We all know how beneficial Beets are for our health, and if I ask different people about what a beet tastes like, I am sure I’ll get a few distinct answers. But wait, is there any final answer about the taste of beets? 

Beets have an earthy flavor with a hint of sweetness. As there are variations in types of beet, the flavor may also have a range. For instance, golden beetroot has much sweeter notes than regular ones. You may also find some floral notes while eating beets. 

Many people claim that it tastes like dirt, and I guess that is because of the presence of geosmin – responsible for the earthy flavor in beets. 

As beets are grown throughout the world, you can easily get them at nearby stores. One can enjoy beets as it is or cook them by boiling or stir-frying. Add them to your salads or take the juice out of them; you will enjoy every form of it. 

Today, we will dive deep into all of Beet’s tastes and flavors and learn more about this versatile root vegetable. Stick with me as I will also list the health benefits of eating beets. 

What Is Beet?

Beet, a part of the Amaranthaceae family (it was first placed in the Chenopodiaceae family, now a sub-family of the Amaranthaceae family), is a vegetable that grows underground. Also known as beetroot, it is red in color and can be eaten raw or cooked. 

Very few people know about this that beet is native to temperate regions of Europe, and now every part of the world is familiar with these little red things. 

People not only use this as a food but also as a food colorant. It even has many health benefits, and let me mention to you the effect of eating or maybe applying it on the skin can make anyone look radiant (sharing this with my girl pals). 

Beets have round bulbs with green leafy tops. The round bulbs are grown inside the earth. The red color of beets makes them look more tempting. If you eat them raw, you will get a good crunch. 

What Does The Beet Taste Like?

Beets have an earthy flavor, which is why many people say it tastes like dirt. I find beet very rich in flavors with a hint of sweetness, which is likable.

 Those who have not tried beets may not want to have beets because of their red color and appearance. But trust me, there are so many ways to consume them, and I am sure some of the ways would also make you love beets as much as I do. 

Returning to the beets’ flavors, raw beets may taste a little bitter and strong, but once you boil or roast the beets, you can easily enjoy the sweet and delicate flavors. You may also find some floral notes in the beets.

There are some distinctions in the flavor depending on the variety of beets. If you are looking for more sweetness in the beets, go for golden beets, as they are a lot sweeter than the regular ones.

Detroit Dark Red beets have a strong taste that can be a treat for beet lovers. If you want a little less flavor, Chioggia beetroot is the right match! 

How To Make Beets Taste Good?

1. Get fresh beets: Whenever you are consuming beets directly or with any other dish, make sure to use the fresh ones. There is no fun in eating spoiled beets as they won’t taste good and even make you feel sick. Check the beets and only consume them if they are fresh and fit to eat. 
2. Clean the beets well: Before peeling, make sure to wash the beets properly. Don’t worry, as the earthy flavor won’t wash down. Washing beet ensures that there is no dirt contamination or other unwanted substances. 
3. Peel of the skin: Now, this is the most unlikable task, but once you are past it, you can enjoy the lovely beets. Simply peel the skin of the beets. A great tip is wearing gloves before peeling to avoid a red mess. 
4. Using a chopping board will be a great idea. If you plan to boil the beets, you can peel the skin after they are boiled. It would be easy that way.  
5. Don’t discard the green leafy part of the beets: If you have the tops attached to the beets, don’t toss them off. Instead, use them to add stir fries with other veggies and eggs. The green tops of beets are healthy, tasty, and crunchy. You can add them along with beets if making salads. I am sure you will love the different flavors. 
6. Balance the flavors: Now, there are chances that you may not enjoy the earthy flavor of beets. Many compare the flavor of beets with dirt. You can use salt and pepper to season your beets; they taste great. Adding vinegar to the beets will reduce the earthy flavor if you are not much of a fan of it.
7. Add them to different dishes: You may not want to eat raw beets, so I have got you great hacks. Use beets to add to different dishes. You can add the pureed beets and mix them with heavy cream to enjoy the sweet flavors of the beets. Or else mix with dry herbs like dill and rosemary and enjoy the exotic flavors. Make beetroot juice or add beets in vegetable juice to enjoy the refreshing flavors. You can also roast the beets and enjoy them with soups or pasta. Consider beets as a regular vegetable and put them everywhere. You can add veggies, and you won’t be disappointed. 

How To Eat Beets? 

Beets are very versatile vegetables, as you can consume them in so many different ways. Some countries have dishes made with beets. So do not hesitate to try them. For now, let’s see the possible forms of consuming beets. 

1. Raw: Beets can be enjoyed in raw form, and trust me, you may not like them for the first time, but with time, you will love them. You can peel and chop the raw beets and add them to the salads. Simply sprinkle some salt and pepper and enjoy as it is. 
2. Boiled: Boiled beets have a great sweet note which is very loveable by beet lovers. If you are trying the beets for the first time, go for the boiled version, as getting familiar with the beet flavors would be easier. 
3. Roast: Get some smoky flavors by roasting the sweet and earthy beets. You can roast them and add to them soups, burgers, pasta, or other dishes. 

​​Some Of The Best Beet Recipes To Try!

As we all know, beets are multi-purpose vegetables, and even in cooking, you can cook and consume them in numerous ways. Let us see some of the best beet recipes you can easily try at home. 

1. Beet Salad

One of the best uses of beets is in salads. Now you can make a lot of different types of beet salads; my favorite one is beet, lentil, and spinach salad with some pomegranate dressing.

 For this, you will first need to cook the beets. Use any steamer and steam the beets well. While the beets are being cooked in a separate container, cook the lentils as usual. 

Take some pomegranate juice in a pan and reduce it with the help of shallots on medium flame. This will give a thick consistency to the pomegranate juice that will be used for dressing purposes. 

Now Prepare some glazed walnuts with maple syrup. Add some salt and bake the walnuts until toasted well. Add all the ingredients in the bowl – spinach, lentils, walnuts, beets, and some pomegranate seeds. 

Now drizzle the pomegranate juice for dressing. Toss the ingredients properly and mix well. Enjoy the delicious beet salad!

2. Beet Soup

Making beet soup is easy and super healthy. While there are various ways of preparing beet soup, I will share one basic and elegant beet soup recipe. I am going to share a simple borscht recipe. 

You will need some vegetables like onions, celery, garlic, cloves, cabbage, and beets, along with the stems and greens (chopped). Firstly, take an instant pot. Add some oil or butter and saute the onions. 

Let the onion cook for 5 mins, and add the rest of the vegetables – garlic, celery, carrots, beets, cabbage, beet stems, and greens. Let the vegetables mix well with onions and oil for a while. 

Now add some vegetable broth and tomato paste to the pot. After this, all you have to do is spice it up. Add salt, pepper, allspice, celery seeds, and cayenne powder.

 Mix everything well and cook in the instant pot as usual. Once it’s cooked, add apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Serve it in a bowl with some sour cream on top. I am sure you will love this simple yet healthy soup, and trust me, the taste is as appealing as the appearance. 

3. Grilled Beets With Pesto

Grilled beets taste the best, as all the flavors come out really well with some smokiness. So, I will share the grilled beets with pesto recipe so that you can enjoy it at family dinner. Firstly we need to bake the beets. 

For that, wash the beets properly and make sure there is no dirt. Wrap the beets in foil and bake them in the oven or a pan. Bake the beets for about an hour or so. When the beets cool down, peel them and slice them into thin sheets. 

Brush some oil, salt, and balsamic. Preheat the grill and gently place the beets in a single layer. Grill the beets for 5 minutes, and you are ready to eat. On a plate, place the grilled beets and sprinkle homemade or store-bought pesto. Add some boiled potatoes on the side, and enjoy. 

4. Beet Braised Lentils

Braised lentils with beets are my comfort food, which is warm and soothing. Let’s see how to make some beet-braised lentils. In a pan, add oil, onion, carrot, beets, and celery, and saute for 5 minutes. 

Cook the veggies until softened. Add some garlic and herbs for two minutes. Add the lentils, vegetable stock, and salt. Boil the ingredients. 

Meanwhile, take out the beet juice. When the ingredients are boiled enough, add the beet juice. Let everything simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, and you are ready to enjoy the amazing beet dish. 

5. Spaghetti and Beetballs

I have got you a vegan version of spaghetti and meatballs for all my vegan friends. This dish is healthy and tastes similar (much better) to regular spaghetti and meatballs. 

For this recipe, you must make the beetballs first. For this, take some walnuts and place them on a baking tray. Bake the walnuts until toasty and transfer them to a grinder. In the grinder, add some basil and grind the walnuts and basil together. 

Keep it aside. In a pan, take some oil, add onion and garlic, and cook it for 5 – 10 minutes. Take the cooked onion and garlic in a grinder and pulse until fine. Add beets, carrots, oregano, sea salt, pepper, Worcestershire, nutritional yeast, and psyllium. Grind everything together. 

Add black beans to the same grinder and pulse for 3-4 minutes. After this, add the walnuts and pesto mixture. Your beetballs are ready to be scooped out.

Transfer the beetballs to the baking tray and bake them in the preheated oven. Meanwhile, cook your spaghetti as usual and place the meatballs in the spaghetti. Sprinkle the dish with cheese and enjoy the delicious spaghetti with meatballs.  

Health Benefits Of Beets

Without any doubt, beets have many great qualities that are good news for your health. They are filled with nutrients and great health benefits. Let’s see some of the major health benefits of beets. 

• Beets are rich in vitamins and minerals, especially in ​​Vitamin C, folate, manganese, potassium, and fiber.
• Beets help to lower blood pressure as there are nitrates present in them. 
• Beets can also help you boost energy because of nitric oxide, which increases blood flow.  
• Beets are low in calories, which means you can add them to your diet without worrying too much about calorie intake. 
• Beets also help to aid inflammation and maintain a healthy weight as they are fiber-rich. 
•  Beet tops and roots are considered to be medicinal. 
• The presence of nitrates is also beneficial for brain health. 
• Beets have betaine, ferulic acid, rutin, kaempferol, and caffeic acid, known for their anti-cancer properties. 

Can Beets Go Bad?

Yes, like every other vegetable, beets also go bad because of some or other reasons. The first reason is temperature. Beets should not be placed in warm and moist conditions.

This will make the beets spoil easily. Cooked beets also get spoiled as the shelf life reduces to half. That is why you must store them really well. 

How To Store Beets? 

Beets are root vegetables that need to be stored in a proper dry place, or else they can easily get spoiled. Check out the below hacks and tips on how to store the beets. 

• Cut the green tops of the beets, leaving some inches at the bottom so that you can easily place them in suitable conditions. 
• Store beets that are unwashed in a sealed container or zipper.
• You can store beets in the refrigerator where other vegetables are living. 
• You can freeze the beets by placing them into an airtight container or zipper. Let all the air come out from the container or zipper. Freeze the beets and keep them fresh for 10 – 12 months. 
• Store the beets in a cold and damp place without any moisture. In case you wash before storing, make sure all the excess water is absorbed. Use a paper towel to do the same. 
• Growing beets in your garden increase the shelf life by storing them in a root cellar with peat moss, sawdust, or sand.
• Make some pickles from beets and enjoy them throughout the year. 
• Beets are versatile vegetables; you can easily store them at room temperature. Simply place them in a cool and dry place. You can keep them in a plastic bag. Just squeeze the excess air, and you are good to go. 

How To Tell If Beets Have Gone Bad?

As we have already discussed, beets can easily go bad if not properly stored. Now there are ways to tell if the beets have gone bad. 

1. Check for any molds

If you find any formation of molds in the beets, then throw them. Many people simply cut the infected part and use the rest, but I would advise you not to do the same. 

2. Smell

We know that fresh beets have an earthy aroma, and if you find any unusual smell, there is a high chance that the beets have gone bad. You may smell rotten beets or something unpleasant, a clear sign to throw them off in the dustbin. 

3. Texture

If you are unable to identify the spoiled beets by smelling and there are no molds, go for the texture testing. Beets are firm, whereas spoiled beets go soft and wrinkly.

Fresh beets have a texture like a ball, and if they feel similar to tomatoes, discard them without any doubt.

4. Taste

Tasting should be the last stage to check if your beets have gone bad or not. You can simply peel and take out a small portion of the beet for tasting purposes. While tasting, if you find some unusual taste, then the regular.

Fresh beets have a strong taste with a sweet note and are very juicy. On the contrary, the spoiled beets will taste bitter and dry, and this is a clear sign that the beets are probably spoiled. 

What If I Consume Bad Beets? 

There are chances that even after checking, you don’t find any clear sign of spoiled beets, or maybe by any chance, you skip the checking part and cook the spoiled beets. You may not like the taste and probably will feel sick after consuming them.

You may also have stomach issues like diarrhea or pain after consuming spoiled beets. It is always advised to avoid eating beets that have been lying for a long time. 

Conclusion 

Beets are great and really beneficial to your diet. I would advise you to try beets, and you will fall in love with this bloody vegetable. You can eat beets as you like. They are easily available in nearby stores and easy to store and consume. 

Make sure to try different dishes with beets and enjoy the flavors. Beets are good for your tastebuds and stomach as well. Don’t miss out on this great vegetable because you don’t find it appealing. I hope you find all the information helpful.

 I will be back with much more fun conversations. Until then, make some beet juice and enjoy. 

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