Can You Roast Canned Beets (And How to Do It)
If you are wanting to add roasted beets to a meal, but you do not want to go through the hassle of roasting them from raw, you might be tempted to try and roast canned beets.
Can you roast canned beets?
While roasted beets are always best when roasted from raw, you can roast canned beets, and it can save you quite some time in the kitchen. There is little preparation that goes into roasting canned beets, and they will be ready in next to no time.
So, if you have a can of beets sitting in the pantry, and you need to make some roasted beets to add to a dish, read on for how to roast canned beets, and some other helpful information!
Why Should You Roast Canned Beets?
You might have always roasted beets from raw, but there are some benefits to roasting canned beets, and they might work out a little better for you.
The obvious benefit is that canned beets have a much longer shelf life compared to fresh beets, so you can keep a can of beets in the pantry until you are ready to use them, rather than have fresh beets go off.
Fresh beets will have a more earthy flavor, and in some cases contain more nutrients, but this in no way means that canned beets don’t have a great flavor, and great nutrients too.
As canned beets are already cooked, and as they are already soft, they take quicker to roast compared to fresh beets, so if you have time constraints, then canned beets are definitely a good option.
For quick cooking and convenience, opt for canned beets when roasting. They are versatile and have a long shelf life, so you can find many ways to use them while having a long time to use them!
How to Roast Canned Beets
Roasting canned beets is fairly simple. Canned beets are already soft, so they will be softer than fresh beets once roasted, but if you prepare them properly for roasting, they will turn out just right.
When roasting canned beets, you can add different spices and seasonings to bring out their flavor more, and you can adjust the spices and seasonings to suit the meal you are making.
Here is how to roast canned beets in the oven:
Ingredients:
- can of beets (whole or sliced) drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Drain the canned beets and pat them dry with some paper towel, making sure to not push too hard as this could damage the beets.
- If they are whole or in slices, cut the beets down to bite-sized pieces, or down to your desired size.
- Place the beets onto the parchment paper on the baking tray.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the beets, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle the thyme over the beets, and any other herbs or seasonings you would like to add in.
- Gently toss the beets to coat them evenly with the seasonings and olive oil.
- Cover the baking tray and the beets with a layer of aluminum foil.
- Place the beets in the oven, and allow to cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Once the beets are tender and browned, they can be removed from the oven.
- Remove the aluminum foil and allow the beets to cool slightly before serving.
If the beets are not browning properly under the aluminum foil, you can remove the aluminum foil and place the beets back into the oven for another 5 minutes.
Can You Cook Canned Beets in the Air Fryer?
Many people are choosing to roast beets in the air fryer instead of in the oven, and this gives great results. But can you roast canned beets in the air fryer?
Luckily, you can roast canned beets in the air fryer, and air fryer canned beets turn out almost exactly the same as when air fried from fresh!
Using the air fryer to roast beets is really beneficial. It cuts the roasting time down, you use less oil, and the beets are cooked crispy on the outside, and still soft and juicy on the inside.
Here is how to roast canned beets in the air fryer:
Ingredients:
- can of beets (sliced or whole) drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Method:
- Drain the beets well, and pat them dry with a paper towel gently, to remove excess juice.
- Slice or chop the beets down into bite-sized cubes, or into the size you prefer.
- Place the beets into a bowl, and drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss gently to coat the beets.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the beets into the air fryer basket and leave for 3 minutes.
- After 3 minutes, remove the basket, flip the beets, and place them back into the air fryer.
- Leave for another 3 minutes.
- Remove the beets, making sure they are tender and crisp on the outside – if they are not ready, you can leave them in for another minute or two.
- Allow the beets to cool slightly before serving.
This gives you roasted beets in a much shorter time span than when roasting them in the oven, and the air fryer roasts canned beets just as well!
Can You Reheat Roasted Canned Beets?
If you have leftover roasted canned beets, you can store them in the fridge for 2 days until they need to be used.
Once you are ready to eat the leftover roasted canned beets, you would want to reheat them so that they taste just as good, and have the same roasted texture as they did when they first came out of the oven.
You can reheat the beets in the oven for a few minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, but it might be easier to reheat them in the microwave or in the air fryer.
To reheat roasted beets in the microwave, place them on a microwave-safe dish, and microwave them on high for a minute. Check to see if they are warm enough. If not, place them back into the microwave for 30-second intervals until heated throughout.
To reheat roasted beets in the air fryer, set the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and leave them to reheat for between 2 to 3 minutes, until hot and crispy on the outside.
What to Do With the Liquid from Canned Beets
When roasting canned beets in the oven or in the air fryer, it is important to drain the beets first, otherwise, they will not roast properly.
However, instead of letting the dark red liquid pour down the drain, you should keep some and use it in a few different ways in the kitchen.
There are a good few ways to use liquid from canned beets. The first is to add a splash of beet juice to a smoothie for a dash of color and nutrients. You could add some beet juice to a sauce or spread, or even use it as a natural food dye when baking.
Before adding the beet liquid to anything, have a taste first – some beet liquids are more salty, and others are sweeter. Once you have tasted the beet liquid you would have a better idea of how to use it.
Are Canned Beets Already Peeled?
One of the things you need to do when roasting beets from raw is to peel the beets. This can be done before or after roasting, but it does take some time.
This is why using canned beets is a good idea – as they are already peeled, you, therefore, do not have to spend time peeling them before roasting!
Can You Roast Canned Beets?
Canned beets can be roasted successfully, and using canned beets instead of fresh beets means that you will save yourself some time and preparation in the kitchen. Canned beets also have a long shelf life, so you have more time in which to use the beets before they spoil.
Fresh beets will have a more earthy flavor and have a higher nutrient content, but canned beets are still delicious, and still have enough nutrient content to make them a great addition to your weekly meals.
Related Questions
Can You Cook With Canned Beets?
As canned beets are already cooked and tender, they can turn too soft too quickly if cooked, but if timed right, you can add canned beets to different meals. They do well in salad and pasta dishes where there is no cooking required.
How Often Can You Eat Canned Beets?
Canned beets are healthy, and a great addition to your diet, but eating them too often can increase your uric acid level. To be safe, you should not eat more than half a cup of beets per day.
