Do you love eating beets? No matter whether you’re eating them fresh, canned, pickled, or cooked, it’s important to know how long beets last in the fridge! This way you avoid wasting food and money as well as ensure their optimal freshness.
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Beets are a nutritious root vegetable that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. My all-time favorite way is making roasted beets!
Beets contain a high amount of sugar and cooking them slowly in the oven is a great way to make them taste amazing. Their flavor sweetens and some of their earthiness softens.
When it comes to storing beets, there are a few simple rules to follow depending on the type of beets and how they’re prepared. We will look at the different types of beets as well as how to store them and also identify when they’ve gone bad.
Finally, I will share with you some of my favorite ways to cook beets.
Jump to:
- 💜 Why Eat Beets?
- Types of Beets
- How to Store Beets
- ❓FAQs
- 5 Easy Beet Recipes
- More How To Articles and Posts
💜 Why Eat Beets?
- Beets are healthy! From their betalains which provide anti-inflammatory benefits to their nitrates which may help lower blood pressure, beets provide lots of health benefits.
- An inexpensive vegetable that you can eat both cooked and raw.
- Great flavor to use in salads and side dishes.
Types of Beets
Before we dig into all the details about how to store beets to keep them fresh, let’s look at a few of the different varieties.
- Red Beets: These are the most common type of beet and are known for their dark red-purple color. They are easy to find in the grocery store and have a sweet, earthy flavor, and can be eaten raw, roasted, boiled, or pickled.
- Golden Beets: These yellow-orange beets have a milder flavor and are less likely to bleed when cooked, making them a popular choice for salads.
- Candy Stripe Beets: Also called Chioggia beets, these beets have a distinctive red and white striped pattern when sliced. They have a sweet, mild flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. Your best bet to find these is to check your local farmer’s market during their peak season, June through October.
- White Beets: White beets are similar in taste to red and golden beets, but are slightly less sweet and have a slightly bitter taste.
- Baby Beets: Baby beets are small and tender. They are often sold with their greens still attached. These small beets have a sweet, mild flavor and can be cooked or eaten raw in salads.
All of these varieties of beets can be prepared by roasting, canning, pickling, and even enjoyed raw in salads.
How to Store Beets
The best method and length of time for storing beets changes depending on their preparation. Here’s more about the shelf life of beets and the different storage methods broken down.
Fresh Beets
The key to fresh beets is making sure that you choose good quality, fresh beets at the store or market when you’re buying them.
Inspect your beets at the store and avoid buying beets with any visible spots or signs of spoilage.
If you purchase fresh beets with their greens still attached, it’s best to remove the greens from the beetroot before storing them. The greens draw moisture out of the beetroot and can cause them to spoil much more quickly.
Trim the greens, leaving about an inch of the stem attached. Store the greens in a storage container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Enjoy the beet greens sauteed or raw in a salad.
Store the whole beets unwashed in a plastic bag in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Canned Beets
Canned beets have a longer shelf life than fresh beets and can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to two years.
Once the can of beets is opened, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use them up within three to five days.
Cooked Beets
After cooking, store beets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
If you want to store them for longer, you can freeze them for up to three months. For best results, store them after they’re completely cooled in an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer bags.
Pickled Beets
Homemade pickled beets can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
TOP TIP: For long-term storage, it’s best to cook and freeze fresh beets or use canned beets which will last for a while in the pantry.
❓FAQs
Can Beets Go Bad?
Yes, definitely! They can go bad both before and after cooking. Old beets may develop soft, moist spots or the skin may appear limp or flabby.
It is completely natural for beets to soften as they age and as long as there are no visible spots you can still enjoy them.
After cooking, they may become soft and mushy in the fridge. Sometimes they develop mold or a slimy film on their surface.
They may also develop an unpleasant smell. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to discard the beet.
Can You Freeze Beets?
Yes, it’s a great long-term storage option for cooked beets which can be frozen for up to three months. I do not recommend freezing raw beets. Cooking raw beets before freezing preserves their texture and flavor.
The easiest (and quickest way) is by blanching them.
- Peel the skin.
- Slice them into small pieces.
- Boil some water and cook the beets for 2-3 minutes.
- Immediately place them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
- Once the beets are cool you can package them up and store them in the freezer.
Can you eat beets raw?
Yes, most definitely! Raw beets have a crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor and can be added to salads, sandwiches, or smoothies.
If you’re going to eat beets raw, be sure to wash them thoroughly and peel them before consuming them to remove any dirt or bacteria on the surface.
5 Easy Beet Recipes
The easiest way to avoid your beets going bad is to cook them up and enjoy them for meals.
Whether I use beets to make roasted beet salad or enjoy pickled sliced beets, it’s one of my favorite root vegetables to cook.
If you want to try raw beets, this shredded beet salad pairs them with apples in a simple salad. Learn how to cook perfectly roasted beets and even throw them into a beet and berry smoothie!
For more information about cooking beets, explore my complete guide to cooking beets!
More How To Articles and Posts
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- Is Tofu Vegan? A Guide to All You Need to Know
- How to Get Started Eating Vegetarian
In conclusion, beets are a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be prepared in a variety of different ways.
When properly stored, you ensure their freshness and avoid waste. Fresh beets without the greens attached will last up to two weeks in the fridge and cooked beets are good for up to five days.
Remember to remove the greens from the root, store the beets in a plastic bag, and check for signs of spoilage before consuming.
Following proper storage techniques helps to avoid food waste. The fridge is a great place to store beets for a short period of time but when you need to store for longer periods of time the freezer is a better option.
The good news is you can enjoy your beets fresh, cooked, canned, or pickled – the possibilities are endless!
