Plain or salted, you should never get rid of the liquid from canned beets because it is completely edible! Canned beets are an easy alternative to fresh beets but boast a longer shelf life and are convenient to eat without the hassle of peeling and cooking.
Canned Beets Preparation
If your canned beets contain added salt, rinsing the beets before eating may reduce some of the sodium intake. You can also find organic canned beets and brands selling BPA-Free lined products if you are concerned about eating canned foods.
Yes, you can drink the juice from canned beets if you want. Whether it's plain water or contains salt, the juice from canned beets is completely safe for consumption. You can even use it in soups, smoothies, and baking.
Preparing and serving canned beets is as simple as draining them and adding them to a salad or heating them and mixing in a little butter or a splash of lemon juice. Since they retain so much natural flavor, canned beets can be used to replace cooked fresh beets in any recipe, including beet soup or borscht.
Unlike other vegetables that taste different than their fresh or frozen counterparts, canned beets retain a flavor that rivals fresh beets. They also maintain about the same nutritional value as fresh beetroots, giving you a good source of fibre, iron and folate.
Serve pickled beets as a side dish sprinkled with a little feta cheese. Add pickled beets to your favorite salad. Chop pickled beets and combine them with cabbage, carrots, garlic, and vinegar to make a tangy garnish. Slice pickled beets and layer with hardboiled eggs to make a pickled beet sandwich.
Tips. Unopened canned beets can be stored in the pantry for 2-5 years from the date of purchase. After opening, store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Foods Guy suggests adding a splash of beet liquid to a smoothie or mixing it into sauces and spreads. It can even be used as natural food coloring when baking. Alternatively, if a recipe calls for water, simply replace it with the unsalted liquid from canned beets to boost color and nutrition.
To maximize the shelf life of canned beets after opening, refrigerate in covered glass or plastic container. How long do opened canned beets last in the refrigerator? Canned beets that have been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 3 to 4 days.
Yes! Beets can absolutely be eaten raw. Beets don't have to be cooked for you to enjoy them. Raw beets are super yummy (AND nutritious).
Beets are also rich in oxalates — compounds that may reduce nutrient absorption and promote kidney stones. Therefore, people predisposed to kidney stones may want to limit their intake ( 8 ). Though pickled beets may turn your urine pink or red, this side effect is harmless ( 8 ).
Nutritionally, cooked beets will only have what nature put in them. Pickled beets tend to have added sugar, salt and vinegar. If these additional ingredients pose no problem in your diet, then they should be just fine.
Raw beets contain more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than cooked beets. Like many vegetables, the longer you cook beets (especially in water), the more of the colorful phytonutrients leach out of the food and into the water. Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead.
Beets contain pigments called betalains, which possess a number of anti-inflammatory properties ( 8 , 17 , 18 ).
It is good to eat beets only 3-4 times a week, not more. If you eat daily, make sure you eat it in limited quantities due to its high oxalate content. Pickled beets are high in sodium content.
The nitrates in beets don't just reduce inflammation, they also improve heart health. Nitrates have been shown to reduce high blood pressure. Beets are also naturally low in cholesterol and fat, which makes them a good option for people concerned about heart disease or stroke.
As with any food, the overconsumption of beets can lead to some health problems. Risks of overconsumption include: Increased risk of kidney stones: Since beets are high in the compound oxalate, eating too many can contribute to kidney stone formation. Beeturia: With beeturia, urine may turn pink or red.
Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure.
Beets contain naturally high levels of nitrates, which your digestive system converts into nitric oxide. This compound relaxes and widens blood vessels, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure.
In most cases, people can safely eat beets or drink beetroot juice without experiencing any negative side effects. Drinking beetroot juice regularly can affect the color of urine and feces due to the natural pigments in beets. People may notice pink or purple urine, which is called beeturia, and pink or purple feces.
Some varieties of beets are more sensitive to heat than others. The reaction is reversible, and often the color of the canned product will return to a darker red after a few days of storage at room temperature.
Fresh beets are very firm to the touch (I always check beets for firmness when buying). When they start to get a bit softer, you should use them within a day or two, tops. If the beets are limp, mushy, or soft, it's time for them to go.
Storage and Expiration
If stored correctly in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight, your pickled beetroot should last for up to a year if left unopened. Once you've cracked open a jar, make sure to refrigerate and eat within approximately 8-12 weeks (though we'd be surprised if it's not gobbled up sooner!).
For me, the first thing of the season to get canned are the dark red beets. While many people turn their noses at these vegetables, they are becoming quite an en vogue trend in the food world. Praised for their nutritious qualities, they are simply outstanding pickled.
Can I drink the water used for boiling beetroot? Yes, you can. It's completely safe to drink water that has been used to boil beetroots.