How to roast beets in the oven

This root vegetable is rich in beneficial micronutrients, and to preserve them during cooking, it’s essential to know how to roast beets in the oven. Often, to save time, beets are simply boiled in water, but this cooking method causes them to lose a significant portion of their health benefits, and the flavor suffers as well, as a large amount of their sweet juice escapes into the boiling water.

For roasting in the oven, you can use foil or a cooking sleeve, but it’s crucial to select beets that are roughly the same size, as this affects the cooking time needed to achieve tenderness. In the oven, they will best retain their juiciness and sweet flavor. However, if you want to avoid excess juice in a salad, roast the beets uncovered. This way, any extra moisture can evaporate, resulting in a drier texture.

Cooking time: 1 hour.

Serves: 2 servings.

Calories: 38 kcal per 100 grams of the dish.

Ingredients

• medium-sized beets – 2 pieces.

You will also need foil.

Preparation

1. Start by thoroughly washing the beets, using a brush to clean all the nooks and crannies. Be sure not to cut off the tail, as this will cause the juice to escape. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

2. Wrap each beet individually in foil.

3. Tightly seal each beet in its foil cocoon.

4. Place them on a rack; this allows the beets to be better circulated by hot air than if placed directly on a baking sheet, even without convection. This will reduce the roasting time.

5. Check for doneness by inserting a long skewer; it should easily pierce through the beet. For medium-sized beets, one hour will suffice, but if they are smaller, reduce the time accordingly.

6. Remove the beets from the foil packaging and allow them to cool.

7. Peel away the thin skin of the beet.

8. When you slice it in half, you’ll see that the flesh is perfectly cooked and retains its juiciness right in the center.

Knowing how to roast beets in the oven allows you to prepare them ahead of time for a variety of salads that are abundant in the winter season. Roasted beets can be stored in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days.