It’s earthy, bright purple and a complete marvel of nature. The problem is you buy a bunch of beetroot but only end up using one or two. Which leaves you wondering, “Can I freeze beetroot?”
Can You Freeze Beetroot?
Yes, you can freeze beetroot for up to 12 months. You can freeze it both raw (but blanched) and fully cooked, depending on how you plan to use it in future. (**Full Instructions Below – Blanched, Thawing, Etc**)
Does Beetroot Freeze Well? Yes
Can You Refreeze Beetroot? No
How to Freeze Beetroot
Instructions for Freezing Beetroot
6
servings10
minutes5
minutes15
minutesThis is My Preferred Method for Freezing Beetroot
Keeps the screen of your device ON
Ingredients
6 Beetroot
Directions
- Prepare Beetroot
Firstly, peel and cut your whole beetroots into slices, cubes or wedges. The technique for freezing is the same regardless of the shape and size you cut your beetroot into. Consider what size you would normally eat your beetroot and go with that. - Blanch
Once you have prepped your beetroot, place it into boiling water for around 3-5 minutes until the edges have softened. Drain and immediately place into ice-cold water to stop cooking and cool the beetroot down. - Drain and Dry
Drain the beetroot again then allow the beetroot to air dry. You can aid this by patting the excess water with paper towels. - Initial Freeze
Lay the beetroot onto a baking tray, ensuring no pieces are touching. Cover the beetroot with foil or cling film and then place it into the freezer for a few hours or overnight until they have started to freeze and are hard. - Bag Up
Place the frozen beetroot pieces into a resealable bag and seal the bag up, squeezing as much air out as possible as you seal it up. - Freeze Beetroot
Label the bag with the contents and then place the bag of frozen beetroot back into the freezer for the long term – up to 12 months!
Why Blanching Is a Good Idea
I know you might be wondering whether you can freeze beetroot without blanching it but it’s not something I would advise. Although it’s safe, you’ll find blanched beetroot freezes so much better.
How to Freeze Cooked Beetroot
Freezing cooked beets is perfectly possible, and the method is fairly similar to the one outlined above. Lay the beetroot out on a tray, flash freeze and then store it in an airtight bag or container until you’re ready to use it.
This will work for beetroot that has been cooked in a variety of ways. You can freeze roasted beetroot, boiled beets or steamed beetroot using this method.
However, you will find the texture and flavour degrades far quicker when freezing cooked beetroot. That’s why I recommend freezing it blanched to lock in the flavour but avoid rapid degradation.
If you have the choice to freeze either raw or cooked beets, then always opt for raw. If, however, you’ve already cooked it or the beetroot is in a dish, then don’t fret as you can still safely freeze it.
I recommend only freezing it for up to 3 months, though.
How Long Can You Freeze Beetroot?
Thankfully, beetroot can be frozen for a long time. As long as they are stored appropriately, they can be stored for up to a year and still taste as fresh as the day they were picked.
Labelling your container before placing it in the freezer is always important so you can keep track of when they need to be used.
How Do You Defrost Beetroot?
Even though you should have blanched the beets, you need to remember that the beetroot is still not cooked – and this is the best way to freeze them.
The good news is that you can cook it directly from the freezer. If you’re using the beetroot in a salad or cold dish, then you’ll want to boil it until tend then allow it to completely cool before dressing and throwing it into a salad.
If you want to roast the beetroot, boil from frozen for 5 to 10 minutes, then place them in a roasting tray with some oil, seasoning and herbs and roast in the oven for around 25 to 30 minutes.
Roast Beetroot With Other Root Veggies
What I love doing is creating frozen root veg packs. I blanch carrots, parsnips, beetroot, celeriac and swede before freezing it all on a few baking sheets. Once solid, I evenly split the mix between freezer bags.
Can You Refreeze Beetroot?
Refreezing beetroot is not something I recommend.
Every time you freeze something, more moisture is drawn out to enable it to freeze. When you defrost it, that liquid is lost, and you lose some texture and flavour along with the liquid.
Instead, try only to defrost what you need when you need it.
Does Beetroot Freeze Well?
Beetroot certainly does freeze well. In most cases, you’ll actually struggle to tell the difference between fresh and frozen beetroot.
There are benefits to working with fresh and frozen beetroot, and whether they are best fresh or frozen can depend entirely on what they are used for.
A root vegetable such as beetroot changes structure depending on whether it is boiled, steamed, blended or pickled. Freezing it will also alter its texture which can make it a little less pleasant in a salad.
FAQs
Uncooked beetroot can be kept in a dark, cool cupboard for a week or so. Once cooked, it should be kept in the fridge where it will keep for around 3 days.
Yes, you can freeze roasted beetroot. Once cooled, lay it out on a baking tray then freeze. Once solid, it can be tipped into a freezer bag. You can also combine it with other root vegetables in one bag such as carrots, parsnips and swede.
Yes, you can! The best way to freeze beetroot juice would be in an ice cube tray. Then, when you want to add the juiceĀ to your smoothie, toss in one of your frozen cubes. If you prefer to drink a whole glass, then try and find containers that will individually hold around 250ml of liquid. Just pour the juice in and seal.
Grated beetroot (along with most other grated root vegetables) can be frozen. Grate it directly onto a lined baking tray, spread it out into a single layer and then freeze. Once solid, you can tip the grated beet into a freezer bag.
Sources
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I had already cooked the beetroot. And didn’t have enough jars .so decided I’d frezzer it .so what do I do When I take it out from frozen
We’d advise thawing it slowly in the fridge overnight to try and retain the texture as much as possible.
Please could you tell me if I can freeze a whole, unpeeled beetroot? Many thanks.