cooking beets | Food on the Table

Before you get started cooking with beets, there are few things to keep in mind. Select beets that are firm and hard and don’t have any soft spots. Beets that still have their greens attached are likely to be fresher than beets without their greens. If you want to store your beets in the refrigerator, cut the greens off first. They can be stored this way for a few weeks.

Here are a few ways to cook with beets:

How To Cook With Beets:

Baked – As beets are rather dense, they will take a while to bake. Trim down the roots and cut the greens to one inch. Gently clean the beets with cold running water, taking care not to puncture the skin.Wrap the clean beets in a couple layers of foil, then place on a baking sheet. Cook in a preheated oven for about an hour at 400 degrees. When tender, remove the beets from the foil, cut off the remaining root ends and stalk, and rub off the skin using a damp towel.
Boiled – Prepare the beets the same way you would if baking. Add them to a large pot then fill with cold water and 1 teaspoon of salt and of sugar for every half gallon of water. Heat water until boiling then reduce to a simmer an cook for 45 minutes to an hour. Larger, older beets will take longer to cook, and may need up to 4 hours of boiling time. When finished, dunk beets into cold water, remove the remaining stalk and root ends, and rub off the skin using a damp towel.
Steamed – Prepare beets the same way you if baking or boiling. Place your steamer above salted boiling water. Place beets inside in the steamer, cover, and allow to steam for about 45 minutes. Beets are ready when they are tender. Dunk the beets into cold water, then rub off the skin using a damp towel.

Source:

“How To Roast Beets In The Oven”, Apartment Therapy

For a different approach to cooking beets, try our recipe for Chilled Beet Soup. Get more great recipes and start meal planning today with our easy to use mobile app.

Beets, the beautifully colored root vegetable, are often thought of a controversial menu item. There is a lot to love about beets, but not everyone enjoys them. Some people are wild about their sweet flavor and vivid red color. Others think only of the slimy, canned aberrations you find marinating under the lights of a low-cost salad bar. Though beets are not for everyone, beet lovers can feel good about indulging themselves, because the health benefits of beets are impressive.

Health Benefits of Beets

Beets are known for their intense red hue, which is caused by betacyanin. This compound is a powerful antioxidant that may reduce inflammation and fight against cancer cells. The betacyanin in beets works with the other antioxidants betanin and vulgaxanthin to fight the signs of aging by neutralizing free radicals in the body.
The large amount of potassium in beets can aid in relieving dehydration. Potassium is an electrolyte, a substance in the body that facilitates electrical impulses, and plays an important role in heart function and digestion. Electrolytes are lost through sweating caused by warm weather or strenuous activity. When the body becomes low in potassium, then it may exhibit signs of weakness, muscles cramps, and low energy.
Beets are low in calories, have no fat, and are high in fiber, which makes them an ideal food to eat if you are trying to lose weight. The high fiber content also supports healthy bowel function and can help lower cholesterol levels. Popular preparation methods for beets, like boiling, are typically healthy and don’t add much additional fat.
Even the roots of beets are healthy. Beetroot is a rich source of folate, an important B vitamin. Folate plays an important part in the production of DNA and red blood cells. Pregnant women need plenty of folate to ward off neural tube defects.

Source:

“There’s No Beating The Beet”, WebMD

Get all these great health benefits of beets with our delicious recipe for Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Pistachios. Give this recipe are more with our meal planning app.