How to Cook Beets in the Microwave

Microwaving to cook something? It sounds weird, but believe it or not, you CAN cook some veggies, like beets in the microwave!

Microwaving beets is a great way to cook them when you are pressed on time and want to enjoy the vegetable’s sweet flavor. It also ensures that the beets come out tender, ready to be seasoned, and used as you like.

So, how to cook beets in the microwave? To cook beets in the microwave, microwave them on high for 3-15 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces and amount in the bowl. You can cook beets whole, cut into pieces, or sliced, but larger pieces take longer to cook.

Read on to find out more about how to cook beets in the microwave, how to prepare them, along with some tips on how to eat and store them.

Can You Cook Beets in the Microwave?

Yes, you can cook beets in a variety of ways, and microwaving is certainly one of them.

Beets have a sweet, earthy flavor and are packed with nutrients including folate, manganese, potassium, and fiber. They have the ability to lower blood pressure, fight inflammation, support brain health, and aid in digestion.

They may also help you lose weight as they are a low-calorie root vegetable full of protein and fiber.

The downside to beets is that cooking them can take a long time and can be messy. Luckily, microwaving is a simple method that takes only a few minutes and, if you are prepared, you can keep the mess to a minimum.

Not only is microwaving beets much easier and quicker, but it also preserves more nutrients compared to other cooking methods, such as boiling.

Microwaving Beets

Dark red beets are the most common, but you can also find orange, yellow, white, and red-striped varieties as well.

To cook the best microwave beets, select beets that are firm and heavy and have blemish-free, smooth skin.

Since red beets bleed out a lot of color, there is a high chance of them staining your hands, clothes, kitchen towels, and cutting boards.

Here are a few useful tips to follow before you prepare your beets for the microwave:

• Wear latex gloves.
• Change into something you don’t mind getting stained or wear an apron.
• Clean your knife and cutting board immediately after preparing the beets to prevent the color from setting in.

Methods to Cook Beets in the Microwave

The first step to cooking beets in the microwave is to make sure you use healthy beets that are the same in size to encourage even cooking.

Smaller beets are more tender than the big ones, so try to get your hands on those. You can also slice or dice the beets into smaller pieces that will cook faster and more evenly.

Fresh beets are nice and firm and have dark green leafy tops. If the leaves are yellow in color, it means that the beets are past their prime.

Use a microwave-safe dish or wide bowl that is large enough for your beets. A medium-sized dish with a lid should work best.

Avoid using very small containers, and make sure not to overload the container or the beets may cook unevenly. You also don’t want too deep a layer of beets, because then it may not cook evenly.

There are several different ways to cook beets in the microwave. You can cook them whole, or slice or dice them before cooking. You can cook them with or without water as well.

Let’s look at each method in detail:

Method 1: Cooking Whole Beets in the Microwave

Here’s how to cook whole beets in the microwave:

1. Trim stems and leaves off beets, leaving at least 1 inch of the stem intact to prevent the moisture, color, and nutrients from leaking out.
2. Wash the beets thoroughly under cold running water to get rid of any dirt or debris.
3. Use a fork to pierce the skin of the beets in several places to prevent steam build-up inside.
4. Place the beets in a single layer in a microwave-safe dish.
5. Add around 2-4 tablespoons of water to the dish.
6. Cover the dish with a lid and microwave the beets on high for about 10-15 minutes depending on the size.
7. The beets will be ready when they can be easily pierced with a fork.
8. Allow the beets to cool for a few minutes before you attempt to peel them.
9. Start by slicing the roots and stems and then peel the skin off. It should come off easily. You can rub the skin off with a paper towel or rubber gloves to avoid making a mess.
10. Your perfectly microwaved beets are ready to enjoy!

Note: Consider saving the leaves you cut off during prepping as they are full of nutrients and can be cooked separately by sautéing, roasting, or steaming.

You may peel the beets before cooking, although it is not necessary as the skin slips right off when the beets are cooked.

If the beets are too big, you may cut them in half to minimize the cooking time.

Method 2: Cooking Sliced/Diced Beets in the Microwave

It’s much better to slice or dice beets before microwaving since they cook much faster.

Here’s how to microwave sliced/diced beets:

1. Wash the beets thoroughly to get rid of any dirt and impurities, let them dry, and peel them.
2. Dice the beets into 1/2-inch-thick cubes, or slices of your preferred width, using a sharp knife.
3. Place the diced/sliced beets in a single layer in a microwave-safe dish.
4. Add about 2 tablespoons of water to the dish.*
5. Cover the dish loosely with a lid.
6. Cook the beets on high for about 2 minutes.
7. Stir and flip them over. Cook for an additional minute or until soft.
8. Poke the beets with a fork to test for tenderness. If they are easily pierced, they are ready.
9. Your perfectly microwaved beets are ready to enjoy!

*If cooking canned, sliced beets, you can also use some of the juice in the can to cook them in.

Method 3: Cooking Beets in the Microwave Using Parchment Paper

You can also use parchment paper instead of a bowl or plate when microwaving beets. Here’s how to do it:

1. Prepare the beets by trimming their stems and leaves. Make sure to leave around 1 inch of the stem intact to prevent loss of moisture, color, and nutrients.
2. Wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt and impurities.
3. Place the beets on a sheet of parchment paper. Make sure the paper is microwave-safe as some types may spark in the microwave.
4. Pierce the beets several times using a sharp knife to allow the steam to escape while they cook.
5. Wrap the beets in parchment paper to prevent them from drying out while cooking. Make sure the beets are sealed inside the parchment paper.
6. Place them on a microwave-safe dish or paper towel to catch any drippings during the cooking process.
7. Microwave on high for 5-12 minutes, depending on the size of the beets. 5-6 minutes should suffice for medium-sized beets.
8. When the beets are cooked, they should look a little squishy and the skin should peel off easily.
9. Let them cool for a few minutes before unwrapping and peeling as they could be very hot.
10. Once they have cooled down a bit, peel them with a knife or rub the skin off with a paper towel, and enjoy!

How to Serve Microwaved Beets

If done right, microwaved beets come out tender and super delicious, and can be used in a variety of ways. They also retain most of the nutrients compared to most other cooking methods, so that is a plus point!

Although they are sweet enough to be used in desserts, beets are generally used in savory dishes where their flavor shines through when mixed with other ingredients such as vinegar or goat cheese.

You can use microwaved beets in salads or blend them into nutritious smoothies. You can even dice them up for a grain bowl, mash them to make a beetroot dip or spread, or add them to ravioli.

How to Store Microwaved Beets

If you do not plan on eating the beets right away, refrigerate them within 2 hours of cooking them. Transfer them to an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Store them properly in the refrigerator where they should last for about 3-5 days.

To further extend the shelf-life of your cooked beets, you can freeze them in airtight containers, heavy-duty freezer-safe bags, or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil.

If kept constantly at 0°F, they will keep safe for many months, though their quality may start to decline after a few months.

Related Questions

Now that you know all about cooking beets in the microwave and all the different ways you can do so, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have:

What Is the Best Way to Cook Beets?

The best way to cook beets allows you to retain the maximum nutrition and flavor of the beets.

Steaming is a great and healthy way to cook beets, and it is also quicker than most other methods. You can steam beets in the microwave by covering them with water or the juice they were canned with.

Can You Eat Raw Beets?

Yes, if properly washed and peeled, you can eat raw beets in slaws, salads, relishes, and juices.

They can also be spiralized and turned into beet noodles, which taste wonderful with a creamy dressing or light vinaigrette.

Are Beets Healthier Raw or Cooked?

Raw beets are richer in nutrients than cooked beets. The longer you cook the beets, especially if you boil them, the more nutrients leach out of them and into the water.

To preserve the most nutrients, opt for roasting or steaming beets instead of boiling or sautéing them.

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