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Boiled beet cut in half showing the bright red color inside.

How to Boil Whole Beets

Nataliia
Boiling whole beets is a straightforward process that takes between 15-50 minutes depending on their size and the desired tenderness.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, European
Servings 4
Calories 44 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large pot
  • 1 plastic or glass cutting board
  • 1 pair of food prep gloves optional

Ingredients
  

  • 4 small or medium beets
  • 1 liter water or more as needed
  • 2 teaspoon salt optional

Instructions
 

  • Trim off the green stems if present. Wash and scrub the beets well to remove nay dirt.
  • Place beets in a large pot and fill it with water enough to cover the beets. Add 2 teaspoons of salt (optional).
  • Boil the beets for about 30-50 minutes depending on the desired tenderness and on the size of the roots. *see notes below.
  • Remove from water and let the beets cool down. Now, you can peel them using hands, knife or paper towels. Consider wearing food prep gloves to avoiding staining your hands.
  • Slice and serve them warm, cold or use to make other recipes.

Notes

Boiling times:
Small beets (1-2 inches in diameter) - Tender: boil for 20-30 minute, Slightly crunchy: boil for 15-20 minutes
Medium beets (2-3 inches in diameter)- Tender: boil for 30-40 minutes, Slightly crunchy: boil for 25-30 minutes
Large beets (3-5 inches in diameter) - Tender: boil for 40-50 minutes, Slightly crunchy: boil for 35-40 minutes
See the list of recipes you can use cooked beets above the recipe card.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 100gCalories: 44kcalCarbohydrates: 9.96gProtein: 1.68gFiber: 2gSugar: 7.96gIron: 0.79mg
Keyword boiled beets, how to cook beets
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