Can you freeze beets?
Can you freeze beets? Yes, you can freeze raw beets for about 12-18 months or cooked beets for about 10-12 months.
Beets freeze very well. In most cases, you will have a hard time telling the difference between fresh beets and frozen beets. However, freezing sometimes changes their texture, which can make them a little less appealing in a salad.
How to freeze raw beets?
If you want to freeze beets while preserving their freshness as much as possible, the best solution is to freeze them raw and blanched:
- Start by peeling and cutting your beets into slices, cubes or wedges. The freezing technique is the same, regardless of the shape and size of the pieces. Consider how you usually use your beets and cut them accordingly.
- Then immerse the beet pieces in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes until the surface of the pieces is slightly softened. Drain the pieces then immediately plunge them into cold water to stop the cooking. Drain the pieces again. This step is not intended to cook the pieces of beet but simply to blanch them.
- Let the beet pieces air dry. You can speed up the operation by patting them with absorbent paper.
- Spread the beet pieces out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure the pieces don’t touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece individually so they don’t stick together later. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the beet chunks are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the chunks to a freezer bag or airtight container. Seal the freezer bag or container tightly, pushing out as much air as possible. You can use multiple freezer bags or multiple containers if you want to freeze individual portions.
- Label the freezer bag or container with the date and contents, then return the beet pieces to the freezer.
How to freeze cooked beets?
Freezing cooked beets is quite possible, and the method is quite similar to the one described above. However, the texture and flavor of cooked beets break down much faster than that of raw beets. If you have a choice, it’s best to freeze raw beets. On the other hand, if you have already cooked them or if you have leftovers, here is how to proceed:
- Let the beets cool before freezing them.
- Spread the beet pieces out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they don’t touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece individually so they don’t stick together later. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the beet chunks are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the chunks to a freezer bag or airtight container. Seal the freezer bag or container tightly, pushing out as much air as possible. You can use multiple freezer bags or multiple containers if you want to freeze individual portions.
- Label the freezer bag or container with the date and contents, then return the beet pieces to the freezer.
What is the shelf life of beets in the freezer?
Raw, blanched beets will keep for about 12 to 18 months in the freezer.
Cooked beets will keep for about 10 to 12 months in the freezer.
How to thaw beets?
To thaw beets, simply put them in the fridge and let them thaw for several hours or even overnight. You can then use them as usual.
Depending on the recipe you are preparing, it is also possible to use them as they are and cook them directly without defrosting them.
Can you refreeze beets?
Yes, it is possible but we advise against refreezing beets. Their flavor would suffer greatly.
Can you freeze beetroot juice?
If you like to drink a small dose of beet juice in your morning smoothie, the best way to freeze your beet juice is as ice cubes in an ice cube tray. To add beet juice to your smoothie, simply add an ice cube.
If you prefer to drink a full glass, try to find containers that can hold around 250ml of beet juice individually. Pour in the juice and seal them tightly.
We strongly recommend that you wrap containers or ice cube trays in plastic wrap to prevent any unwanted leaks. Better not end up with a hot pink freezer!
