How to Steam Beets—and Our 2 Favorite Methods

From late spring through fall, beets are one of the easiest ways to add color and nutrition to your plate. Beets can be eaten raw, or they are often roasted to yield flavorful results, but we're fans of steaming beets. We talked to several cooking experts who agree that steaming beets makes them easier to eat as well as keeping them juicy and full of flavor. Learn expert tips on preparing beets for steaming and how to steam beets using two easy methods.

Why You Should Steam Beets

"Steaming beets soften them, making them tender and more pleasant to eat," says Jess Damuck, food stylist and cookbook author. "It enhances their natural sweetness, and allows you to really infuse them with other flavors such as spices or citrus zest."

Steam also impacts the appearance of beets while keeping them juicy and easier to peel. "When you steam beets, their flesh becomes glossy and bright," says cooking teacher and author Ronna Welsh. "The flavor of steamed beets reflects the quality of the beets themselves—steaming doesn't hide any flaws."

How to Prepare Beets for Steaming

Wash your beets before cooking them. "Beets grow underground, and while they are generally washed before they hit the market, you should still rub them well with lukewarm water and a clean sponge," says Welsh.

Once washed, Damuck recommends the following:

• Cut the stems and trim down stringy roots before steaming.
• Do not remove the beet skins before steaming, because they will slip off easily after they are steamed (the skin keeps the beet juices inside).
• Score the ends of each beet with an "X" to encourage the peel to pull back as the beet cooks, making the skin easier to remove later.

How to Steam Beets

Steaming beets is a straightforward process using a vegetable steamer. If you don't have a steamer, Welsh recommends using anything to prop up the beets in a pot above the water, such as a colander or wire trivet. The beets need to rest above boiling water so the steam can penetrate the vegetables.

1. Place whole beets in a steamer basket above about 2 inches of water in a pot.
2. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and cover.
3. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat until the water comes to a simmer. "Steam small and medium beets for 30 minutes and large beets for about 50 minutes, until you can pierce the beet to the middle with a knife or skewer," says Damuck.

How to Steam-Roast Beets

Steam-roasting beets is another method for cooking the vegetable. This method reaps the benefits of both steaming and roasting techniques, says Walsh. Steaming softens and keeps the beets moist while roasting concentrates their flavors. To steam-roast beets, take these steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place 3 pounds of beets (about eight medium beets) in a baking dish where they fit snugly in a single layer. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of kosher salt.
3. Pour about 1 1/2 inches of water into the dish and cover tightly with foil.
4. Bake until very tender, about one hour, testing the center of the largest beet with a thin, sharp knife to see if it is done.

Once the beets have cooled, cut them into your desired shape, such as wedges. "In wedges, they are a snackable size," says Welsh. "Plus, from a wedge, you can cut matchsticks or dice when you want."