Packed with nutrients and boasting a sweet, earthy flavor, beets can be roasted, steamed, added to salads, or even enjoyed raw. But here's the thing, how do you store these ruby-red gems to ensure they stay fresh and crisp?
All the knowledge you need to store beets is properly extending their shelf life and keeping them bursting with flavor. From fridge hacks to dehydration techniques, we'll explore various storage methods so you can enjoy the deliciousness of beets throughout the year.
What Are Beets?
Beets, also known as beetroot, are a root vegetable from the Beta vulgaris species, related to Swiss chard and spinach. Common varieties include red, golden, and Chioggia.
They can be eaten raw, cooked, pickled, or juiced, and have a sweet, earthy flavor. Beets' sweetness intensifies when roasted, and their earthy taste comes from compounds like geosmin and petrichor. Beets have a slightly metallic taste due to betalains, the pigments responsible for their red color.
Popular in Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean, beets have gained popularity in North America for their health benefits and versatility in cooking.
Here are some examples of popular beet dishes around the globe:
Eastern Europe: Borscht is a hearty soup made with beets, cabbage, and other vegetables.
Russia: Beet salad is a classic Russian dish made with grated beets, carrots, and onions.
Scandinavia: Pickled beets are a popular side dish in Scandinavia. They are often served with herring or other seafood.
Mediterranean: Beets are a common ingredient in salads, stews, and other dishes in the Mediterranean region.
North America: Roasted beets are a popular side dish in North America which can also be added to salads, sandwiches, and smoothies.
How to Select Beets?
Selecting the Right Size and Firmness
Picking out the perfect beets at the grocery store or your veggie garden isn't just about grabbing any red bulb you see. Like many other produce items, beets have specific characteristics that indicate freshness, flavor, and texture. Firstly, size matters but contrary to popular belief, bigger isn't better when it comes to beets.
You want to choose small to medium-sized beets, ideally between 1 1/2 and 2 inches in diameter. Large beets tend to be older and woodier, with a tough texture and a less sweet flavor. Gently squeeze the beet to check its firmness which should feel solid with no soft spots because softness can indicate spoilage or that the beet has been sitting around for a while.
Next, inspect the appearance of the beet itself. Look for smooth, earthy-looking skin that's free from any bruises, wrinkles, or blemishes. Blemishes can not only affect the overall visual appeal of the beet but can also hint at a potential impact on the flavor.
Beets often come with their leafy green tops still attached, which is a great way to assess their freshness. The greens should be bright green, crisp, and not wilted or yellow. Wilted greens are a sign that the beet itself might be older and less fresh.
Similarly, if the beets still have their taproot, the thin pointy end should be intact, not broken or hairy. A hairy taproot can be a sign of an older beet. Finally, beets can be sold with or without their greens.
How to Store Beets?
If you are wondering how do you store beets for lasting freshness, do follow these simple steps and enjoy your harvest for a long time.
1. Gather Supplies
Before starting the beet drying process, it's important to gather all the necessary supplies. This will ensure a smooth and efficient experience. You'll need a sharp knife or mandoline for slicing the beets, a clean work surface, and drying trays. Depending on your chosen drying method, you might also need a dehydrator or oven racks.
Additionally, storage containers, breathable bags, and a permanent marker for labeling should be on hand. With everything prepped and organized, you'll be ready to transform your fresh beets into delicious dried treats!
2. Harvest
Harvest timing plays a crucial role in the quality of your dried beets. Ideally, choose beets that are mature but not overgrown. Aim for beets with a taproot diameter between 1-2 inches. Larger beets tend to have a woodier texture that doesn't translate well to drying. When selecting beets for drying, look for firm, smooth-skinned specimens with healthy greens still attached.
Avoid beets with blemishes, soft spots, or signs of spoilage. By harvesting at the right stage and selecting healthy beets, you'll set yourself up for a successful drying experience.
3. Remove Greens
Once you've harvested your perfect beets, it's time to separate the tasty root vegetable from its leafy companion. While delicious and nutritious, the beet greens are not typically dried alongside the beet itself.
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the beet greens off where the stem meets the beetroot leaving about an inch of stem on the beet is ideal. This step will help prevent the flesh from drying out unevenly.
Don't discard the greens just yet! They can be refrigerated and used in various recipes like salads, stir-fries, or even homemade pesto.
4. Sort and Save Greens
First, spread out the beet greens on a clean surface. Gently sort through them, discarding any wilted, yellowing, or damaged leaves. These may not dry well and could compromise the overall quality of the saved greens.
Next, focus on the vibrant, fresh greens. Depending on your plans, you can either leave them whole or chop them into smaller pieces. Whole greens are great for salads or use as wraps, while chopped greens are perfect for incorporating into frittatas, omelets, or even homemade pesto.
For longer storage, consider blanching the greens. Blanching involves briefly boiling them and then submerging them in ice water to stop the cooking process. This helps preserve their color, nutrients, and flavor for a longer period. Blanched greens can be stored in airtight containers in the freezer for up to a year.
Freshly harvested beets can be damp and muddy, especially after a rainy season or if grown in heavy soil. To prevent storing them in this wet state, it's important to let them dry out first. Spread a layer of newspaper or a tarp in a protected area like a heated garage or basement, ensuring it's out of direct sunlight and freezing temperatures.
Arrange the beets in a single layer and leave them overnight to air dry. Be mindful not to leave them out for too long, as they can become limp. Once they've shed their surface moisture, you can proceed with storing or prepping them for further preservation methods like drying.
6. Bag it Up
While various airtight containers work well, zip-lock bags offer a convenient and practical option for storing your dried beet treasure. Consider adding a small packet of a moisture absorber, like silica gel, into the bag. This helps remove any remaining moisture that might be lingering in the beets, preventing clumping and potential mold growth during storage.
Then, transfer your dried beets to the zip-lock bag. Leave a slight headspace at the top to allow for some air displacement when the bag is sealed.
Before sealing the bag completely, squeeze out any excess air trapped inside. This minimizes oxygen exposure, which can degrade the quality of your dried beets over time. Once the air is removed, firmly press the zip-lock seal shut to create a complete airtight closure. Don't forget to label the bag with the date of drying.
This simple step helps you keep track of how long your dried beets have been stored and ensures you use the older ones first.
7. Store
Store your zip-lock bags of dried beets in a cool, dry place within your refrigerator. The back corner of a lower shelf is ideal, keeping them out of the way and at a consistent temperature. If limited fridge space is a concern, consider minimizing clutter and implementing a "minimalist fridge" approach to avoid food waste and keep track of your perishables.
After all, a well-organized fridge is a happy (and efficient) fridge!
8. Clean Per Requirement
When a recipe calls for beets, simply grab a portion from the bag. To rehydrate them, scrub off any surface dust in a bowl of water. This rinse water can then be diverted to your compost pile instead of going down the drain – a quick and eco-friendly way to get your dried beets prepped and ready to use!
9. Check the Beets in Storage
Don't be a stranger to your dried beet stash! While their dehydrated state offers a long shelf life, it's still important to conduct periodic check-ins to ensure no rogue beet has turned moldy and begun to spread its unpleasant fate to its neighbors. Remember the adage "one bad apple spoils the bunch"?
Well, the same principle applies to beets. A single rotten beet can compromise the quality and safety of the entire bag.
10. Drying the Beets
Now that your beets are prepped and your greens are sorted, it's time for the main event: drying! There are two primary methods for drying beets: using a dehydrator or your oven. Both methods effectively remove moisture from the beets, resulting in a concentrated and shelf-stable product.
Dehydrator
Dehydrators are specifically designed for drying food and offer precise temperature control. They typically come with multiple trays, allowing you to dry large batches of beets simultaneously. The ideal temperature for drying beets in a dehydrator is around 130°F (55°C). This low temperature helps preserve the vibrant color and nutrients of the beets while efficiently removing moisture.
Oven drying is a viable alternative if you don't have a dehydrator. However, it requires more attention and may not be as energy-efficient. If using an oven, slice the beets thinly and arrange them in a single layer on baking sheets.
Set the oven to its lowest possible temperature setting, ideally around 140°F (60°C), and leave the oven door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape. Be sure to turn the beet slices occasionally to ensure even drying.
No matter which method you choose, the drying process can take several hours, depending on the thickness of your beet slices.
How to Store Cut Beets?
Storing cut beets requires a slightly different approach compared to whole ones. While whole beets can stay fresh for weeks in the fridge, cut beets have a shorter shelf life. Therefore, the key to storing cut beets lies in moisture control.
Cut beets exposed to excessive air can dry out and lose their vibrancy. So, to prevent this, use a container with a lid or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Next, add a touch of moisture by placing a damp paper towel in the container with the beets. The damp paper towel will create a humid environment, helping the beets retain their moisture and texture.
Finally, store the container in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. But why the crisp drawer, I hear you ask? The crisper drawer is designed to maintain a higher humidity level than the rest of the fridge, making it the ideal spot for your cut beets.
Can You Freeze Beets?
Yes, you can freeze beets. Freezing is a great way to preserve leftover cooked beets or large quantities you might have on hand. Beets hold up well in the freezer, maintaining their flavor and nutrients for up to a year.
This makes freezing a practical solution to avoid wasting beets and to have them readily available for future use in various dishes.
How to Freeze Beets?
While some vegetables freeze well in their raw state, beets are an exception to this rule. Due to their high moisture content, raw beets are susceptible to developing an undesirable mushy texture when frozen and then thawed.
To circumvent this issue and ensure your frozen beets retain their delightful fresh taste and satisfyingly firm bite, it's recommended to cook them entirely before storing them in the freezer.
This way, you can enjoy the delicious versatility of beets throughout the year without sacrificing their quality. Here's how you can store whole beets -
Wash the beets thoroughly under running water. Trim the leafy greens and taproot.
Choose your preferred cooking method: boiling, steaming, roasting, or pressure cooking. Whichever method you pick, cook the beets until they are fork-tender. A good indicator is if a sharp knife can easily pierce through the center.
Let the cooked beets cool completely before freezing. This is an important step to prevent them from getting mushy after thawing. You can cool them by placing them in a bowl of ice water or simply letting them sit at room temperature.
Beets can be peeled before or after freezing. If you prefer to peel them beforehand, you can do so while they're still warm (the skins will slip off easily) or after they've cooled (you can rub the skins off with your fingers).
Place the cooled beets in freezer-safe bags or containers. Leave about an inch of headspace at the top to allow for the beets to expand during freezing.
Label the container with the date you froze the beets to help you track their storage time. Finally, place the labeled container in the freezer and store it for up to 8 months.
Just like whole beets, first wash, trim and cook the beets until tender.
Once the beets are cooked and cooled, cut them into your desired shapes and sizes. Common options include cubes, slices, or julienne cuts.
Consider flash-freezing the cut beets before packing them. Spread the beet pieces on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Flash freezing helps prevent the beet pieces from sticking together in a clump when frozen for longer periods.
After flash freezing (or not), transfer the cut beets to freezer-safe bags. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it.
Label the container with the date and freeze for up to 1 year. Pre-cut frozen beets will generally maintain their quality for a longer duration compared to whole frozen beets.
How Long Do Fresh Beets Last?
Fresh beets can stay crisp and delicious for a surprisingly long time! However, the shelf life of fresh beets depends on how you store them. Meanwhile, unwashed whole beets with their greens left on can last for up to two months in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
Be sure to remove the greens before storing, as they have a shorter lifespan and can draw moisture away from the beets.
If you've already cooked your beets, they won't stay fresh for as long. Cooked beets will only last for 3-5 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. To extend their lifespan even further, you can freeze cooked beets for up to a year.
What Should You Do With The Greens?
Beet greens, while often discarded, are actually a delicious and nutritious part of the beet plant! They shouldn't be automatically relegated to the compost bin.
As these greens are similar to spinach or Swiss chard in taste and texture, you can simply wash them thoroughly and enjoy them raw in salads for a slightly earthy and peppery kick.
