An interesting preparation for the winter: we store dried beets correctly along with the tops and use them in cooking

Eating dried beets helps cleanse the body of toxins, improves the process of eliminating toxins, and increases appetite. Due to the high content of flavonoids, spasms in blood vessels are relieved, blood pressure is stabilized, capillary strength is increased, and carcinogens are removed. Therefore, many housewives are looking for ways to dry beets at home and how to use them to get the maximum benefit.

Which beets are best to choose for drying?

Not all varieties of beets can be used for drying. It is better to give preference to root vegetables that have a rich red or dark purple hue. It’s good if the vegetable has no rings in the cut.

Shape also matters. It is better to choose round and flat-round beets. In most cases, it has a sweet pulp and does not contain coarse fibers.

It is not recommended to take a vegetable that has signs of damage (darkening, brown spots, holes). The petiole should be about 2 cm in length.

Suitable varieties

According to housewives, it is better to dry tableware beet varieties. These include Bordeaux and Incomparable. There are other root vegetables that have a similar shape and structure (Egyptian, Vira), but they are not suitable for drying.

How to prepare root vegetables for drying

If you decide to dry a red vegetable for the winter, it must be properly prepared:

1. Wash off any remaining soil using a soft sponge.
2. Pour cold water over the beets and leave for 2 hours.
3. Drain the water, pour clean water over the vegetable and put on fire.
4. After boiling, wait 20 minutes and add cold water again. Changing the temperature allows you to reduce cooking time.
5. After cooling, peel the beets, remove the root and head.
6. Cut the vegetable in any way (cubes, strips, slices).

Checking the readiness of beets is very simple. To do this, you need to stick a match or toothpick into the vegetable. If it is cooked, it will go in easily.

How to cook dried beets

Housewives use three main drying methods: in an electric dryer, in an oven and in the sun. Choose the one you like best.

In an electric dryer

The most modern method is to use an electric dryer. This technique is ideal for those who live in an apartment or grow a lot of vegetables in their own garden. Thanks to the electric dryer, environmentally friendly workpieces are obtained without any additives.

The main advantage of the method, compared to drying in the sun, is its independence from weather changes. It is high humidity and frequent rains that prevent beets from being prepared properly.

The step-by-step process is as follows:

1. Prepare 5 kg of beets. After cleaning, about 4.5 kg will remain.
2. The root vegetable can be cut into slices and then passed through a meat grinder. You will get something similar to noodles.
3. Distribute the vegetables on the trays of an electric dryer. On average 350 g each.
4. The temperature in the electric dryer is set to 55 degrees, and in the room itself where the equipment is installed, there should be an average of 12 degrees.
5. The approximate drying time for this volume of beets is 9 hours.
6. The output from 5 kg of fresh vegetables is 600-650 g of dried product.

Next, the beets can be placed in a tray or glass jar and sealed with a lid. To check the quality, take a small pinch of the resulting mass and fill it with water. If the liquid turns reddish-burgundy, it means the product is suitable for consumption.

In the oven

You can prepare dried beets for the winter using the oven. The root vegetable is boiled until partially cooked (about 10 minutes after boiling), then cooled in ice water.

Attention! A distinctive feature of drying beets in the oven is that it requires a higher temperature compared to other vegetables (20-30 degrees higher).

The next step is peeling the vegetable, removing the tail and head. Then the beets are cut into circles no more than 0.5 cm thick. They are laid out in one layer on a baking sheet and placed in the oven for 5 hours at a temperature of 80-85 degrees. Store in a cool, dark place, first placing it in a jar and tightly closing the lid.

In natural conditions

Air drying is the most natural way. Most often, food was stored in an attic, barn, or under a shed so that the wind could blow it well. Pre-boiled and thinly cut into circles, slices or strips The root vegetable should be spread on a sieve in one layer.

Advice. It is recommended to dry beets for 45-60 days.

It is impossible to use a tray or sieve with this technique, since natural airflow is required from all sides. Place the vegetable in a place where there is no direct sunlight and wait for it to dry completely. Can be stored in any container that is hermetically sealed.

How to store

Regardless of which recipe was used for drying beets for the winter, they are stored the same way. Clean, dry jars or plastic containers are perfect for this.

The main thing is that the container is hermetically sealed. It is best to use vacuum containers. Next, the workpiece is placed in a cool, dark place. Some people use a basement or shed, others simply store it in the refrigerator.

What can you use dried beets for?

The scope of application of root vegetables in dried form is as diverse as in fresh form. For example, it is ideal for cooking borscht.

If you pre-soak the beets in water and then drain the liquid, you can add the vegetable to various salads. The product is also perfect for making fresh beet kvass. Some children eat dried beets like chips, which is very beneficial for a growing body.

Is it possible to dry beet leaves?

During harvesting, when the red root crop is stored fresh, the tops are removed. Few people know that it contains a high content of vitamins and minerals.

How to dry tops

To prepare, you must initially thoroughly wash each sheet. Then the greens are dried with a towel and cut into strips 3-4 cm thick. After this, the tops are laid out on a wooden tray or on a sheet of white paper (it is better to take thick cardboard).

How to store

After the tops have completely dried, they need to be ground. To do this, use a coffee grinder or do everything manually. The resulting powder is poured into glass jars and tightly closed with lids. The preparation is stored in the same way as a root vegetable - in a cool, dark place. It is important that the room is dry, otherwise the product will spoil.

What to cook from dried tops

Dried beet tops when ground, they are used as greens for first and second courses. If the workpiece was in the form of large pieces, it is added as a secondary ingredient to salads, chicken soup (dried tops are added at the very end of cooking), various juices and smoothies.

There are a lot of recipes for using beet tops. It can be prepared for the winter not only in dried form, but also in pickled, frozen and canned form. Most often, this part of the root vegetable is used for medicinal purposes, but before consuming it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Conclusion

Since ancient times, beets themselves and dishes with them have been considered very healthy. If you prepare a vegetable or its tops in dry form, this will help preserve all the properties of the product, and the body will receive useful substances in the winter.