How to Store Golden Beets: Everything You Need to Know

Beets are some of the healthiest root vegetables. Unfortunately, not a lot of people are fond of their taste. The good news is that there are golden beets. They are as nutritionally dense as red beets but sweeter and less earthy in taste. To make the most of these superfoods, it’s a must to know how to store golden beets the right way.

Because they prefer cool and moist places, it’s best to store golden beets in the refrigerator where they will keep for up to three weeks. Fresh golden beets can stay fresh at room temperature for a few days. Golden beets can also be stored in the freezer for a year. However, they need to be cooked first.

While it’s true that golden beets are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, the various nutrients they contain do not stay around forever.

Exposure to heat, light, and air can damage them. It’s due to this reason exactly why golden beets should be stored properly to keep all of their health-giving nutrients around for you to benefit from.

Golden Beets vs. Red Beets

If you are a health-conscious person, there is no denying that you should add beets to your diet. Just like other veggies, beets are loaded with a dizzying assortment of nutrients.

golden beets

However, beets contain certain compounds that most other vegetables don’t have. It’s for this reason why they are dubbed as superfoods.

These compounds are nitrates, betalains, and betaine. According to scientists, they help lower blood pressure, decrease inflammation within, and minimize oxidative stress.

Aside from the compounds mentioned above, beets are also packed with the following:

  • Fiber. Helps promote regular bowel movements, weight loss and a healthy cardiovascular system.
  • Protein. Necessary for muscle building and repair, as well as proper hormone levels.
  • Vitamin C. Important for strengthening the immune system and keeping the skin and gums healthy.
  • Folate. Also known as vitamin B9, it is beneficial for pregnant women and growing kids and teens.
  • Iron. This mineral is vital for red blood cell (RBC) production, thus helping to prevent anemia.
  • Potassium. Helps fend off high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke.
  • Manganese. Not many know that manganese may help regulate blood sugar and strengthen the bones.

Needless to say, if you want to live a long and happy life, it’s a wonderful idea to add beets to your diet on a regular basis.

And this brings us to an important shopping matter: choosing between golden beets and red beets.

Are golden beets healthier than red beets?

Golden beets are essentially the same as red beets when it comes to their nutrient profile. They offer the exact same health benefits as their red beets. Although they are one and the same nutrition-wise, golden beets and red beets are different in their appearance as well as taste.

Based on a survey, beets are some of the most hated vegetables in the US, with 26% of the respondents admitted to being disgusted with these healthy root vegetables.

If you hate beets but love the health perks they bring, consider getting your hands on golden beets. Compared to red beets, they have a sweeter and less earthy taste.

So, in other words, you will not have a hard time adding them to your diet on a regular basis and taking advantage of the many nutrients they pack.

The Best Way to Store Beets Long Term

Just because golden beets taste so much better than red beets doesn’t necessarily mean right away that you should eat them day after day.

It is a good idea to have easy access to golden beets so that you can enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal without having to head to the nearest grocery store or visit a local farmer’s market each time.

It’s perfectly fine to buy plenty of golden beets at once. This is especially true if you plan on having the recommended two to two and a half cups of vegetables daily.

However, you should store golden beets the right way.

The goal is to keep them fresh for as long as possible, thus letting you have the full range of beneficial compounds and nutrients that they contain each time you add them to your diet.

Eating golden beets while they are still fresh is also good for the taste buds.

The good news is that it’s not that difficult to store golden beets properly.

As mentioned earlier, golden beets can be stored on a countertop or in the pantry at room temperature. Unfortunately, doing this can keep golden beets in an excellent state for about a couple of days only.

Worry not because there is a simple way to make golden beets stay fresh anywhere from up to three weeks to a whole year.

All you need to do is keep it where the temperature is low and there’s plenty of moisture, such as in the refrigerator and freezer.

However, it’s a must to follow the right steps when refrigerating or freezing golden beets.

How to Store Fresh Beets in the Fridge

Before storing fresh golden beets in the refrigerator, chop off the greens first. Otherwise, golden beets will go bad faster than usual. Afterward, wash golden beets in running water, dry thoroughly, and place in a ziploc bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible, and place in the crisper drawer.

Not many people know that it is a terrible idea to store golden beets (or any other beet type) with the greens still attached to them. This is why they tend to think that golden beets have a short shelf life.

There is no need to throw away the greens after chopping them off as they are completely edible.

They can be eaten raw, steamed, sautéed and stir-fried. Beet greens taste just like Swiss chards. They make for excellent alternatives to more popular leafy greens such as spinach and bok choy.

Storing beet greens in the fridge or freezer

Beet greens can be stored in the fridge where they will stay crisp and fresh for three to five days. Before refrigerating them, beet greens should be wrapped in a paper towel and sealed inside a ziploc bag. Beet greens can also be stored in the freezer for a year, but they should be blanched first.

When storing many vegetables in the freezer, blanching beforehand is necessary. It deactivates the enzyme that can cause loss of color, texture and flavor while the vegetables are in the freezer.

Luckily, it’s trouble-free to blanch beet greens before freezing them. Here are the steps:

  1. Cut beet greens into small pieces.
  2. Place in a strainer and dip in boiling water for two minutes.
  3. Immediately plunge beet greens in ice water.
  4. Drain off excess water.
  5. Transfer beet greens to a ziploc bag and store in the freezer.


Always remember: Never store golden beets and beet greens with them still attached to one another. Separating them is the secret to extending the shelf life of golden beets and the greens, too.

How store dehydrated golden beets in the fridge

Dehydrated golden beets can be stored in the fridge to make them last more than five years. They can be stored in the freezer, too, where they will keep for an indefinite amount of time. However, it’s of utmost importance for golden beets to be dehydrated properly to make them last for a long time.

When dehydrated the right way, stored in an airtight container and placed in a cool, dry place, golden beets can stay in superb shape for up to five long years even without refrigeration.

In a few, we will talk about dehydrating golden beets the right way — so keep on reading.

How to Store Beets for Juicing

Golden beets for juicing are best stored in the refrigerator. This is to protect them from the elements, thereby making sure that their nutrients remain intact. Unused golden beet juice can be stored in the fridge, too. However, it’s best to consume it within two days to enjoy the full health perks.

The moments that golden beets are juiced, the antioxidants and nutrients in them begin to deteriorate. It’s because of this why you should consume beet juice immediately.

Although unused beet juice can be stored in the fridge for a few days, most of the nutrients will be gone in two days.

Best juicer for juicing golden beets

The best juicer for juicing golden beets and other vegetables is a masticating juicer. That’s because it helps prevent unnecessary destruction of the nutrients in golden beets, unlike a centrifugal juicer. At the same time, a masticating juicer helps extend the shelf life of golden beet juice.

Masticating juicer and centrifugal juicer — these are your two options when shopping for a juicer. Each one of them comes with its own set of pros and cons. It’s important to weigh all of them before making a choice.

For instance, a centrifugal juicer is easier on the pocket and can juice quickly, too.

However, it generates heat, which can damage some of the nutrients and shorten the lifespan of the juice.

On the other hand, a masticating juicer is more expensive and can take some time to juice. However, it doesn’t generate heat.

Consider your budget and preferences when choosing between a masticating juicer and centrifugal juicer.

If you need a recommendation, then this is my personal favorite:

Omega NC800HDS Juicer

How to Store Golden Beets in the Freezer

Storing golden beets in the freezer is not as quick and easy as storing golden beets in the refrigerator. It’s because they will have to be cooked and allowed to cool to room temperature beforehand. However, all the effort will be worth it as golden beets can keep in the freezer for an entire year.

The problem with fresh or raw golden beets is that they tend to end up grainy when stored in the freezer. So, in other words, freezing can wreak havoc on the texture of golden beets.

Cooking golden beets beforehand can keep that from happening. Here are the steps:

  1. Wash golden beets thoroughly. If necessary, use a vegetable brush to get rid of stubborn dirt.
  2. Chop off the greens and store them according to the tips above. Trim the roots, too.
  3. Neatly arrange golden beets in a shallow baking dish.
  4. Pour about 1/4 cup of water in it, cover with foil and bake at 400°F for about an hour.
  5. Using a fork, check if golden beets are done cooking — the fork should go through easily.
  6. Allow cooked golden beets to cool to room temperature.
  7. Peel and cut into slices or chunks, depending on how you would like to use them later.
  8. Transfer to a ziploc bag, squeeze out as much of the air as possible and seal.

That’s it — you can now store golden beets in the freezer where they will keep for up to one year!

What’s the best way to thaw frozen golden beets?

To thaw frozen golden beets, transfer them from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight. They may also be immersed in a bowl with room temperature tap water, which has to be replaced every 15 minutes or so. There is no need to heat or cook once thawed to keep golden beets from turning soggy.

After thawing, consume golden beets and never freeze them again. This is why you should thaw only the amount of golden beets that you will need.

How to Dehydrate Golden Beets

Golden beets can be dehydrated by slicing them thinly and placing them in the food dehydrator for up to 12 hours at 130°F to 140°F. It’s important to make sure that much of the moisture content of golden beets are removed to make them last for five long years, provided that they are stored properly.

Dehydrating golden beets is a great way to considerably extend their shelf life, thus ensuring that there will be healthy treats that you can get your hands on no matter the time of the day or the day of the year.

For best results, slice golden beets thinly and evenly. While golden beets may be dehydrated using an oven, it is more convenient to dehydrate them using a food dehydrator.

These days, food dehydrators come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Some are good for people who would like to dehydrate food occasionally, while others are superb for those who would like to dehydrate lots of food for business purposes.

When choosing which food dehydrator to get, consider your available shopping budget and dehydrating needs.

It is also a must that you store dehydrated golden beets in an airtight container. It doesn’t matter if it’s out of plastic or glass.

For as long as it has an airtight seal, the container can protect dehydrated golden beets from coming into contact with air, thus keeping them from going bad faster than usual.

Besides the air, you should also protect dehydrated golden beets from light and heat. This is why the airtight container in which they are stored should be placed in a cool and dry place, such as the pantry.

Dehydrated golden beets, as mentioned earlier, can also be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

Related Post:
Best Dehydrators For Fruits And Vegetables

How to rehydrate dehydrated golden beets

To dehydrate dehydrated golden beets, they need to be soaked in water for a while. The water should be hot and twice the amount of dehydrated beets to be rehydrated. Dehydrated golden beets should be allowed to soak in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are plump and soft all over again.

There is no need to rehydrate dehydrated golden beets if:

  • You are going to use them as ingredients for cooking soups and stews. All you have to do is put them into the pot as soon as the liquid starts boiling.
  • You are going to enjoy them as healthy chips — simply season them. However, it’s a good idea to season golden beets while they are being dehydrated to infuse them with flavor.

Takeaway

Golden beets are just as dense in nutrients as red beets. It’s a shame if all of them would get destroyed by exposure to the number one enemies of the majority of vegetables: heat, light and air.

If you want to enjoy nothing but the tastiest and healthiest golden beets each time, it’s of utmost importance that you store these root vegetables slash superfoods the right way.

Although golden beets can be stored on a countertop or in the pantry, it’s a much better idea to keep them where it’s cold and there’s plenty of moisture, too.

Because of this, golden beets are best stored in the refrigerator where they will stay in tip-top shape for 10 days.

You can also store golden beets in the freezer if you want to keep them around for up to 12 long months. However, you will have to cook them beforehand.

Otherwise, they will turn grainy when it’s time to eat them, and this can keep you from loving them better than their red counterparts with a bitter and earthy taste.

Follow the above-mentioned steps on how to store golden beets, and you’re, well, golden!

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