Sides
Cook Beets (& Recipes!)
Of all the ways to cook beets, boiling them might just be the easiest! Here’s how to boil beets to use in salads, pasta, hummus, and more.
Why Cook Beets?
If you don’t love beets already, knowing how to cook beets properly is a game changer. Juicy and earthy, with a touch of sweetness, beets make a tasty topping for salads and grain bowls. They’re also reliable as a vegetable side served with just about any meal, from weeknights to holidays. If you’re new to cooking this tasty root vegetable, welcome to Beets 101. You’re about to become their biggest fan!
What Are Beets?
Beets are the root of a beet plant. You’ll find these hardy root vegetables in supermarkets all over the world. Also called garden beet or red beet, they have an earthy, sweet taste that’s brought out even more by cooking. Although red is the most common color, you’ll also see golden, purple, white, and candy-striped beets. They’re all cooked in a similar manner.
Did you know that beets are also tasty to enjoy raw? The trick to eating raw beets is to grate or slice them thinly before adding them to salads. They are crunchy much like a radish or carrot.
How Do we Pick a Good Beet?
When choosing beets from the store, look for beets that are dark red and on the smaller side, but heavy for their size. They should be firm with bright green leaves. Sometimes the leaves are already removed, and that’s okay. If the beet looks large with a hairy taproot (the thin pointy tip), give it a pass. There’s a good chance that it will be tough once it’s cooked.
Tips for Cooking Beets
Here are some tips for reliable beets:
- Trim the beets before cooking. Trim off the leaves, stem, and taproot from the cleaned beets before you cook them.
- Peel the beets after cooking (usually). Beets are easier to peel after they are cooked; however, if you are roasting diced beets, you should peel the beets before dicing them.
- Don’t overcook. Start checking your beets for doneness near the end of the cooking time. Your beets are done when you can pierce them easily with a fork or knife. The exact cooking time varies depending on the size of your beets and the method you’re using. Expect to cook most beets for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Try a seasoning. Give your cooked beets a sprinkle with all-purpose seasoning or Italian seasoning for more flavor.
How to Prepare Beets
Recipes using Beets
