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    Home Β» Blog Β» Whole Food Recipes Β» Canning & Preserving Recipes

    June 22, 2022 | By Jami

    How To Roast And Freeze Beets (Picture Tutorial)

    Jump to Recipe

    Yes, you CAN freeze beets - and after thawing these roasted beets taste just like you cooked them fresh! They are perfect for salads, sides, and other recipes. Freezing beets is a great storage solution for when you have a lot to take care of at once.

    how to roast and freeze beets

    For some reason beets seem to be a pretty divisive vegetable- you either like them or you think they taste like "dirt."Β 

    Personally, I don't get it. I mean, beets are so sweet you can buy beet sugar.*

    *Note:Β I know that sugar beets are white and different from what we eat. What I mean is that there is enough natural sugar in beets (similar to corn, too) that scientists could create beet varieties that produce more.

    But I'm the lone beet-liker (beet-liker? Well, you know what I mean...) in my family. The kids won't touch them and Brian merely puts up with them.

    So I don't serve them very often and I don't grow a ton of them in our garden, just a couple of rows for me.

    But you know what happens with even a few rows, right? 

    Most of the beetsΒ are all ready to be harvested at once. I have problem of too many beets for just me but then none for the future.

    Can beets be frozen successfully?

    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.)

    I roasted them in the oven, in their skins to preserve moisture, then chopped and added them to freezer baggies in small portions.

    The Results

    Surprisingly, the beets tasted just as good after a couple months in the freezer as they did the day I roasted them.

    I loved them!

    So I made my favorite salad with them, Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, and served it to company. 

    Um, didn't I just say beets are divisive...and I served a salad with beets to company?

    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.Β 

    Of course I said he didn't have to eat them, but he decided to try them anyway. The verdict?

    "These are the best beets I've ever eaten. They don't taste like beets!"

    Whatever that means, ha! I'll take the vote of confidence anyway.

    Now I make sure to grow enough rows to be able to freeze beets in small packages to last me through the winter.

    Though I only serve them to people I know will enjoy them - I don't want to waste them.

    no blanch freezing guide form

    How to Prepare, Oven Roast and Freeze Beets

    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.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-washing beets

    1. Wash the beets thoroughly with a vegetable brush in order to get all the dirt off. (Speaking of dirt, one of the reasons I don't get the dirt comment about beets is because there are lots of other vegetables like carrots and potatoes that grow in the dirt too, and they aren't described that way...).

    2. Trim the greens off, leaving about an inch of the tops. Trim the roots as well.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-adding water to pan

    3. Place the beets in a shallow baking dish and pour in about 1/4 cup of water.Β 

    I suppose this isn't true "roasting" like when we toss vegetables with olive oil (which you can do with beets, by the way... they get nice crispy edges which is great for that application, but not what I want on a salad...), but it's like roasting meat, I guess.

    Or is it oven braising? We'll just stick with roasting for now.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-foil covered pan

    4. Cover well with foil and bake at 400 degreesΒ for upΒ to an hour, depending on the size of the beets.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-checking for tenderness

    5. Check doneness by inserting a small knife into the thickest parts of the beets.

    The beets pictured were fairly large so I cut them in half to speed the cooking time (small to medium beets can be left whole). They were done in about 45 minutes.

    6. Let cool until you can comfortably handle them.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-peeling beets

    7. Cut the rest of the tops and bottoms off and skin the beets by pulling with a small knife.

    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.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-cutting beets to freeze

    8. Cut the beets into chunks or slices- however you want to serve them later. I like chunks that are easy to add to a salad.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-packaging roasted beets to freeze

    9. Place them in a freezer container, label, and freeze.

    I remove the air from my freezer baggies with a straw and it keeps most of the frost out of the packages.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets to easily preserve them for year around eating

    Try to use the frozen beets within 6-9 months for best flavor.

    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.

    However, a baggie I found after 1-1/2 years didn't fare as well and the beets were shriveled and soggy.Β 

    Of course this was before I had the chalkboard freezer organizerΒ which helps me keep better track of what we have for planning menus and using up food.

    Freezing Beets FAQs

    Can you freeze raw beets?

    Yes, but they will not be as convenient as already cooked. Cut the raw peeled beets into small dices, transfer them into a freezer bag, label and freeze. Any beet variety can be frozen like this.

    If you'd like grated beets, you can freeze them raw - grate and lay out on a cookie sheet to flash freeze before transferring to freezer containers.

    Can I put beets in the freezer without blanching?

    Yes, if the beets are peeled and cut into smaller pieces first (or grated like above).

    What is the best way to freeze beets?

    It depends on how you want to use them - grated raw or diced beets are good for using raw in salads or adding to soups. Roasted beets can be used to top salads or heated as a side dish with butter that only has to be thawed and warmed.

    How long do beets last in the freezer?

    Beets store in the freezer about 12-18 months.

    How to Roast and Freeze Beets-packaging roasted beets to freeze
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.70 from 30 votes

    How To Roast And Freeze Beets

    Oven-cooked beets freeze beautifully and after thawing taste just like cooked fresh, making them perfect for salads, sides and other recipes.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Preserving
    Cuisine: American
    Yield: 4 freezer containers
    Author: Jami Boys

    Ingredients

    • 8 medium to large beets*
    • ΒΌ cup water

    Instructions

    • Wash the beets thoroughly and trim the roots and greens off, leaving about an inch of the tops. For even cooking, cut any large beets in half.
    • Place the beets in a shallow 13x9-inch baking dish and pour in about 1/4 cup of water.
    • Cover well with foil and bake in a 400 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the beets. To check if they're done, insert a small knife into the thickest parts of the beets. (If there are smaller beets cooking with larger ones, remove the beets as they finish cooking.)
    • Cut the rest of the tops and bottoms off and skin the beets by pulling it off with a small knife.
    • Cut the beets into chunks or slices and serve right away or freeze for later.
    • To freeze for later: Place the beets in a baggie or other freezer container, removing as much air as possible, label and put in the freezer. Use within 6-9 months for best quality.

    Notes

    *You can use any amount of beets you want - for smaller amounts use a smaller pan, for larger a larger pan or two pans.
    Note: While you could dry roast the beets by peeling while raw and roasting on a baking sheet like potatoes, that tends to dry them out more and they don't freeze as well.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1beet | Calories: 35kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @anoregoncottage or tag #anoregoncottage!
    no blanch freezing guide form
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    freeze beets to store

    Other Vegetables You Can Easily Freeze

    How to Freeze Green Beans without Blanching

    How to Freeze Green Beans without Blanching

    How to Freeze Snap Peas Without Blanching - An Oregon Cottage

    How to Freeze Snap Peas Without Blanching

    Three Ways to Freeze Corn - An Oregon Cottage

    Three Ways to Freeze Corn

    This article has been updated - it was originally published in June of 2010.

    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Rosemarie Zilkie Syrota says

      August 07, 2023 at 2:03 pm

      Can frozen beets be used in beet borscht soup?

      Reply
      • Jami says

        August 08, 2023 at 3:37 pm

        I don't see why not, although most recipes use uncooked shredded beets, so if you want to use them for that, I'd go even easier:
        shred the beets raw and freeze in portions you need for the soup. No need to thaw before adding to the soup!

        Reply
    2. Amy says

      August 26, 2022 at 9:44 am

      Hi Jami, I LOVE beets! But I have too many pickled already and want to freeze them. I’ve never had good luck freezing cooked peeled beets……they thaw out really mushy and gross. I don’t want to waste another beet trying again. What is your secret? Roasting rather than boiling perhaps?

      Reply
      • Jami says

        August 29, 2022 at 2:57 pm

        Yes, it must be the roasting - no water is introduced that way - because they are seriously perfect, just like I say!
        You can always roast a freeze a test for about a week and see what they're like after thawing.

        Reply
    3. Joy in Hood River says

      June 25, 2022 at 6:56 am

      Hi Jami
      I have had success in roasting beets in my crockpot, so as not to heat up the kitchen using the oven during harvest time. I trim the greens to 1", wash well & leave the root on, so they won't bleed. I place them in the crockpot drizzle with a small amount of olive oil, roast on high for 2 to 3 hours or until a knife slips in easily. When done, I cool to room temp, cut the root off & peel.
      Roasted beet & feta salad/side dish is on the menu .....Yum

      Reply
      • Jami says

        June 27, 2022 at 11:02 am

        That is so great, Joy - thank you, I will try it!

        Reply
    4. Nell says

      June 24, 2021 at 7:50 am

      Hi Jami - Am so happy I found your site and this post with tips for freezing beets. Just coming around to cooking fresh beets and their greens...so sorry I missed eating these wonderful gems for too many decades of life, will never eat the canned variety again!!! Now that I know the taste will keep, freezing cubes of cooked beets will be method for meal prepping salads and my daily grab & blend smoothie packets. Thanks again for sharing your insights and helpful tips!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        June 25, 2021 at 3:43 pm

        I'm so glad you found this in time, Nell, and that it was helpful - it really is such a great way to preserve beets to use just like you suggest!

        Reply
    5. norma johnson says

      November 23, 2020 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      your freezing tips are saving me lots of money and giving me pleasure as well. thank you!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        November 23, 2020 at 6:57 pm

        I'm so glad - thank you for letting me know, Norma!

        Reply
    6. Marianne says

      September 05, 2020 at 8:32 am

      You should invest in a food saver. Will definitely try this.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        September 07, 2020 at 1:28 pm

        Ha! You're not the first to mention that, but I've never felt the need. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    7. Windy says

      August 28, 2020 at 10:48 am

      Beet jelly is GREAT

      Reply
      • Jami says

        August 31, 2020 at 10:55 am

        Wow, I've never even heard of it - I'll have to look it up!!

        Reply
    8. Hannah says

      August 22, 2020 at 8:38 am

      Just to be clear...beet sugar comes from sugar beets (white much larger beets) and not red beets. (From a sugar beet farmer).

      Reply
      • Jami says

        August 24, 2020 at 3:13 pm

        Thanks for clarifying!

        Reply
    9. Maxine Taylor says

      August 17, 2020 at 12:45 am

      5 stars
      So easy and my garden beets will last months instead of weeks. This website was a happy find, thank you. I will be testing other recipes, great idea with the straw btw.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        August 17, 2020 at 5:05 pm

        Thank you - I'm so glad you found this helpful, Maxine!

        Reply
    10. Oretha C Hill (Rita) says

      July 26, 2020 at 12:46 am

      Thank you so much because i didn't know what to do with all of these Beets
      i am going to make this recipe soon .

      Reply
      • Jami says

        July 28, 2020 at 12:14 pm

        Happy to help - I think you are going to love this and having the beets ready to go when you want!

        Reply
    11. Nancy says

      July 18, 2020 at 5:25 pm

      5 stars
      I normally freeze my beets. I put a bunch in a large crock pot till done. The peel slips right off under water, then I slice ordice and freeze, yum!
      This year I'm hoping to (successfully!) spiralize several veggie types. Any ideas on blanching times for the spiralized beets? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        July 20, 2020 at 3:24 pm

        I think you'd need to cook the beets to be able to spiralize them? If not, they only need 3-5 minutes blanching time. You can also try freezing them raw and seeing if you like that - definitely test and see which works best!

        Reply
    12. Kristina Ketelsen says

      July 16, 2020 at 11:11 am

      I leave the skin on my beets and just scrub them very well. Don't even realize I'm eating skins!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        July 17, 2020 at 5:48 pm

        Good for you, Kristina. Most people who don't like beets say they taste 'dirt' on them and removing the skins always helps from that perspective, I think. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    13. Lori says

      May 24, 2020 at 7:14 am

      I read and re-read, but I am not seeing the oven temp for roasting the beets?

      Reply
      • Jami says

        May 25, 2020 at 1:25 pm

        Sorry, Lori, there was a technical error that was preventing the recipe card from showing! I've fixed it and also added the temp into the picture tutorial for clarity. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    14. Suzy says

      May 16, 2020 at 7:35 am

      This recipe worked perfectly! when I took them out of the freezer for use, it was like i had just cooked them. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        May 18, 2020 at 2:37 pm

        I know! It's kind of amazing, isn't it? Glad you liked them. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    15. GraceLin Keosababian says

      April 04, 2020 at 8:19 am

      I roast my beets fresh beets with the peels on and I don't put any water in it and they come out great

      Reply
      • Jami says

        April 06, 2020 at 12:53 pm

        Do the peels come off easily then or do you just eat the peels? I find it really hard to get them clean because of all the surface indentations, so I don't care for the peels. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    16. Katrena Fisher says

      February 18, 2019 at 4:54 pm

      Do you think this would work the same for boiled beets?

      Reply
      • Jami says

        February 19, 2019 at 5:20 pm

        Yes!

        Reply
    17. Linda says

      November 07, 2018 at 7:41 am

      Hi Jami. I toss my cooked beets with olive oil & spices. They store nicely in the refrigerator for up to a week this way. When cooking them to freeze, should I add the olive oil & spices before freezing or after? Thanks.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        November 07, 2018 at 8:15 pm

        I'd probably wait until after, but you can do a test of two, one with and one without to see which you like best.

        Reply
    18. Donna Marhal says

      October 16, 2018 at 6:28 pm

      I wish she would say how to check for doneness. I can stick a knife in a raw beet. That doesn't mean it's done. Just sticking a knife in a beet doesn't tell me a thing. When I stick a knife in a steak I look for the color I want, I'm not just sticking a knife in it. When I stick a toothpick in a cake I look to see if it comes out clean, not just stick a toothpick in a cake. Get my drift?

      Reply
      • Jami says

        October 18, 2018 at 11:26 am

        Testing doneness of root vegetables is often done with a knife - I do this with potatoes, carrots, etc. While a knife can be put in these when they are raw, it doesn't go in smoothly or far and takes quite a bit of pressure. When they are tender and cooked through, the knife slides in with almost no pressure. I know of no other way to test root vegetables other than to cut a piece and eat it. The knife test seems easier to me.

        Reply
      • Lauren Shaul says

        September 15, 2019 at 10:05 am

        How do you reheat the frozen beets? Stick them back in the oven, on the pan, microwave? Giving this a try sincd I got soooo many beets from the farmers market and don't want them to go to waste!

        Reply
        • Jami says

          September 15, 2019 at 11:34 am

          You can let them thaw and eat them cold on a salad or heat them any way you want! It's just like having the pre-cooked beets they sell in the stores now.

          Reply
          • lauren says

            September 15, 2019 at 1:43 pm

            Gotcha, thank you!

            Reply
    19. Holly says

      October 04, 2018 at 5:42 pm

      Sorry if I missed it. Do you have a recommendation for thawing these out. Are there any method that result in an undesirable texture? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        October 05, 2018 at 3:31 pm

        I haven't had any issues, Holly, I just defrost in the fridge or in warm water - it doesn't take much. Hope that helps some!

        Reply
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