Can You Microwave Beets?

Beets are becoming a common ingredient in trending recipes.

You can grill or steam beets based on your recipe requirement, but can you microwave beets?

Here is what you need to know about microwaving beets:

Yes. You can boil or bake beets in the microwave. You can peel the beets or microwave them whole, diced, or sliced.

The following reasons will compel you to microwave your beets over other cooking methods:

Cooking beets in the microwave is quick hence saving time and energy.
Microwaved beets have a tender texture.
Baking beets in the microwave preserves nutrients. The process doesn’t alter the nutritional value of the beets. Beets are rich in natural sugars, fiber, and potassium.

Beets are popularly used in salads as garnishes or blended to make smoothies.

Canning beets, however, alter their nutritional value.

Beets contain betalains which give them a red color. Cooking beets in the microwave requires you to follow a detailed preparation process to keep you and your surfaces clean.

Do the following when you dice or slice beetroots:

Put on latex gloves to keep your hands free from stains.
Wear a clean chef’s apron to protect your clothes from splashing juices.
Clean your chopping boards or surfaces immediately after use.
Use disposable kitchen towels to clean beet juices.

Related: Can you microwave broccoli?

How To Cook Fresh Beets In The Microwave

You can bake or boil beets depending on the purpose you want them to serve. Baked beets are used for garnishing salads, while boiled beets are blended to make smoothies.

Whether you choose to boil or bake your beets, you need to follow the following procedures for the best results:

How To Bake Beets In The Microwave

Follow these steps to have the best-baked beets:

Wash, rinse, and dry your beets
Choose equal beets or dice them into small equal cubes to ensure they cook evenly.
Pierce the beets to create a vent for hot steam that might accumulate and cause a messy explosion.
Place the beets in a microwave-safe container such as Pyrex or oven-safe porcelain. Avoid metals and cheap plastics without a microwave-safe symbol.
Wrap the beets with microwave-safe parchment paper. The paper soaks in excess steam that could otherwise soil the oven.
The paper towel also prevents the beets from drying up.
You can also microwave the beets for 7 minutes on full power pause to check the progress and resume cooking for an additional 2 minutes at 180 degrees.
Let the beets rest for at least 4 minutes to finish the cooking process.
Use microwave-safe oven gloves to remove the container from the oven.
Blend them for smoothies, or use them to garnish your salads.

How To Boil Beets In The Microwave

Here is your simple guide for boiling beets:

Separate the leaves from the roots, leaving an inch or two of the stem on the beetroot.
Gently wash and rinse the beets, but do not scrub the skin.
Place the beets in a microwave-safe container.
Add water to the bowl and cover the beets with a microwave-safe lid.
Put a piece of toast to absorb the foul smell from boiling beets.
Cook the beets slowly under medium heat for about 7 minutes but pause to check the cooking progress.
Once ready, drain excess water immediately and peel the beets before the skins harden.
Serve the beets while still hot.
You should avoid the following practices when boiling beets in the microwave:
Don’t add too much water because you will lose soaked nutrients when draining the beets. Try boiling the beets in their steam or add water as cooking progresses.
Don’t discard the drained water. Use it as stock to make soups and broths.
Don’t peel the beets before boiling; peel them after cooking.
Don’t leave the beets to cool; serve them hot to enjoy the best taste.
You can rechauffe left-over beets to make salads and soups.

How Long Should You Microwave Beets?

Factors that determine the cooking time when cooking beets in the microwave include:

The Cooking Method You Choose.

Boiling takes up to 7 minutes on full power and 2 minutes resting time, while baking takes 5-10 minutes and 3 resting minutes.

The size of the beets.

Small beet cubes take between 5-6 minutes to cook when boiled.

Medium beets take 10-12 minutes to cook, and large beets take 12-15 minutes to cook in the microwave.

The Recipe Timing

Some recipes will require well-done beets, while others will require medium-done beets. Other recipes require you to cook the beets until you smell their cooked flavor.

The Type Of Oven You Use

Cooking time also depends on the type of oven you choose. Read the manufacturer’s guide to see the recommended time for microwaving beets.

Amount Of Heat In The Microwave.

Beets will take approximately 7 minutes to cook when the microwave is set to full power and take about 15 minutes to cook on medium heat.

Tips On Cooking The Best Beets In The Microwave

Remember to do the following when you microwave beets for best results:

Slice your beets into equal cubes to ensure they cook evenly. Small cubes also cook faster.
Cover the beets as you microwave them to trap moisture and prevent them from drying. Dry beets are rough and have an unpleasant taste.
Peeled beetroots have a tender texture, while whole beets have a rough texture and an earthy taste.
Use a large microwave-safe bowl for cooking your beets. A large bowl gives the beets ample space to cook faster.
Place the beets on the microwave-safe container as a single layer. Stacking several layers prevents them from cooking evenly.
If you have many beets, microwave them separately.
Place a microwave-safe paper towel between the bowl and the beets to soak up the steam that would otherwise mess up the oven.
Pierce the beets with a fork to create a vent that builds up within them; otherwise, the steam will splash out and soil your microwave.

Final Thoughts

You can bake or boil beets in the microwave depending on your recipe. The procedures for baking and boiling beets are detailed in the above article.

Microwaving beets is the quickest cooking method you can choose.

The microwave time majorly depends on the size of the beets, as discussed above.