Beets stacked

Beets

Beets are a versatile root vegetable that come in a rainbow of colors, from deep red to bright gold. Not only are they delicious roasted or pickled, but the leafy greens are also a nutritious addition to salads or sautés.

To store beets:

If your beets still have greens attached, cut them off, leaving an inch of stem. Store the beet roots, with the rootlets (or “tails”) attached, unwashed, in a plastic bag in the crisper bin of your refrigerator. They will keep for several weeks.

Bunches of beets

To prep beets:

Just before cooking, scrub beets well and remove any scraggly leaves and rootlets. If your recipe calls for raw beets, peel them with a knife or a veggie peeler, then grate or cut them according to the recipe. To remove the skins, you can roast them in foil or boil them, and the peels will slip right off.

To freeze beets:

Boil or bake beets until done. Cool them in ice water or let them come to room temperature. Remove peels. Trim the beets into 1/4 inch slices or keep them whole (if they are small). Place in Ziploc freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. Seal and freeze.

Beets chopped on cutting board.
Heads of garlic

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