How to Freeze Beets

Beets might not be the first vegetable you think of when you think of freezing foods. But, learning how to freeze beets is very easy and is a delicious way to preserve this earthy vegetable. Frozen beets are a great way to meal prep and to have a few different ways to incorporate beets in your meals ready to go in your freezer.

You can decide which form to freeze beets depending on how you want to use them in the future. For more versatility and freedom, you may want to freeze the beets plain without adding any sort of seasoning. However, if you want a batch of frozen beets that are ready to be used as a side, go ahead and roast them before you freeze them. This blog post shares some different ways you can try freezing your beets.

How to Buy Beets

Before you go about freezing your beets, the beets you are freezing must be of the best possible quality. Because you will be freezing the beets for months to come, you want to make sure they are of top quality. Here are a few quick tips to help you buy the perfect beets.

• Look for beets that are neither too small nor too large. Go for beets that have a maximum of 3 inches in diameter.
• Make sure your beets are free of cuts and bruises. The beets should be firm and without any soft spots.
• Take a look at the leaves of the beets. Fresh beets will have crisp leaves. If the leaves seem wilted and darkened, the beets are not fresh and are best avoided.

How to Prepare the Beets

Now that your beets are bought, it’s time to prepare them for freezing. Because your beets grow underground, you must clean them thoroughly to ensure you are getting rid of all dirt and residual pesticides.

Start by chopping off the beet tops, leaving about 2 – 3 inches of the tops intact. Also, leave the root end of the beet intact for now; leaving the top and root end attached to the beet help to prevent some of the colors from bleeding when you cook them.

Next, take a bowl of water and soak the beets for a few minutes to dislodge any dirt that may be stuck on them. Use a gentle vegetable scrubber to clean the beets thoroughly before rinsing them off with cold water.

How to Freeze Blanched Beets

1. Start by placing a large pot of water on the stovetop to come up to a boil. Once the water starts to boil, add in your cleaned beets carefully. You might want to stagger the beets according to their size. Larger beets may take up to 50 minutes to cook through, while smaller ones may be cooked in 30 – 40 minutes.
2. While the beets are cooking, get a bowl ready with some ice water which you will need to stop the cooking process. Check on your beets by poking them with a knife or fork. They are ready to be transferred to the hot water bath if they are tender throughout. Use a slotted spoon to make this task easier.
3. Once the beets have cooled down completely and you can handle them comfortably, remove them from the ice water and onto a cutting board. Chop off their stem and root ends before you go ahead and peel the beets. Cooking the beets beforehand will make the peeling process simple.
4. Once the beets are peeled, go ahead and chop them into smaller slices or cubes, depending on your preference. Just try to get them as even in size as you can.
5. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread out the chopped beets in a single layer. You want to make sure that none of the beets overlap as that will cause them to freeze stuck together, and it will become challenging to use them.
6. Load your prepared tray into the freezer and let the beets flash freeze for 3 – 4 hours or until they have frozen solid. Once they have frozen solid, go ahead and add them to freezer-safe bags before you seal them shut.
7. Your sealed frozen beets are now ready to be labeled before going into the freezer for long-term storage.

These beets will easily last in your freezer for 9 – 12 months and can be used in all the recipes where you would otherwise use fresh beets. You can also add these frozen beets straight to the blender to make a delicious smoothie!

How to Freeze Roasted Beets

1. To freeze roasted beets, you can either peel them before roasting or slip off their peel after roasted depending on your preference.
2. Cut the beets into pieces of your desired size. Prepare a baking tray by lining it with parchment paper before placing your cut beets on it.
3. Drizzle the beets with olive oil or balsamic vinegar and roast the beets for 15 – 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook your beets to a point where they are easily pierced with a fork.
4. When the beets are done roasting, remove the tray from the oven and let them cool down to room temperature.
5. Once cooled, transfer the baking tray to flash freeze the beets for a couple of hours until they have frozen solid. You can then move the beets to freeze bags depending on your portion size and seal the bags shut.
6. Remove as much air as possible from the freezer bags before you seal them shut. If you have it, you could use a vacuum sealer, or even a straw works just fine. To use the straw, seal the bag almost completely, leaving just enough space for a straw to pass through. Poke your straw through the opening and suck out as much air a possible to create your vacuum seal.
7. Label and date your freezer bags before loading them in the freezer for long-term storage.

To use your frozen beets, simply heat them up for about 20 minutes in the oven with your favorite seasoning. Your roasted and frozen beets should easily last you for 6 – 9 months in the freezer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze my beets without blanching?

While it is possible to freeze your beets without blanching, the end product is often mealy and grainy, which is not desirable, and this is why it is recommended to cook the beets in some way before freezing.

How to tell if my beets are going bad?

If frozen and stored correctly, your beets should last you for a long time. However, if you notice any traces of mold, or there is an off-smell emanating from your beets, they have probably turned, and it is best to discard them immediately.

Conclusion

Freezing beets is a great way to preserve a great vegetable to have them last you throughout the year. Freezing your beets is also a great way to introduce meal prep into your routine, giving you some quick options for sides for your meals. So the next time you are at the grocery store, don’t hesitate to pick up an extra bag of beets to try freezing them!

You might also find some of our other freezing guides insightful, which you can find here.