Can You Freeze Beetroot? Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Beetroot, with its brilliant color and earthy flavor, is a versatile root vegetable that enhances salads, drinks, and other dishes.

But can you freeze beetroot?

The answer is yes!

Freezing food extends its shelf life and lets you enjoy seasonal products year-round. So I’ll talk you through freezing beets in this article.

If you’re a home cook, gardener, or someone trying to make the most of a plentiful beet harvest, this tutorial will teach you the best way to freeze beets. Without sacrificing taste or health benefits!

What you need

Here’s what you need to freeze beetroot:

1. Fresh beets: Choose sturdy beets without soft areas. Choose high-quality, freeze-able beets.
2. Freezer-safe containers or bags: Make sure they can freeze without breaking.
3. Knife and cutting board: You’ll need them to trim the beet greens, peel the beets if preferred, and then slice or dice them for freezing.
4. Water and saucepan (optional for blanching): You will need a pot with water to quickly boil the beets before freezing.
5. Ice bath (optional for blanching): Fill a big dish or basin with cold water and ice cubes to fast-chill blanched beets and cease cooking.
6. Labels and marker: Use a marker or pen to label containers and bags with the freezing date. This helps you track storage duration and consume frozen beets within a prescribed timeframe.

These are the essentials for freezing beets, but a vegetable brush for cleaning, gloves for handling, and airtight plastic wrap or aluminum foil for long-term storage can aslo be helpful.

How to prep your beets for freezing

Here’s a step guide on how to get your beets ready for the freezer:

1. Selecting beets: Pick beets that are not bruised or squishy in any way; instead, go for those that are crisp and fresh. Beets that are still young and sensitive are ideal for freezing.
2. Washing: First, remove any dirt or debris from the beets by washing them in cold water. Scrub off any remaining grime with a vegetable brush.
3. Trimming: The beet greens should be cut off, but the stems should be left intact for cooking purposes (approximately one inch). If you’d like, you can save aside the greens for later.
4. Boiling: Add trimmed beets to a large pot of water to boil. Check if they’re done by puncturing them with a fork. Depending on size, they cook for 30-50 minutes.
5. Cooling: After cooking, rinse and chill the beets. You can quickly cool them by running them under cold water or putting them in an ice water bath for about 5 minutes.
6. Peeling: After cooling, beet skins should peel easily. A paring knife or your fingers can remove it. If the peels are fragile, I usually just rub them off with my fingers.
7. Cutting: Peel and chop the beets. Cut them into slices, or cubes, or leave them whole, depending on your need. My top choice is to cut them into cubes for easy use in salads.
8. Packaging: To package the beets for storage in the freezer, use freezer-safe containers or bags. Leave some room for expansion. When closing the containers or bags, make sure all the air is pressed out.
9. Labeling: Date the containers or bags with the freezing time so you can find them later. You can use this to keep track of when they were last refreshed.

The freshness and flavor of your beets will be maintained until you’re ready to use them if you follow these simple steps.

The last batch I tested made such a mess, so make sure you wear gloves and don’t get beet juice all over your hands or clothes!

How to freeze beetroot

To utilize frozen beetroot, take out the amount you’ll need, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, and then use it in your cooking as usual.

Can you freeze beetroot raw?

Yes, you can freeze raw beetroot. Just remember that raw beet has a high water content, which might influence texture and flavor when frozen.

To freeze raw beetroot:

1. Choose fresh, firm, blemish-free beetroot. Young, delicate beets freeze best.
2. Wash the beetroot under cold running water to eliminate dirt. You can peel or leave the beetroot skin.
3. Trim the beet greens, leaving approximately 1 inch of stem. If desired, preserve the greens.
4. Cut the beets into desired shapes. You can cut them into rounds, cubes, or julienne strips depending on how you’ll use them.
5. Blanching raw beetroot before freezing can retain color and texture. If you want to blanch, boil a saucepan of water and gently drop the beetroot slices or cubes in. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then chill in an ice bath. Drain and pat dry before freezing.
6. Place raw beetroot slices or cubes in freezer-safe containers or bags. Allow for expansion while freezing. Before sealing, squeeze the air out of bags or containers.
7. Write the freezing date on the containers or bags.
8. Freeze raw beetroot in its packaging. Store them flat to prevent sticking, then reposition them after freezing.

Basically, all these steps are very similar to those used when freezing cooked beetroot. The only exception is blanching instead of cooking.

Remember that frozen raw beetroot can be softer than cooked beets. So it’s best to use it in soups, stews, and roasted foods.

Thaw frozen raw beetroot overnight in the refrigerator before using it in your recipe.

Can you freeze beets with the skins on?

Yes, beets can be frozen with their skins intact. If you want to peel the beets after they are cooked or when you use them, then freezing them with the skins on is a good alternative.

The beets’ skins provide insulation and protection but their texture becomes harder after freezing.

Thawed frozen beets can be readily peeled if you’d want to remove the skins before using them. This process is much easier than peeling raw beets.

How to freeze cooked beetroot?

Can cooked beets be frozen? Yes!

Cooked beetroot can be frozen for later use if it’s allowed to cool completely after cooking. Remove the peels and cut the beets into cubes or slices once they have cooled down.

Freeze the cooked and sliced beets in containers or bags that allow for expansion. Put the containers or bags in the freezer with a date label. 

How to blanch beets for freezing?

Before blanching beets for freezing, you should wash them and clip off all but an inch of the stems. Cook the beets in boiling water for three to five minutes, depending on their size.

The next step is to put the beets in an ice bath to halt the cooking process immediately. Beets can be peeled once they have cooled and then cut into cubes or slices.

They need to be properly drained before being packed into freezer-safe containers or bags with some extra room for expansion.

Can you freeze roasted beetroot?

Yes, you can freeze roasted beets. After roasting, let it cool fully before putting it in the freezer.

The beets can be frozen in any convenient form after they have cooled, including whole, diced, or sliced. They should be stored in freezer-safe containers or bags with enough room at the top.

You can use the roasted beets in any dish that calls for fresh beets after thawing them in the fridge overnight. But remember that they may take on a somewhat different texture.

Can you freeze beet juice?

Yes, you can freeze beet juice.

First, you’ll need to use a juicer or blender to separate the juice from fresh beets so it can be frozen. Remove the pulp and particles by straining the juice.

Be sure to leave some room for expansion when pouring the beetroot juice into containers or ice cube trays before placing them in the freezer. Wrap the ice cube trays in plastic or ensure that the containers are airtight.

Beetroot juice can be preserved in the freezer for up to a year. So don’t forget about the labels!

I love using frozen juice cubes as is in healthy beet smoothies. You can use them in other dishes, or thaw the amount you need in the fridge.

Can you freeze grated beetroot?

Yes, beets that have been grated can be frozen.

First, you need to wash and peel the beets before you can grate them and freeze them. Use a box grater or the grating attachment on a food processor to shred the beets.

Just like other types of beets, store grated beetroot in freezer-safe containers or bags, making sure to leave some room at the top. When closing the containers or bags, make sure all the air is pressed out.

Beetroot that has been grated and frozen can be used in salads, soups, and stir-fries even without thawing.

I like using frozen grated beets in salads because they bring a nice crunch to the dish. I also love them in soup (especially borscht).

Can you freeze beetroot soup?

Yes, you can freeze beet soup.

The first step in freezing beetroot soup is to let it cool completely. Transfer the soup to freezer-safe containers or bags once it has cooled, being sure to leave some room at the top for the soup to expand.

When closing the containers or bags, seal them tightly. Put the food in freezer-safe containers or bags and date them.

After you give it an overnight defrost in the fridge, warm the frozen beet soup very slowly over a burner or in the microwave. Before serving, give it a good stir to make sure everything is well distributed.

If you’re craving a healthy weight-loss friendly meal, then this delicious low calorie beetroot soup should be a great option! Try it out!

Can you freeze beet greens?

Beet greens can be frozen, yes.

First, you should clean the beet greens by rinsing them in cold running water to get rid of any dirt or debris. Take off any wilted or ruined leaves.

The beet greens should be blanched in boiling water for 2-3 minutes before being cooled rapidly in an ice bath.

After being blanched and drained, your leafy greens should be put into freezer-safe containers or bags with as little air as possible left in them. Freeze them after labeling them with the date.

When you decide to use them, take out the amount you need and thaw them in the fridge overnight.

From my experience, frozen beet greens work better in cooked dishes than raw ones. For example, I love making sauteed beet greens with garlic. It’s a delicious side dish that you can make after thawing them.

Can you freeze beetroot hummus?

Beetroot hummus can be frozen but doing so is not advised.

When thawed, hummus may have a gritty or watery quality due to the freezing process. It’s also possible that freezing will dull or otherwise affect the flavor.

It’s preferable to eat up any leftover beetroot hummus within a few days or to preserve it in the fridge for a short time.

My advice is to make smaller quantities or adjust the recipe so that there are no leftovers. It’ll help keep the hummus’ taste and texture intact.

How long can you freeze beetroot?

Beetroot freezes for 8-12 months. Properly frozen beetroot can keep its freshness and taste for that long in a freezer set at 0°F (-18°C).

Frozen beetroot will last the longest if packaged, labeled, and stored at a constant freezer temperature.

How long do cooked beets last in the fridge?

Cooked beets survive 5-7 days in the fridge when refrigerated correctly.

Before storing cooked beets in an airtight container or plastic wrap, let them cool completely. The sooner you eat cooked beets, the better they taste and feel.

To guarantee food safety, eliminate foods with off-odors, mold, or severe texture or color changes.

How do you defrost beetroot?

Follow these steps to defrost beetroot:

1. Transfer frozen beets to the refrigerator. Put a plate or container below to capture any liquid as it thaws.
2. Slowly defrost the beets in the fridge. Defrosting beetroot might take a few hours to overnight, depending on its size and thickness.
3. After thawing, inspect the beetroot. Even after thawing, larger beets or chunks can have frozen centers. Defrost them longer if needed.
4. Use the beetroot in your recipe like beet salads, soups, stews, and other beet recipes.

After freezing, beetroot becomes softer and less crisp, therefore it’s best utilized in cooked meals.

Can you refreeze beetroot?

Refreezing beetroot is not advised. Repeated freezing and thawing can damage beetroot taste, texture, and nutritional value.

Beetroot thawing increases microbial development and food safety risks. Thus, just defrost what you will need and avoid refreezing any leftover beets.

Does beetroot freeze well?

Beetroot, in either its raw, cooked, or juiced form, freezes well. However, beetroot’s texture can be somewhat altered by this process.

After defrosting, raw beetroot can become a little softer, and cooked beetroot can have a different texture than freshly cooked beets. But beetroot’s taste and nutritional value survive freezing somewhat intact.

If you want your frozen beetroot to taste its best, be sure you package it well, label it clearly, and keep the freezer at a constant temperature.

Does freezing beets destroy nutrients?

Beets retain much of their nutritional value even after being frozen.

Although some vitamin and mineral content can be lost, frozen beets nevertheless have a high nutritional density. Their nutritional value can be further preserved with proper blanching before freezing.

Freezing beets is an excellent way to keep their nutritious worth for a long time, despite the possibility of some vitamin loss.

However, keep in mind that beet quality might degrade after being frozen for an extended period of time.

Do frozen beets taste good?

Frozen beets taste delicious when cooked correctly. They retain most of their taste when frozen.

Be sure to defrost them correctly and cook them properly to enjoy their best flavor.

However, taste preferences vary, and some people may discern tiny changes between fresh and frozen beets.

How to store beetroot without fridge?

To keep beetroot fresh without a fridge, store it in a cool, dark spot. Here are some tips:

• Choose firm, fresh, blemish-free beets. Avoid squishy, decaying beets.
• Cut off the beet greens, leaving approximately 1 inch of stem. Use the greens separately.
• Clean the beets: Rinse them under cold water to eliminate dirt.
• Pat the beets dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Moisture causes deterioration.
• Beets should be kept cold, dry, and dark. A basement, cellar, pantry, or cool storage room works. Keep the temperature cool—45°F to 55°F (7°C to 13°C).
• Use well-ventilated containers. Store beetroot in a wooden crate, mesh bag, or cardboard box. Airflow prevents moisture accumulation.
• Check beets for rotting regularly. To avoid spreading deterioration, remove damaged beets.

Even though beetroot has a reduced shelf life without refrigeration, these tips help extend its freshness up to two weeks (or even longer!).

Do uncooked beets need to be refrigerated?

Uncooked beets should be refrigerated to prevent spoiling. Refrigeration preserves perishable beets because they lose texture, taste, and nutritional value faster at room temperature.

How do you store raw beetroot in the fridge?

Here are some tips to store raw beetroot in the fridge:

• Cut off the beet greens, leaving approximately 1 inch of stem. Use the greens separately.
• Clean the beets with cool water and dry them with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
• Use a perforated plastic freezer bag or lidded container. This enables ventilation without drying the beets.
• Keep beets in the vegetable drawer or a cold portion of your refrigerator at 32°F to 40°F (0°C to 4°C).
• Beets need a frequent inspection for rot. Check and discard rotten beets to keep the rest fresh.

Following these measures, you can keep raw beets in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, depending on their freshness when purchased. They stay fresh longer in a cold, wet atmosphere.