Do you love beets? With its distinct earthy flavor, beetroot is often used in soups, sandwiches, stews and salads. This vegetable can also be used in desserts and smoothies! But what if you have leftover beetroot? Can you freeze beetroot? Luckily, beets keep so well in the freezer.
Fresh beets will stay fresh in the fridge for a week. Frozen, however, these vegetables stay fresh for about 8 months. It is important to keep the temperature constant at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the quality and freshness of the beetroot in the freezer.
Now, the problem with freezing fresh beetroot is that the vegetable tends to go soft once it’s taken out of the freezer. Don’t worry, we’re going to teach you how to properly freeze beets to preserve their original texture. In addition, the beets tend to “bleed” after defrosting.
The fact is that beets, which have become soft after defrosting, are safe to use in cooking. Also, there is a way to prevent the beets from bleeding, which we will outline below. Now let’s take a look at how to freeze beets:
How do you freeze beets?
In this guide, we will outline the ways to freeze beets and roasted beets. We do not recommend freezing fresh beets. For best results, you must first cook the vegetables before freezing. Fresh, uncooked beets that have been frozen will take on an inedible grainy texture after thawing.
Freezing fresh beetroot
To start, cut the greens off the beet, but leave about an inch or two of the stalk. Cut off the long root ends and start scrubbing the vegetables with a soft-bristled brush to remove dirt. Once the vegetables are cleaned, set them aside.
Get a big bowl; fill with ice and water and set aside. Then fill a large saucepan with water, add about ¼ cup of vinegar or lemon juice and bring to a boil. The lemon juice or vinegar will prevent bleeding after the beets are thawed.
Make sure the bowl filled with ice water is a few inches from the pot so it’s accessible during blanching. Gently drop the beets into the boiling water and cook for about an hour for large beets and 25 minutes for smaller ones.
Once the beets are fork-tender, drain the veggies and quickly plunge them into ice water. This stops the cooking process. Allow the beets to cool completely before cutting off the root ends and removing the skin.
Once the beets are cut and skinned, it’s time to cut the veggies into your desired cut. You can also skip the slicing and start bagging all the veggies for freezing. Place the beets in a freezer-safe plastic container or resealable plastic bag. Write the storage date on the label and then stick it in the freezer.
Read Also: Can you freeze limes?
Freezing roasted or leftover beets
For fried or leftover beets, get a resealable plastic bag and place the vegetable slices inside. Squeeze the resealable plastic bag well to remove the air, then seal. Write the storage date with a marker and then stick it in the freezer.
How do you thaw frozen beets?
To thaw frozen beets, all you have to do is move the container from the freezer to the fridge. Let the vegetables thaw for several hours to overnight. It is not necessary to reheat the thawed beets, as they can be eaten that way. Reheating the beets before adding them to the boil will only cause the veggies to become soggy.
summary
Beets are such a versatile vegetable. Fortunately, turnips can be frozen to extend their shelf life. Now that you know how to freeze beetroot, you can buy this vegetable in bulk and try different recipes.