Beets are versatile and can be used in salads, soups, sandwiches, hummus, and many more dishes. Cooked beets make for a perfect meal prep that not only saves time but also helps you keep eating healthy. Here are two of my favorite ways to cook beets - roasting in the oven and steaming in the Instant Pot!
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I love beets for their taste, color, and nutrition! They have such a wonderful aroma when you roast them. Beets are available year-round in most grocery stores. Every time I buy them I roast or steam them and refrigerate for up to a week. They come in very handy for while preparing meals.
How to Roast Beets
- First, wash the beets thoroughly and dry with paper towels. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut off the top stems and bottom roots of the beet. Cut each beet into half
- Line a baking tray with aluminum foil, place the halved beets on the tray with the flat side down, and brush them with olive oil.
- Cover the beets with another aluminum foil this time wrapping foil around each beet tightly. Bake for 45-60 minutes.
- Check with a knife to make sure it goes through smoothly. Let them cool down and then peel the skin off using a paper towel.
How to Steam Beets in Instant Pot
Steaming beets in the Instant Pot is convenient and hands-free. Here is how:
- Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot insert and place the trivet inside.
- Place the beets on the trivet.
- Secure the lid and set the pressure release to sealing. Pressure Cook for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally, this will take about 10 minutes (small or medium beets). Open the pot and wearing heat-resistant mitts transfer the beets to a plate or cutting board. Let cool.
Once the beets cool down you can refrigerate them in an air-tight container. When you are ready to use simply peel, chop, or grate and use in raita, salads, and sandwiches, or add to hummus for a burst of flavor and color.
Tip: I like to buy small to medium-sized beets so they do not take as much time. But you can also easily cut large beets into halves or simply increase the pressure cook times.
Instant Pot Cook Time for Beets
- Small whole beets - steam for 10-12 minutes
- Medium whole beets - steam for 15-20 minutes
- Large whole beets - steam for 20-25 minutes.
Tips
- Use the steam setting on the Instant Pot and allow at least 10 minutes of natural pressure release.
- You can also cut large beets in half and adjust the cooking time accordingly. I prefer steaming whole beets as they do not drain out much of the nutrient-rich inner juices.
Storing
Refrigerate the roasted or steamed beets in airtight containers for up to a week.
Enjoy cooked beets with some salt and pepper sprinkled or use them in hummus, salads, soups, sides, or sandwiches!
Recipe
How to Cook Beets
Ingredients
- 5 medium Beets
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil only needed for roasting
Instructions
How to Roast Beets in the Oven
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash them thoroughly and dry with paper towel. Cut off the very top and bottom of the beetroot and cut each beet into half.
- Line baking tray with aluminum foil. Line beets on the tray with the flat side down. Brush them with olive oil. Cover the beets with another aluminum foil this time wrapping foil around each beet tightly. Roast them for 30-45 minutes. Check with a knife to make sure it goes through smoothly.
- Let them cool down and then peel the skin off using a paper towel. Keep refrigerated in airtight container for up to 1 week.
How to Steam Beets in the Instant Pot
- Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot insert and place the trivet inside.
- Place the beets on the trivet. Secure the lid and set the pressure release to sealing. Pressure Cook for 15 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally, this will take about 10 minutes. Open the pot and wearing heat-resistant mitts transfer the beets to a plate or cutting board.
- Allow the beets the cool. Keep refrigerated in an air tight container for up to 1 week. Peel the skin before dicing or grating.
Nutrition
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