Beets are delicious and can be stored in a variety of ways for the winter months.
Beets are easily stored in different ways for the winter months. A late fall harvest before any freeze is the best time to pick beets for storage. Beets should be 1-2 inches in diameter to have them be the most tender and least fibrous. Always choose beets that look fresh with no bruising or bad spots.
Instructions
Fresh Storage
1. Pick beets and do not wash them prior to storage. Cut the beet greens off about 1/2 inch from the beet.
2. Layer the beets on top of damp sand, sawdust or peat moss in a plastic container.
3. Seal the plastic container so you maintain 95-percent humidity where the beets are stored.
4. Place the plastic container in a cellar, basement or garage that is insulated but is not heated. They should be kept at about 35 degrees Fahrenheit and should stay good for 2-3 months.
Canned Storage
5. Cut the stems about 1 inch from the beet and wash well, but do not peel.
6. Boil until tender. The skins will slip off easily.
7. Slip off the skins and remove the beet tops and roots.
8. Pack hot beets tightly into sanitized quart jars with 1 inch of space between the beets and the top of the jar. If the beets are larger than 2 inches, cube or slice them for a tighter fit in the jar.
9. Fill the quart jars with fresh hot water and 1 teaspoon of salt, leaving 1 inch of space between the water and the top of the jar.
10. Hand tighten the jar lids and place in a pressurized canner.
11. Pressurize based on machine recommendations for your altitude. Number of jars based on the guide in the Resources section. Canned beets stay good for about a year.
Frozen Storage
12. Wash beets, but keep the roots and skins intact. Cut off the greens about 2 inches from the beet top to prevent bleeding.
13. Place in boiling water until tender; time varies depending on the size of the beets.
14. Allow the beets to cool on a cutting board. Once cooled, carefully peel off the skins.
15. Place the beets in freezer bags and squeeze out as much air as possible.
16. Place in the freezer. Beets should keep up to eight months without losing much flavor. Do not freeze raw beets.
