How to cook beets – Instant Pot, Stovetop, Oven

How to cook beets or beetroots in an Instant pot – This quick and easy recipe, is to cook tender, juicy, candy-like beets in a pressure cooker. Enjoy these earthy, flavorful beets as it is, as an side or in a salad! 

Post also includes how to cook beets on stovetop and oven method. 

 

 

 

BEETS OR BEETROOT

My mom used to make these beets in a stovetop pressure cooker. It was such a quick and healthy dish that could be enjoyed as it is or as aside. My mom used to call them sweet, candy-like. And yes, that’s how I and my brother learned to eat beets as a kid. Seriously, they tasted just like candy and I could just eat them the whole day. LOL!!!

Whenever I make beets at home, they come out tender, moist, perfectly cooked beets every time. My kids love these sweet, juicy, candy-like beets. I try to incorporate as many veggies as I can into our diet and what a great way to enjoy these flavorful and healthy beets.

BEETS NUTRITIONAL VALUES

Beetroots or beets have great nutritional value. Beets are high in natural sugars, low in calories and a great source of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals. They are also a good source of folic acid and fiber. Beets are delicious and due to their nutritional benefits, can easily fit into a well-balanced, healthy diet.

 

 

HOW TO COOK BEETS

There are different ways to cook the beets. You can boil, roast, steam, or grill the beets. However, you chose to cook the beets, they are delicious.

Today, I am sharing the recipe for steaming beets in a pressure cooker (Instant Pot), boil beets on a stove and also how to roast beets in an oven. You can experiment with the different beet cooking technique and decide which one suits you best. For small to medium size beets I prefer to steam or boil them. For large size beets I find roasting them in an oven gives the best results. Enjoy these delicious, candy-like sweet beets as a side or in a salad!

HOW TO PREPARE BEETS

When you bring beets home from the store, you can cook them right away or store them for later use. Beets will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator if they are properly stored. Here’s how I prep the beets:

1. Trim the beet greens, leaving about an inch of stem attached. You can use these beets greens to make a stir fry or add them in soups or curries, just like any other greens.

2. Gently scrub the beets with a vegetable brush to remove any dirt and debris. Wash the beets thoroughly.

3. To store the beets, pat dry beets with a paper towel to remove any extra moisture. You can store the beets in a vegetable bag or a plastic zip lock bag in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

When you are ready to cook beets, remove them from the refrigerator and cook the beets as per desired.

FOR STEAMING BEETS YOU WILL NEED

For steaming beets in an Instant pot or a stovetop pressure cooker, you will need a trivet, a steamer basket, or a steaming rack. Either one would work fine. I am using the trivet that came with my Instant Pot. I will leave a link to this and a steamer basket if you would like to check it out.

 

 

HOW TO COOK BEETS IN AN INSTANT POT

Steaming beets is a great way to retain most of their nutrient value, thus making them a healthier cooking option. Steaming the beets also helps retain the vibrant color of the beets, which is somewhat lost when beets are boiled. I find this method to be very efficient and easy.

1. Pick beets of somewhat equal size when cooking together. Wash and trim the beet’s leaves (if there are any).

2. Pour a cup of water into the Instant Pot. Place a trivet inside the Instant Pot and arrange the beets on top of the trivet. You can also use a steamer basket. Close the Instant Pot lid, with a vent on “sealing”.

3. Cook on Manual or Pressure Cook (high) for ” ** “minutes depending upon the size of the beets.

** For small size cook for 10-12 minutes, for medium-size beets somewhere between 15-18 minutes, and for larger beets cook for 20-25 minutes.

 

 

4. Let pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes, and then manually remove the remaining pressure. Open the lid and check if beets are cooked by inserting a clean knife. If it goes through easily, the beets are cooked. If required cook for additional few minutes.

5. Remove the beets from the Instant Pot and onto a plate. Once beets are cool, peel off the skin using your hands or with the help of a paper towel.

6. Slice or cut into desired pieces. Enjoy beets as a side or in a salad!

Pic Shown: Beets cooked in Instant Pot.

 

 

 

HOW TO COOK BEETS ON STOVETOP

If you find beets have quite an intense earthy flavor then this method might be just right for you. Boiling the beets produces tender, less intense flavor beets. Beets lose some of their nutritional value and vibrant color, as the beets are boiled in hot water.

1. Wash the beets thoroughly, trim off the stem.

2. Place the beets in a large pot and cover them with water.

3. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until fork-tender. For small to medium 20-25 minutes. For large beets 45-60 minutes.

4. Immediately removed the cooked beets from the hot water and allow them to cool.

5. Peel off the skin and enjoy beets.

 

 

HOW TO ROAST WHOLE BEETS IN AN OVEN 

Roasting the beets is yet another way of cooking beets. . Roasting beets add to the sweetness and subtle flavor. Depending upon the size of the beets it can take somewhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

1. Pat dry beets with a paper towel to remove any extra moisture.

2. Arrange the beets in a deep baking dish. Drizzle some olive oil and give beets an oil massage. Sprinkle some salt and pepper. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.

3. Roast beets at 400°F until fork-tender. Depending upon the size of the beets, it can take from 30 minutes to an hour. For small to medium-size beets, roast for 30-45 minutes. For large beets, roast for 60 minutes or until fork-tender.

4. Remove beets from the oven, allow them to cool for 15-20 minutes. Cut the stem, and peel off the skin.

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW TO BUY BEETS

Beets range from small golf ball sizes to fist-size bulbs. Small to medium beets are mostly used, as they cook quickly. Large size beets are best roasted in the oven, as slow heat produces moist, tender, sweet beets.

Beets come in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Red, violet, white, yellow, and even golden color. Whichever color you pick, chose the ones that are unblemished, without any cuts or dents.

Check the stem, if it is firm means the beets are fresh. Also, if the beet greens (if still attached) leaves are fresh and not wilted, means beets are fresh.

CAN I COOK BEETS WITHOUT A TRIVET

Yes, you can cook beets without the trivet or steamer basket. In that case, you would be boiling the beets instead of steaming them.

Add water to the Instant Pot or stovetop pressure cooker, arrange beets in the pot and follow the same recipe as discussed earlier.

DO I HAVE TO PEEL THE SKIN

The skin of the beets is edible once it is cooked. It is a personal preference to leave the skin on or not of the beets. However, I prefer to peel the skin, once the beets are cooked. 

WHAT HERBS GO WELL WITH BEETS

Beets have nice earthy, sweet flavor. They pair well with warm and aromatic herbs and spices. I love the combination of fresh herbs such as coriander, dill, thyme, and basil.  

HOW TO SERVE BEETS

There are endless possibilities to use the beets. I use cooked beets in salads, to make hummus, in smoothies, or dip. You can dice, chop, slice or mash the beets. Use them to make bread dough, in soups, curries, pilaf, and so on. Comment down below and let us know your favorite way to enjoy cooked beets.

Beets are naturally sweet, but you can enhance the sweetness by adding some Balsamic vinegar or drizzling some honey.

My favorite way to enjoy beets is with just a sprinkle of Himalayan pink salt and freshly, crushed, coarse black pepper. When you bite on the freshly ground coarse black pepper with beets, it just adds a burst of flavor!

 

 

HOW TO STORE BEETS

Peel and slice or cut the beets into desired pieces. Store it in airtight container for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Use it as desired.

Here are some more basic recipes:

How to Steam Broccoli – Instant Pot

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

How To Cook Basmati Rice – Instant Pot

Instant Pot Perfect Boiled Baby Potatoes

How to cook Chickpeas – Instant Pot

Here are some soup recipes for you to enjoy!!

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

Minestrone Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup

Moroccan Chickpea Tomato Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

 

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