Does the thought of messy beet prep make you want to cry? We’ve got you! Check out our favorite 6 Easy Tips for Preparing Beets Without a Mess and rekindle your relationship with the fabulous beetroot.
Let's be honest. Beets are extremely MESSY, inevitably leaving our kitchens, hands, and clothes looking like evidence from a bloody CSI murder-scene or horror flick. Sometimes eating the beautiful beet seems like such a chore.
Many of us experience the conflicting angst and passion for the quirky root vegetable. We adore the beet's deliciously unique flavor but detest the beet preparation process. Want to eat more beets without the expense of mess and lengthy prep time? Yup. Us too!
Plus - there are so many delightful reasons to eat beets. The beautiful red beet is packed with nutrition and incredible health benefits, such as boosting immunity, balancing blood pressure, and reducing inflammation. If you are a beet enthusiast who enjoys the beet's flavor and nutritional benefits but loathes the prep process or perhaps you are a new beet eater who is looking to cultivate a growing relationship with the beet — Never fear! This article will keep your beetroot romance alive using 6 easy tips!
HOW TO PREPARE AND COOK BEETS WITHOUT A MESS
How to Cut Beets Without the Mess and Avoid Beets Staining Your Fingers
1. Wear Gloves When Handling Red Beets
Red beets stain! That is no surprise. To avoid pink fingers every time you prep red beets, wear gloves. Rubber or vinyl gloves designed for food preparation are super handy, specifically for beets. Eventually, the stained color on hands and fingers from handling beets will disappear, but if you want to keep your extremities pink/red free, then gloves are super useful during beet preparation. Designate a pair of re-useable kitchen gloves, and keep them handy when preparing red beets.
How to Keep the Beet from Staining Your Kitchen
2. Use a Non-Porous Cutting Board
Are you tired of red beets staining your counters and cutting boards? Use a non-porous cutting board, like stainless steel or glass. The beautiful red beet may stain wooden cutting board, so if this concerns you, designate non-porous cutting boards when preparing beets. Another option is to place plastic wrap on the cutting board to reduce messy beet clean-up.
How to Prepare Beets Ahead of Time (Shorten the Prep Process)
3. Prepare Beets in Batches
To save time and avoid the hassle associated with preparing beets, make large batches of ready-to-eat beets at one time to freeze or refrigerate for easy consumption during the week. Do vegetables lose some of their freshness and nutritional value after oxidation? Perhaps. Studies are ongoing. However, using beets should be a fun and happy experience not stressful, so make your life easier. DO IT!
Cook beets (or prepare raw beets) and cut them in quarters or cubes and place in freezer bags or freezer containers for access later in the week. These ready-to-eat beets are perfect for smoothies! You may also place cooked or raw beets in air-tight containers in the refrigerator to eat throughout the week.
How to Cook Beets: The Least Messy Way
4. Roast Beets with Skins Attached / Remove Skins Under Water
Did you know the beet is edible from root to leaf and that includes the beetroot's skins? You CAN eat the skins, so if you aren't put off by the quirky appearance of beet skins (and they are washed or organic), eat them! When cooking beets, keep the skins attached. The beetroot will retain its beautiful vibrant color and also its nutrients.
If you are not a fan of beet skins and want to reduce the messiness of peeling beets, when beets are ready to peel, hold one of the beets in a paper towel. This provides the least messy option! Use the edges of the paper towel to easily rub off the skin. If skins are resistant, it means the beet isn't cooked enough.
You may also "rub off" the skins under running water or in a bowl or colander of water. This will keep your hands stain-free. Beets can be eaten raw, so if you prefer to eat beets raw and wish to peel them, wear gloves (see tip #1) or peel beets with a vegetable peeler under water. This will help reduce pink-stained hands.
Want to select the best beets? Learn How to Select Beets Like a Boss and choose the best quality beetroots and beet greens at the market. Not sure how to cook beets? There are many easy tips for cooking beets that will make your beet preparation easier and faster.
How to Easily Prepare Beets (Avoid the Beet Mess)
5. Use Ready-To-Eat Canned or Packaged Beets
For the ease of eating beets, look for canned or packaged ready-to-eat beets. This is the best mess-free and least time consuming option for preparing and eating beets. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and other markets provide ready-to-eat prepared beets (such as Love Beets) and you can also find beets in a can in most grocery stores (on the canned vegetable aisle). When using canned beets, look for ones with zero to low sodium, and also eat organic when possible. For some inspiration, check out 10 Delicious Ways to Eat Canned Beets for delicious recipe ideas.
How to Cook with the Least Messy Beetroots
6. Experiment with Beet Varieties and Types
Did you know that beets come in different colors? If you love the beet flavor but want to avoid the red beet's messy traits, try eating Golden Beets or Chioggia Beets. Golden Beets are sweet in taste and less likely to stain your hands, cutting boards, and counter tops.
Like Golden Beets, Chioggia Beets are nutritious and sweet (and less messy than red beets) but contain higher levels of geosmin. Therefore, if you are not a fan of the "earthy" flavor associated with beets, this variety may not resonate as much with your taste buds.
Check out these delicious recipes using different beet varieties: Golden Beet, Orange, and Turmeric Smoothie (Vegan) / Roasted Beet, Heirloom Tomato, and Goat Cheese Salad / Raw Chioggia Beet Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette
There are numerous ways to rekindle your love affair with the beet. What are your favorite ways to prepare and eat beets?
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