Like other fresh veggies, fresh beets don’t last very long, but you can freeze them for extending shelf life by tossing them in a little olive oil and lime juice. You can even chop beet greens and use them in salads.
You will need to perform some prep work to get the most out of your frozen beets, but the beautiful thing is that when you are ready to eat them, remove them from the freezer, defrost, and serve.
However, you might be wondering, “How to freeze roast beets?”. In this article, we will answer this question and a few more.
Can You Freeze Roasted Beets?
Yes, freezing beets is possible. You can freeze both raw beets and cooked beets. However, bear in mind that the longer they are frozen, the more their earthy flavor and texture degrade.
It is advisable to cook beets within eight months to maintain their freshness. So any delay after this date will have detrimental effects on both taste and condition of your beets.
In any case, all forms of beets are pretty adaptable and tasty. However, Chioggia beets are advised for the most satisfactory results while roasting or making beet juice.
And while storing roasted beets in the freezer, keep them continually frozen at 0°F to minimize bacteria development and maintain their optimum flavor.
How to Prepare Beets Before Freezing
Ideally, it would be best to roast whole beets before slicing them. Chop up the root ends, leaving approximately an inch on each side. Doing this keeps the red beets from losing their bright color.
It works great for preparing a massive portion of beets and getting them ready when we want to use them for a tasty beet salad to accompany your meal.
Remove from the heat as soon as you can stick a fork through them. Depending on the size, cooking beets can take 30-60 minutes. Take them out on a baking sheet and let them dry for some time after the beets cool down or are cool enough to handle.
Pro-Tip
I like to make sliced beets (make sure you slice beets about an inch big) and then roast them in a saucepan after spraying some oil on the pan to prevent them from sticking.
Oven-cooked beets taste good and are a healthy alternative to fried beets.
How to Freeze Beets After Roasting
Drizzle with some olive oil or balsamic vinegar and roast for 15-30 minutes at 350°F, or until they are slightly done (Perform the fork check to measure the level of doneness)
Allow cooling before placing the baking dish in the freezer. Once frozen, place beets in a freezer bag to avoid freezer burn. This way, you can quickly take out the frozen pieces as needed for other recipes.
Pro-Tip
Finish cooking in the oven for around twenty minutes, dusted with spice, or in a covered dish for 5 minutes.
Voila! You are now ready to preserve your roasted beets perfectly! Place in a freezer bag to avoid freezer burn.