How to Cook Beets?

Beet or beetroot is an edible root vegetable and a sugar-producing beet. It has a high nutritional value, as it is an excellent source of carbohydrates, proteins and dietary fibers. It is rich in iron, calcium, folic acid and antioxidants. Beet also provides essential vitamins and minerals. You can prepare a number of delicious dishes with beets, using different combinations. Beetroot is eaten in baked, steamed form or cold as a salad. You can prepare a nutritious beet soup or beet pickles. Betanin obtained from the beetroot is used as red food colorants. It can be used to improve the color of sauces, tomato paste, jams and jellies, sweets, desserts and breakfast cereals. Red beets are also used to make a red, rich, Burgundy-style wine. There are a large variety of beets such as sugar beet, fodder beet wurzel, beetroot or table beet, etc.

How to Cook Beets?

When you plan to make a dish using the beet, you need to select a fresh, firm and round beet. It should be deep red in color, with a smooth surface. Always choose small or medium-sized beets. Avoid soft, slimy or depressed beets. There should not be any black or dark sunken spots on the beet. Before cooking the beet, you need to clean it thoroughly in order to remove soil and chemicals if any. Simply scrub the beet with a vegetable brush and wash with water.

There are two common ways to cook the beets, such as boiling and roasting. While cooking the beet, always wear kitchen gloves as beet juice can stain your skin. If your hands are stained during the cleaning or cooking of beet, then it can be removed by rubbing some lemon juice. Always cook the beets lightly, as heat diminishes the anticancer properties of the beet. You can add an acidic ingredient such as vinegar or lemon juice to improve the color of beet.

• Boiling the beets: When you choose to boil the beets, then you need not peel the beet. Cut off its tail. Cut the beet into small chunks if you wish. Place the beets in a pot of boiling water. Allow them to cook for about 15-20 minutes, until they become tender. When the beet is tender, you can easily pierce with a fork. Then place the beets in cold water and remove the skin off. Then beets can be sliced or diced as per the requirement.
• Roasting the beets: First peel the beets and cut them into small chunks. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the beets on the aluminum foil and moisten with olive oil and any spices of your choice. Fold the top of the foil to form a tent and then place it in the oven. Another way is to place the beets in a roasting pan. Roast the beets for about 15-20 minutes, until they become tender. Then remove the skin.
• Sautéing the beets: Heat 1 tsp of extra-virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add pre-peeled or chopped or diced beets to the hot oil. Stir frequently. Then add little water and cover the pan with a lid. Sauté for about 5-15 minutes.
• Steaming the beets: Steaming makes the beets quite tender, without adding fats. Place the peeled and chopped or sliced beets in a steamer. Cook for about 5-15 minutes, depending upon the size of beets. You can cook the beets in their whole form too.

Whichever method you may use for cooking the beet, its sweet taste and nutritional value never decrease.