for some tasty greens. They can be utilized in the same manner as kale or swiss chard. Just make sure to thoroughly wash the leaves so they don’t appear grainy. Simply remove the stems from your meal if the crunchiness is an issue.
Cut the greens off the beets and store them separately if you can’t cook and freeze them straight away. The beets will spoil more quickly if the greens are left in place.
In the refrigerator, your beets should last for at least a week (and will likely last much longer).
To help you make the most of the growing season, discover what else is in season each month in addition to vegetables and fruits.
How to Identify the Quality of Beets in the Store?
Beets come in a range of sizes, from fist-sized bulbs to tiny radish bites. Large beets are perfect for roasting since they can endure low heat while still remaining tender and toothsome, whereas small to medium beets are suitable for most meals.
Regardless of whether they are red or golden, look for beets that are mostly free of blemishes and without cuts or dents in the skin. If at all feasible, whole beets should have the taproot, a long, thin root that hangs from the bottom of the beet.
If the beet greens are still connected, look for bright, healthy leaves that are not wilted. The leaves show how fresh the beets are even if you don’t intend to cook the beet greens.
What Advantages Do Beets Possess?
Beetroots, also called beets, are vibrant and versatile vegetables. They are well renowned for their earthy flavor and aroma.
In addition to giving a pop of color to your dish, beets are rich in medicinal plant compounds, critical vitamins, and minerals.
In addition, they taste great and are simple to include in your diet when prepared in dishes like balsamic roasted beets, hummus, fries, and salads, to mention a few.
Here are four benefits of beets that have been supported by science, along with several delicious beet recipes.
A modest amount of Calories Contains a Lot of Nutrients
The nutritional profile of beets is unrivaled.
Despite having few calories, they are rich in vital vitamins and minerals. They have trace amounts of almost all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
A vital mineral for growth, development, and heart health, folate is abundant in beets.
They contain a lot of manganese, which supports a variety of functions including bone development, nutrition metabolism, and brain health.
Additionally, they contain a lot of copper, which is essential for making some neurotransmitters and for producing energy.
It may be able to assist you in keeping your blood pressure under control.
The ability of beets to lower high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease, has been the subject of substantial investigation.
Specific studies have demonstrated that beetroot juice lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Instead of diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure your heart experiences when it relaxes, the effect seems to be more significant for systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure your heart experiences when it contracts. Additionally, raw beets may have a more notable impact than cooked beets.
This root vegetable’s high nitrate content is most likely to be to fault for these blood pressure-lowering effects.
Your body transforms dietary nitrates into nitric oxide, a substance that widens blood arteries and reduces blood pressure.
Additionally, beets are a good source of folate. Despite conflicting findings from research, several studies indicate that increasing your folate intake can significantly lower blood pressure levels.
However, bear in mind that beets only temporarily lower blood pressure. You must therefore consistently consume them to get their long-term heart-health advantages.
Possibility of Enhancing Athletic Performance
Numerous studies have shown that dietary nitrates, including those found in beets, can improve athletic performance.
By enhancing the effectiveness of mitochondria, the cell’s energy-producing organelles, nitrates seem to enhance physical performance.
One study found that beetroot juice can increase endurance by delaying the onset of fatigue, enhancing cardiorespiratory performance, and enhancing athlete effectiveness.
Additionally, beet juice has been shown to improve cycling efficiency and oxygen intake by 20%, which is encouraging.
It’s important to remember that blood nitrate levels peak two to three hours after consuming beets or beet juice. To get the most out of them, it’s best to consume them a few hours prior to training or competition.
There’s a Chance it Could Improve Intestinal Health
Beets are a wonderful source of fiber because they contain 3.4 grams per cup.
Fiber skips digestion and travels directly to the colon, where it feeds the healthy bacteria and thickens excrement.
Digestive diseases including diverticulitis, IBS, and constipation can all be prevented by following this advice.
Consuming fiber has also been linked to a lower chance of developing chronic illnesses like colon cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Is Beet Sugar Content Unhealthy?
Compared to many other vegetables, beets contain a larger amount of sugar—roughly 8 grams in a serving of two small beets. This is not the same as taking in 8 grams of sugar from a cookie, though. Since beets are high in fiber, sugar is retained and is not absorbed into the bloodstream, according to Linsenmeyer. Both cane and beet sugars, despite coming from different plants, are 99.5% sucrose. They do, however, contain a trace amount of unique pollutants (approximately 0.02 percent).
White cane and beet sugars have the same effects on human nutrition and health.
Reference: Benefits of Beets: How Can They Boost Your Health?
How Can Beets Be Grown At Home?
Beets are quite easy to grow if you have enough space. As soon as the earth thaws in the spring, plant beets. The bulbs need room to flourish and prefer loamy soil (a wet blend of dirt and sand). Sow seeds 1 inch deep, approximately every 4 inches. expose them to water and the sun on a regular basis.
In around 8 to 10 weeks, your seeds will have transformed into magnificent beets and will be ready for harvest. Restart the procedure in late summer for a wonderful harvest in the fall.
How Are Beets Prepared?
Beets taste great whatever way they are prepared, including roasted, steamed, or grilled. The secret is to experiment with various beet preparation techniques until you find one you enjoy.
Red and yellow beets both contain natural colors that will stain whatever they come in contact with, including your hands and kitchen towels. Give them the proper attention. Paper towels, rags, and latex gloves can all be used to prevent stains while also protecting your skin.
Once cooked, beets can be used in a variety of ways. Beets that have been cooked can be used in smoothies, hummus, and salad dressings. They can be mashed for a dip or spread, diced for slaw, or cut into quarters for a grain bowl. They have the perfect thick, chewy texture for a galette or quesadilla.
If you aren’t intending to use the cooked beets right away, peel them and store them for two to three days in an airtight glass jar.
Beets should be prepared for storage when you bring them home from the store unless you intend to use them right away in a recipe. A properly preserved batch of beets will last longer and taste better.
Cut the beets’ greens off, leaving at least an inch of the stem intact.
Carefully wrap in paper towels and store in the fridge in a zip-top plastic bag for up to two weeks.
Before cooking, take the beets out of the refrigerator and give them a light cleaning with a vegetable brush to get rid of any dirt or debris. The beet should be cleaned, then prepared for cooking as necessary.
Conclusion
Beets are versatile and delicious vegetables that can be grown in your own garden, bought at the grocery store, or used to add to salads and desserts. In winter, they can also be used in place of grains in recipes. The following are some recipe ideas for frozen beets that you can try.
Beets can be frozen for up to nine months. They can also be canned for shelf-stable storage. Before freezing beets, it’s important to roast them first. This will help preserve their flavor and color. Adding greens to a salad or sauté will also help preserve their flavor.
