How to Store Beets

You may have experienced it before. You were blessed with an excellent harvest, a veritable bumper crop, and now you have too many beets on your hand. You’ve given beets out as gifts to friends and family. You can only eat so much. What do you do now?

You have no choice but to store the rest of your beets. But how do you store beets?

“What did the carrot say to the wheat? Lettuce rest. I’m feeling beet.” – Shel Silverstein

“I’m a beet freak. I put them in the pressure cooker.”- Julia Child

Best Ways to Store Beets 

Fortunately, the beet is a hardy vegetable and there are several options when it comes to short-term and long-term storage. You can store them in the refrigerator, freeze them, keep them in a root cellar, or preserve them through canning.

Note: Experts say that pressurized canning is the only safe canning process. (See link below for safe canning instructions.)

How to Store Beets Short Term

The easiest way to store beets short-term is to refrigerate them.

Storing Beets in the Fridge

Your kitchen refrigerator is perfect for storing beets. Refrigerated beets can generally stay fresh for approximately 2-3 weeks. They need to be dry and stored in an airtight bag. Some experts suggest perforating the bag to prevent moisture from building up. 

It is best to store them in a vegetable crisper drawer but if you lack space any shelf will do. Remove the greens to prevent leaking and spoilage but leave approximately 2 inches of the stem attached to the root. (Greens are both edible and healthy and they should be stored as well.)

How to Store Beets Long Term

There are several effective options to store beets for longer periods of time. When considering storage options consider the number of beets and your available storage. Do you intend to eat them soon, or are you looking for a longer-term solution?

Storing Beets in the Freezer

Frozen beets can stay fresh for approximately 8-10 months. Make sure to cook them before freezing to preserve their freshness. 

Step#1: Boil the beets until they are relatively tender. Small beets require approximately 30 minutes. Larger ones need 40 minutes to 1 hour. Large beets are sometimes tougher so you may prefer using smaller or midsized ones.

Step#2: Place boiled beets in cold water. Peel and cut beets into slices or cubes. 

Step#3: Store them in freezer bags. 

Step#4: Label the bags by date before freezing.

Step#5: Thaw beets as needed when you are ready to use them.

Storing Beets in a Root Cellar

With its cold moist environment a root cellar is an excellent way to preserve large quantities of raw beets. Beets may be stored in plastic containers but allow air circulation to prevent rotting. Some people store them in peat, sand, or wood crates.

Well-ventilated basements may provide a similar environment to a root cellar. The US Department of Agriculture reports that red beets can also be stored in pits or trenches in suitable winter climates.

Storing Beets by Canning

Canning beets require a bit more work.  Always follow a safe pressurized canning method. Check out the following instructions from the University of Michigan for a detailed explanation of pressurized canning. Follow all safety procedures carefully!

Beets are nutritious and versatile to cook with that you want to add this excellent food to your daily diet. With proper care and storage, you can preserve their freshness for a long time.