Fresh Beets

[thetraveler51558]

Bought a bunch of beets at the farmers market.
What do I do to cook them?
Do I peel them when raw or cook them first?
What is a good way to cook them?

[Mama Mangia]

Fresh beets can be boiled, roasted, microwaved, sauteed, steamed or charcoal roasted.


Wash the beets and trim the ends off before cooking.

Place trimmed beets in a roasting pan and add a little water for steam. Roast the beets at 425 degrees F for 30 to 45 minutes (cover the pan with foil) or until the beets are easily pierced with a knife. Slip off the skins under running water and slice or dice.

If boiling, cook the beets for 20 to 30 minutes, or until tender.

If using a microwave oven, cook the beets with a little water for 8 to 15 minutes.

Match beets with orange (juice and zest), ginger or both.

Dress beets with a vinaigrette. Serve warm or at room temperature. Add some sweet onion, parsley, and hard-boiled egg chunks for a hearty salad.

Keep the beet greens - you can cook and eat these like any other slightly bitter greens.

If you're mixing beets with other vegetables (in a salad, for instance), cook and dress the beets separately and add them last. Their vivid color will seep into everything else otherwise.

[The Ironic Chef]

Be careful peeling them beets. They stain everything.

[scubalaydee]

yup but they are so good if you have a low blood count eating beets helps

[The Ironic Chef]

There is nothing like a good serving of pickled beets with a pot roast.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

I love fresh beets prepared just as though you were doing potatoes; boiled, drained, then salt pepper and butter. Yum-yum!!!

[CanMan]

I prefer to roast them which saves all that precious juice. Leave about 1/2"-1" of the tops on and leave the root on, otherwise the beet will bleed. Wrap in Aluminum Foil and roast at about 350°F (or higher is possible) for about 60 minutes. Check for doneness. A knife should enter with no resistance.

Remove from the oven and let cool enough that you can handle them. Wearing cloves (unless you want to be caught "red handed"), cut off the tops and bottoms and then use paper towel to wipe off the skin or peel using the edge of a paring knife.

Slice or dice and enjoy.

[scubalaydee]

thats exactly how my mother prepared her beets to be served at every Sunday family dinner

[sevgi]

I've never roasted beets, but I think I will try it. I've always boiled them. Once cooled, I add a couple tablespoons of Red Wine Vinegar, 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, and minced garlic. It's a great side dish. But yeah, they stain bad, so you need to be careful!

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Also Beet Juice is delicious when mixed with carrot juice...AND HEALTHY TO BOOT!!!