In this brief guide, we will be answering the following question, “can you freeze raw beets?” We will discuss the proper ways to freeze beets. We will also discuss the health benefits of eating beets along with the health concerns of using frozen beets.
Can you freeze raw beets?
Yes, raw beets can be frozen. Beets are commonly called beetroots; they can be stored in the freezer in cooked and raw forms. Freezing beets in the freezer in the raw form will alter their texture and the beet will get softer when it is defrosted.
You can freeze them in paste form and they can be stored for upto many months. You can also freeze them in the form of cubes and they will be good to use in smoothies and juices.
What is the proper way to freeze raw beetroots?
Beetroots can be stored in raw and cooked form. If you store beetroot in raw form it will change its texture into a granular form which will not be good to eat. If you need to freeze raw beets for your recipes then you can easily freeze them.
- Beetroot can be frozen raw for this process, wash and cut the beetroots into smaller pieces.
- Add them to the water for some time so that they are clean properly.
- Put them out of the water and let them dry.
- Once they have dried down, put the beetroots in a tray and let them freeze for 2-3 hours in the freezer.
- Once they are hard then you can add them to the air-tight boxes.
- You can also pack your raw beetroots in the zip lock bags and remove all the air from the zip lock bags. This will keep your beetroots fresh.
- Adding lemon juice to the beetroot will maintain its red colour.
Steaming or roasting the beets is better than boiling because boiling will cause the nutrients in the beetroot to destroy or leek into the boiling water. Boiling will destroy the essential vitamins and minerals present in the beetroot.
Beetroot contains nitrates in them which are helpful in making the body’s muscles relax. It helps to lower your blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels.
Due to the presence of nitrates, beetroots increase the capacity for physical activity and it also boosts stamina by increasing oxygen consumption.
Beetroots also act as prebiotics meaning they help in the maintenance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. It also helps to reduce constipation.
Beetroot contains a good amount of fibres in them. These fibres help in maintaining blood cholesterol and gut health along with the maintenance of a healthy weight.
What are the benefits of freezing beetroots?
The benefits of freezing beetroots are the following:
- If your beetroot is getting spoiled and it usually spoils when kept at room temperature for a long time, then freezing is the best option and by doing this you are reducing food waste.
- The most important benefit for any busy mother is you can save your meal preparation time by chopping and freezing your beets already.
- Beets do not go bad when you freeze them in the freezer for 1 year but the condition is you have to maintain the temperature.
- Freezing your beets reduces the risk of bacterial and mould growth on beets which are the major reasons for spoilage.
- Beets also dries away and they are not good to use after this when you store them at room temperature, so freezing does not allow them to dry
- Mould production can cause the off smell and alters the taste of beets. It is one of the major reasons for beet spoilage. Freezing can increase the shelf life of beet for upto 12 months.
Here you can find multiple ways to store beetroots.
What are the factors that are responsible for the spoilage of beets?
Beets are a Perishable food item and they can be spoiled by several factors including microbial and environmental factors.
- Clostridium botulinum is present in the soil and it can contaminate your beets. Storing beets at room temperature provides the perfect environment to grow. You will never know about its presence and you will get sick.
- Mould can grow on the beets and it can spoil your whole them in a few days.
- The presence of disease-borne bacteria can alter the taste and texture of beets by producing several enzymes.
What are the harms of eating frozen beetroot?
Following are the harms of eating frozen beetroot:
- Like any other frozen vegetable, beetroot loses its freshness and nutritional value when stored for a longer duration.
- Frozen beets can be contaminated with food pathogens if not handled or stored properly at the proper temperature. These food pathogens can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomachache.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the following question, “can you freeze raw beets?” We discussed the proper ways to freeze beets. We also discuss the health benefits of eating beets along with the health concerns of using frozen beets.
