How to cook large beets. How to cook beets and what to cook from them

Before cooking beets, you need to prepare them for this process.

Immediately before cooking, the beets should be washed well under cold running water and the roots should be cut off. Do not peel the beets, thanks to which the beets will retain their color and valuable microelements.

How to cook beets?

Place the beets in a saucepan and pour cold water. It is advisable to take a larger pan, since it will take a long time to cook and the water will boil away. You need to pour enough water so that it covers the entire beet, and there is still about 7-10 cm of water above it.

In general, beets are cooked for about 2 hours, depending on the size: small root vegetables - 1 hour, medium ones - 1.5 hours, large ones - 2 hours. But it is better to use small beets. We begin to count the time from the moment the water boils. Cook over low heat. We don't salt the water. Cook under the lid - this reduces processing time and reduces loss of vitamins. To make sure that the beets are already cooked, you need to stick a fork or knife into them. If it comes in softly, it means the beets are ready.

How to peel beets?

After cooking, drain the water from the beets, cool and peel them, and in order for them to peel easily and quickly, the beets should be left in cold water for a while. After 10 minutes you can drain the water and clean it boiled beets. After such a procedure with cold water, the beet skin simply “flies off” right in your hands, sometimes you don’t even need a knife.

Application of boiled beets:

Boiled beets are served warm or cold. In salads or as an independent dish.

Bon appetit!

Beets for cooking should be of medium size (no more than 10 cm in diameter), with thin dark red skin, without damage or rot. The Bordeaux variety is considered one of the best.

Regardless of the cooking method, the beets need to be thoroughly washed, the tops cut off (if any) and the tail shortened slightly.

Beets are not cleaned before cooking.

If you remove the peel, the juice will flow out of the beets. The vegetable will become pale and tasteless.

Method 1. Classic

Cooking time: 2 hours.

Place the beets in a saucepan and cover with cold water. The water should completely cover the vegetables. There is no need to salt the water. The sodium will firm up the beets and slow down the already slow cooking process.

Place the pan with beets on medium heat. When the water boils, reduce the heat, cover the pan with a lid and leave for a couple of hours.

To keep the beets bright red, you can add lemon juice to the water: ½ teaspoon per liter.

You can check readiness with a fork. If the beets are easily pierced, you can drain the water and cool.

Beets are not cleaned before cooking, and the water is not salted.

Method 2. Express cooking

Cooking time: 45–60 minutes.

To speed up the process, some housewives put the beets into already boiling water and do not reduce the heat to low. And to make the water temperature even higher, add 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

When the beets have boiled for about 30–35 minutes, they are removed from the heat and placed under running cold water for another 15–25 minutes. The temperature difference brings the vegetable to readiness and cools it at the same time.

Method 1. In the “Steam” mode

Cooking time: about 40 minutes depending on the multicooker model.

Wash the beets and place them on a special steaming rack. Pour a glass of water into the bottom of the bowl. Close the device, set the steamer mode, and you can go about your business for 40 minutes.

Be sure to pour water into the bottom of the bowl

Please note: for this method to work, the beets must not be dry. If the root crop has wilted, it is better to first soak it in cold water for several hours. When the beets absorb moisture again, they can be boiled. But it’s better on the stove or in the following way.

Method 2. In the “Stewing” or “Cooking” mode

Cooking time: 60–80 minutes depending on the multicooker model.

Everything is as in classical way, just don't need to adjust the fire. Simply place the washed beets in the multicooker bowl, add water and turn on the “Stew” or “Cooking” mode (sometimes called “Soup”) for 60 minutes.

After an hour, check the readiness of the beets with a fork. If it’s still too harsh, turn on the same mode for another 20–30 minutes.

Method 3. In the “Baking” mode

Cooking time: 60 minutes depending on the multicooker model.

This method is good for young vegetables when they are tender and juicy. The beets need to be washed, dried with a paper towel and wrapped in greased vegetable oil foil (each root vegetable separately).

Then place it in the multicooker bowl and cook in the “Baking” mode for about an hour.

Cooking time: 20–25 minutes.

In the same way as in the previous method, wrap each root vegetable in foil and bake at 190 °C.

It is convenient to cook beets in the oven when you need a lot of them. For example, immediately for vinaigrette and herring under a fur coat.

Don't forget to grease the inside of the foil with vegetable oil.

By the way, there is a small life hack for preparing salads with beets. If you want to avoid coloring other ingredients, cut it and sprinkle it with vegetable oil, and only then combine it with other products.

In my family they cook beets in. This is the easiest and fastest way.

Cooking time: from 8 to 20 minutes.

The time depends on two factors: the size of the beets and the power of the microwave. In microwaves with a power of 1,000 watts or more, beets will cook in 8–10 minutes. If you have a less powerful model, double the time.

The beets need to be washed (not peeled!) and placed in glassware. Try to place large root vegetables at the edges and the smallest ones in the center. Pour 3 tablespoons of water into the bottom of the container, and cover the top with a glass or special microwave lid.

To reduce cooking time in a low-power microwave, place the beets in a plastic baking bag and tie it tightly. In this case, the lid is no longer needed.

This method not only saves time, but also leaves dishes clean.

There is no need to pierce or cut the beets: they will not explode. It is not necessary to interrupt the process and turn it from side to side. Also, do not pour cold water over vegetables after cooking. It's better to let it cool at room temperature.

Microwave beets taste exactly the same as when cooked. regular cooking in a saucepan.

Ready beets can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

A festive table is rarely complete without such a wonderful vegetable as beets. However, many housewives experience fear and trepidation before this ruddy root vegetable, since its preparation usually takes a very long time. long time. But is this a reason to refuse your favorite vinaigrette or herring under a fur coat? No way! We present to you several ways to easily and simply solve the question of how to quickly cook beets.

About the benefits of beets

In addition to the fact that beets have a bright unique taste, it is also surprisingly useful. The cute vegetable is rich in many vitamins and minerals, such as: disaccharides, retinol, ascorbic and pantothenic acids, potassium, magnesium, pyridoxine, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, folacin, phosphorus, iron, niacin, etc.

The red root vegetable is used to prevent tumor formations; it is used to treat hypertension, rickets, arrhythmia and a number of other diseases, and improve immunity. In general, the information presented is quite enough to place beets on the podium, isn’t it?

Beets in a slow cooker

All housewives know that beets on the stove need an eye and an eye: whether the water has boiled, the vegetable has been cooked or is not yet ready... In addition, many do not like the specific aroma of beets that floats throughout the kitchen. However, all this can be easily avoided thanks to an excellent device, which most housewives probably have in their kitchen arsenal. So, let's find out how to quickly cook beets in a slow cooker.

Wash the vegetables thoroughly, trim off the roots and remaining tops.
Place the beets in the multicooker bowl and add water so that it covers it by about a centimeter. You can cook root vegetables either whole or cut into pieces.
Close the lid and activate the “Cooking” mode for approximately an hour.
Place the finished beets in cold water– this way it will be easier to clean.

Beets in a pan

Many people are probably thinking now: does anyone really know the secret of how to quickly cook beets in a saucepan? After all, this usually takes a lot of time! But no, even in a saucepan, a “long-lasting” vegetable can be cooked very quickly.

Rinse the vegetables thoroughly, thoroughly scrubbing dirty areas with a brush. There is no need to remove the tails and eyes, otherwise juice will flow out through the cuts, and we don’t need that.
Place the beets in a saucepan, cover with cold water and place over high heat. When the water boils, turn down the burner slightly and cook the root vegetables for another 30 minutes.
Drain the boiling water and place the pan with vegetables under cold water for 10-15 minutes. Then turn off the water, wait 5 minutes and check the readiness of the beets with a toothpick. If it smoothly enters it, the vegetable is ready. If you come across an obstinate root vegetable, you will need to cook it for another 10 minutes and put it under cold water again. Such a contrast shower will soften even the most recalcitrant beets.

Beets in the microwave

Let's say you don't have a multicooker, but you don't want to bother with saucepans. But you will definitely have something in your house - a microwave oven! And don’t raise your eyebrows in surprise: yes, yes, we will tell you a terrible secret of how to quickly cook beets in the microwave. Such beets will turn out sweeter than boiled ones, and will more closely resemble baked ones.

Wash the beets and, armed with a sharp object, give it multiple injections (you can add the expression “Rag!” each time).
Place the vegetable in a special container for microwave ovens.
Roast the beets in the microwave at 800 watts for 10 minutes.

Beetroot in a pressure cooker

Another super appliance in the kitchen is definitely the pressure cooker. So if you are tormented by the question of how to quickly cook beets for vinaigrette, feel free to take this recipe into service.

Cut the washed root vegetable in half and place in a pressure cooker.
Pour in cold water until the beets are completely covered.
Set the “Beans” mode for half an hour.
The beets will warm up within 11 minutes, the actual cooking will take 30 minutes, and the pressure will be released 16 minutes.

Important preparation nuances

Choose a medium-sized vegetable that is dark red in color and has a thin skin.
Do not trim the tails, otherwise the beets will turn out watery and whitish. Remove the peel only if you are going to stew the root vegetable.
If you want your beet dish to be truly delicious, add salt directly during cooking.
To preserve color, add half a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice or a teaspoon of sugar.
To neutralize the smell, throw a crust of bread into the pan.
Use a fork, knife or toothpick to determine if the vegetable is done.
Ready vegetable remove from the water and leave to cool.
If you don’t want the rest of the vegetables in the vinaigrette to take on the color of beets, cut the bright root vegetable into cubes and immediately drizzle with vegetable oil.
Do not cook beets together with other vegetables to avoid coloring them.
Do not rush to throw away dried beets. You just need to scald it with boiling water, add cool water and leave to swell. Then, without changing the water, send the vegetable to the fire.

Well, now that you know how to quickly cook beets, no excuses will work. Use the juicy root vegetable to prepare your favorite dishes to the delight of yourself and your loved ones!

Beets are delicious and healthy root vegetable containing large number valuable and nutrients: these are B vitamins, antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, silicon, zinc. ABOUT does not contain large amounts of iron and iodine, more these substances only in garlic and seaweed. Beets improve the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, endocrine system, increases resistance to many diseases. Her taste qualities at its best: housewives use the root vegetable to prepare salads and other dishes. We will now tell you how to quickly cook beets.

How to cook large beets in a saucepan

Some housewives do not like beets because they are large: they will take a long time to cook - it will take 1.5-2 hours. But there are several ways to speed up the process. We are ready to reveal the secret of how to quickly cook beets and give some recommendations on how to reduce cooking time in the usual way, on the stove.

We cook beets in the traditional way.

Before cooking you need to choose suitable vegetables: If you need to cook them quickly, choose small to medium-sized root vegetables. Its skin should be thin and its shape should be oblong.

Rinse the beets well and cut into pieces; there is no need to remove the tail before cooking. Choose a pan so that the vegetable is completely submerged in water.
After taking a full pan of water, place it on the stove.
As soon as the water boils, lower the product into the water and reduce the heat.
Cook the vegetable for about an hour. If the water boils away, add some boiling water to the pan. To prevent the beets from losing their ruby color during prolonged cooking, add lemon juice to the boiling water at the rate of 1 tbsp. spoon per liter of liquid.
To check the degree of readiness of a vegetable, pierce it with any sharp object. If the fruit is soft, then cooking is complete.
Drain the boiling water. Do not cool the vegetable by immersion in water - let it cool in air. This way, the maximum of nutrients will be preserved.

Rinse the vegetable without removing the tail.
Heat the water to boiling temperature. Select a cooking container so that the root vegetable is completely immersed in it.
After boiling, immerse the vegetable and cook over low heat for half an hour.
Then the water needs to be drained and the product cooled by dipping it in cold water or putting it in the refrigerator.
In 15 minutes the beets will be completely ready.

How to properly cook beets in the microwave

This method cooks the vegetable the fastest. You don't need a pan, a stove, or water. There is no need to watch it boil, reduce the heat. Beets cooked in microwave oven, looks no different from a vegetable cooked on the stove.

Thoroughly wash the beets from dirt.
Use a knife or fork to make deep cuts in it.
Place the beets in a special container for cooking in the microwave. If this device is missing, any plastic banana bag will do. After installation, the bag must be tied tightly.
Install on kitchen appliance power 800-900 W, and timer for 10 minutes.
This method cooks the product in just 10 minutes. If the device is not too powerful, you just need to increase the cooking time.

How to quickly cook beets and carrots for vinaigrette

Accelerated cooking using the traditional method

Place the water on the stove and bring it to boiling temperature.
Rinse food thoroughly.
Once boiling, place the root vegetables in the pan.
After 25-30 minutes, take out the carrots, and after another 5-10 minutes, the beets.
Immediately after removing the vinaigrette ingredients, cool them under cold running water or by placing them in the freezer.
In a quarter of an hour, the carrots and beets will be ready.

Quick cooking in the microwave

Wash the root vegetables well.
Make small cuts and place in plastic bags. You cannot chop or cut ingredients before cooking in order to speed up the cooking process.
Set the microwave power control to 800 W and the cooking time control to 10 minutes.
If the food is still damp, turn on the microwave for a few more minutes. The readiness of the products is checked using the “poke method”: you need to pierce them with a fork or knife. If they are already soft, then they are cooked.

Features of cooking beets in a slow cooker

Many housewives have already acquired such a device as a multicooker. Using a multicooker allows you to reduce cooking time, improve the taste of dishes, and make the process easy cooking and convenient. Beets are traditionally used to prepare dishes such as vinaigrette, borscht. In addition to these dishes, beets are included in some Mediterranean salads.

How to cook quickly delicious beets using the "Steam" mode

When using a multicooker, the beet cooking time will be only half an hour. The steamed product will delight you with its taste - it will retain all the juices, vitamins and microelements. We strongly recommend using the “Steam” mode for preparing vegetables for vinaigrette and other salads.

Pour water into the device, place the fruit directly into the bowl, do not use a wire rack.
Set the timer for half an hour, turn on the device.

Using the “Bake/Bake” mode

Wash the root vegetable. You cannot cut off the tail or damage the integrity of its skin.
Set the timer for an hour, turn on the device.
Root vegetables cooked in this mode are used as an ingredient in Mediterranean salads.

We use the “Cooking”, “Soup” mode

Wash the root vegetable. You cannot cut off the tail or damage the integrity of its skin.
Pour water into the device and place the fruit.
Root vegetables cooked in this mode are used as an ingredient for borscht.

We use the “Quenching” mode

Wash the root vegetable. You cannot cut off the tail or damage the integrity of its skin.
Pour water into the device and place the fruit.
Set the timer for 45 minutes, turn on the device.
Root vegetables cooked in this mode differ excellent taste, and are used as an independent dish.

We told you about in different ways cooking beets. If you use our tips, it will definitely turn out delicious. The choice of the root crop itself is also of great importance: stores and private traders sometimes offer fodder beets for sale. Carefully choose the root crop and then the result of your work will definitely please you! Take photos and videos of the entire cooking process and post it on the Internet - let other housewives learn how to cook!

It would seem that there is nothing easier than boiling beets, but many, when faced with this vegetable for the first time, experience certain difficulties. It is for them that this simple instruction was written on how to properly cook beets so that they remain tasty, healthy and do not lose their color.

The right choice

Tasty and high-quality beets have a thin skin of a uniformly dark color without greenish inclusions or visible damage. If, after peeling the skin, you see dark red or burgundy flesh, then the vegetable is sweet enough and can be used to prepare any salad. Pale-looking beets that are too large are most likely fodder beets, and their taste will be inexpressive and the benefits will be minimal.

How to cook beets - basic rules

1. Wash the beets thoroughly under running water, using a stiff brush if they are heavily soiled. Under no circumstances should you remove the skin or trim the tails from vegetables.

2. Place vegetables in enamel pan, fill it to the top with water and bring to a boil over high heat.

3. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into boiling water, cover the pan with a lid and cook the beets over medium heat until soft, that is, depending on the size of the vegetable, from 1.5 to 2 hours. Check readiness with a fork or toothpick - if the flesh of the vegetable can be pierced without difficulty, then it is ready. By the way, lemon juice can be replaced with a small amount of vinegar; thanks to the acid of these components, the beets will not lose their rich color with long cooking.

You can boil beets much faster (from 40 to 60 minutes), but then they need to be placed in boiling water rather than cold.

4. Pour the finished beets for 15 minutes ice water– this will make it much easier to clean.

An alternative to boiling is baking.

Not everyone knows that in order for beets to retain maximum of their properties after heat treatment useful qualities, it is better not to boil it, but to bake it. This can be done both in the microwave and in the oven. When using the oven, the washed and dried vegetable should be wrapped in 2 layers of foil and placed in a heat-resistant dish, the bottom of which is pre-coated coarse salt(layer as thick as a finger). Bake at 200 degrees for about 1 hour. When baking beets in the microwave, you just need to wrap them in a heat-resistant plastic bag and in 25 minutes at maximum oven power they will be ready.

Shelf life

Prepared beets must be stored tightly closed container and no longer than 2 days, then it simply loses its beneficial and taste properties.
Of course, the most popular dish from beets - but sometimes there is absolutely no time to prepare it. In this case, it is enough to grate the beets on a coarse grater.

Then sprinkle with vegetable oil, generously sprinkle with coarse salt and ground black pepper and eat with pleasure as a cold snack. Easier and tastier dishes can't be found.

Well, now you not only know how to properly cook beets for salads and other dishes, but also how to store them in finished form