How to Cook Beets

No other vegetable can match the ruby intensity of the beet. Lore has it that beets are good for your blood, literally and figuratively. So while they take a little time to cook, they're certainly worth it.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• beets
• Groceries
• Roasting Pans
• Saucepans
• Kitchen Utility Knives
• Cutting Boards

1. Wash the beets and trim the ends off before cooking.

2. 

   Place trimmed beets in a roasting pan and add a little water for steam. Roast the beets at 425 degrees F for 30 to 45 minutes (cover the pan with foil) or until the beets are easily pierced with a knife. Slip off the skins under running water and slice or dice.

3. If boiling, cook the beets for 20 to 30 minutes, or until tender.

4. If using a microwave oven, cook the beets with a little water for 8 to 15 minutes.

5. Match beets with orange (juice and zest), ginger or both.

6. 

   Dress beets with a vinaigrette. Serve warm or at room temperature. Add some sweet onion, parsley, and hard-boiled egg chunks for a hearty salad.

7. Keep the beet greens - you can cook and eat these like any other slightly bitter greens (see "How to Cook Greens" in the Relate eHows).

8. 

   If you're mixing beets with other vegetables (in a salad, for instance), cook and dress the beets separately and add them last. Their vivid color will seep into everything else otherwise.