I have problem of too many beets for just me but then none for the future. Pickling seems to be the most popular way to preserve beets, but my few small rows never made enough to pickle, so I decided to try freezing some that I had oven roasted—even though I had never heard or read of it being done.
Seems like I'm a rebel like that - see my non-blanched frozen green beans , corn freezing experiments , and best ways to freeze basil. Surprisingly, they tasted just as good after a couple months in the freezer as they did the day I roasted them. I guess I didn't get it- but in my defense, I thought I was safe because our company were gardeners, and don't most gardeners grow beets?
Well, not the one sitting at my table. He promptly said, "Beets are the one vegetable I don't eat" and proceeded to give me the dirt comparison. Great - of all the vegetables on the planet I pick the one he didn't eat. Of course I said he didn't have to eat them, but he decided to try them anyway. The verdict? Now I make sure to grow enough rows to be able to freeze beets in small packages to last me through the winter. I'm providing a step-by-step tutorial to prepare, cook, and freeze beets because I didn't know how to prepare them when I first started growing beets and I'm pretty sure that there are people out there who may be as clueless as I was.
Of course, this is just one method for cooking beets, but many of these steps are the same no matter how you decide cook them. I suppose this isn't true "roasting" like when we toss vegetables with olive oil which you can do with beets, by the way Some directions say to put gloves on and "rub the skins off" but that hasn't worked well for me, but you do what works for you.
And I don't wear gloves- I just wash my hands afterwards and don't have a problem with staining. One time, though, a few baggies got shoved in the back of my freezer and I found them a year later.
I served them anyway and was shocked that they were still pretty tasty. Ready to get your beets stored without blanching or cooking them first? Frankly, the smaller the better. If you need some ideas, here are some ways to prep your beets for freezing. Personally, I like using an ice cube tray to freeze liquefied vegetables and fruits.
But the key to freezing beets and vegetables in general is to cut them up into smaller bits. Check out the baby food making supplies — they have thicker, more solid trays specifically for freezing various food purees. Most even come with lids. This site uses referral links from advertising partners. As an Amazon Associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to go see the current selection, availability, and pricing of ice cube trays with lids on Amazon.
You will need to trim the tops, though. However, a whole cooked beet may still develop that gritty, freezer texture depending on how long you keep it in the freezer. But if you just chuck a whole, raw beet into the freezer? Check to see if the beets are tender. As you approach the end of the cooking time, use a knife to check for doneness. Choose the thickest part of a beet and insert a knife or fork. If you feel some resistance, the beets need more time to cook. Drain the cooked beets in a colander and cool in an ice bath.
Cooling the beets immediately stops the cooking process and makes them safe to handle. Let the beets sit in the ice bath for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the roots and stems with a knife. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skins, be careful not to remove more than is necessary. Be sure to wear a pair of gloves, to protect against your hands getting stained. Alternatively, you can cut into quarters, or dice them.
If the beets are around 1 inch 2. However, be aware that whole beets do not freeze as well. Part 3. Put the beets into plastic freezer bags. You can use Ziploc bags for freezing. For single servings, the one-quart size is best.
Remove as much air as possible from the plastic bags and tightly seal. One way to remove air is to push the air out of the bag and seal it, leaving the end slightly open. At the open end, insert a drinking straw and suck out all of the remaining air and then quickly seal the bag.
This method is guaranteed to remove all of the air in the bag and reduce the chance of freezer burn. These systems can be costly, but if used frequently are quite valuable. Label the plastic bags. Make sure you also note the current date. Beets can be kept for up to 12 months in a deep freezer. If you keep your beets in the freezer for 18 months or longer, they can end up shriveled and soggy. The best time to use the frozen beets is between 6 and 9 months.
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