How to Store Beets? Also Freezing
In the time of the Romans, beetroot spread throughout Europe around the 16th century. Beets are edible tubers that can be eaten raw, cooked, or roasted. Beets are related to sugar beet and fodder beet. There are winter and summer beets in a number of colors and variations. But how can you store beets now?
How to store beets?
That can be done in different ways:
- Cooked beets can be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- The summer beetroot without leaves can be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- The raw winter beet should be stored in a cool place, with the leaves attached at a temperature of 12 to 15 degrees.
- Cooked beets that are frozen will keep for 12 months.
The storage method depends on what type of beet it is and whether it is cooked or uncooked. Various methods of preserving beets are described below.
Would you like to know how to prepare beetroot according to grandmother’s recipe? Read our blog ‘ How to Prepare Red Beets? ‘.
Store Beets in a jar
Store-bought beets can be stored for a long time if they remain closed. It is mandatory in the Netherlands to state an expiration date on the jars. With the beets, this is usually stated on the lid.
Once open, they have a limited shelf life. In this case, you have to look, see and taste for yourself whether the beets are still good. If there is mold or foul odors, the beets can no longer be eaten. These then go to the compost heap or garbage bag.
Beets Freezing
You can freeze beets, but some steps are required beforehand. You can blanch, boil and then store beets.
1. Blanch
This means that the beets have to be boiled for a few minutes and immediately afterward shocked with cold water. The skin can now be removed. This is a difficult job. After this, the beets, grated or sliced, can be frozen. Use freezer containers and close them tightly. This for longer shelf life.
2. Cooking
The beets are boiled for about 50 minutes (depending on the size of the beet). Cooking will soften the skin of the beet, making it easy to remove. The beets are sliced or it is grated. Then you freeze the beets. It is convenient to freeze in portions. Use freezer containers or bags. Seal it airtight. This for longer shelf life.
If you want to know everything about cooking beets, read our blog ‘ How to cook beets? ‘ and you never go wrong.
Do not freeze beets whole. Beets contain a lot of water. When these thaws, this becomes a soft tuber which no longer looks appetizing.
Frozen grated or sliced beets can be frozen for 12 months at temperatures of -18 degrees.
Tip: stick a sticker on the packaging. You never know exactly when you froze the beets. When you are going to use the beets, it is useful to check whether they still look good. Smell and taste if the beets are still good when thawed.
Preserve Beets
Preserving beets is completely ‘in’ again. There are various recipes for preserving beets in preserving bottles or jars. This is accompanied by a lot of vinegar and sugar. Canning (preserving) vegetables is a bit of work. Jars must be boiled and therefore sterile. Then the beets with the pot and all in a pan of hot water must stand for 45 minutes. Then the pot is put away in a dark and cool place. You can then store them for 4 to 5 months. When you open the jar, it is important to eat the beets as quickly as possible. Always look and taste how the beets have held up in the pot. If there is mold on it, then unfortunately the only way to the garbage bag is.
Store beets in vinegar
If you have bought too many beets or you just like and enjoy putting beets in vinegar, there are a number of recipes for this. The beets can be pickled with salt, vinegar, and all kinds of herbs. You can store it in a clean and well-sealed jar for about 2 months.
Store Beets in the Ground.
If you have beets in your vegetable garden, you may wonder when they should be harvested. Beets can remain in the ground as long as it does not freeze. So you can just harvest the amount you need and leave the rest for later. When it starts to freeze, it is important to remove the beets from the ground and store them. There are several methods of preserving beets.
Store Beets in the Ground
You can ensilage beets, just like any other vegetable. Roughly it goes this way. A pit is dug on a dry piece of land, in the shade. Dry plant remains are then deposited in the pit to prevent the beet from rotting. The beets are stacked in the pit over which materials such as straw or other plant residues go.
A kind of chimney is made in the middle of the pit to ensure that air can reach the beets. This is done to prevent rotting as much as possible. The pit, which is full of beets, is then covered with earth, reed, and straw. This is an insulating layer. Sometimes the beets are stacked above the pit and you have a mountain.
In very cold weather, the beets are covered extra. There is a risk of rot. Always check the beets for rotting symptoms. Then remove it from the pit. The less often the pit is opened, the longer the chance that the beets will remain good.
Store Beets in Crates
You can also silage beets in crates. Newspapers are first placed in the box to prevent sand from being lost. Then a layer of sand is placed in the box with the beets on top, side by side. Then another layer of sand and so on. The leaf is twisted off the beet. The sand should be and remain slightly moist to prevent the beets from drying out. Finally, a jute bag can be placed over it, which should also be kept moist.
Peat is also used instead of sand.
Facts:
- Beets are high in potassium, (325 mg in 100 grams of beets). This has a beneficial effect on lowering blood pressure, according to the Nutrition Center.
- You can eat beets raw, cooked or cooked from the oven
- There are 2 types of beets: summer and winter beets
