First time cooking beetroot - help please!

[lynda66]

can you steam them, or roast them? ...... i've got loads growing.

[Alice]

I like them fresh Shirl. An easier way to cook them is to roast them. Just clean, remove most of the root and top, place in a roasting tin and roll around in a little oil. Cover with tinfoil and roast for 45 mins for baby beets up to 1 1/2 hours for bigger ones. Leave to cool then peel.
If you're beetroot wasn't successful you might want to try some yellow ones next year. My reds did OK but the yellows came faster and grew bigger. Still tastes like beetroot. A little salt sprinkled round the plants at planting time seems to be appreciated.
Good luck with the pickles and for next years grow.

[coomber]

I always roast mine, wrap them in a foil parcel and cook at about 180 for about an hour (depends on size) when cooked leave to cool slightly in foil, the skin will just rub off, Lovely

[di]

I can't remember their name,but this year we grew(are growing)some ringed ones.(red with white rings going through).As they don't bleed I've been slicing them in circles & steaming.
Otherwise I usually boil or roast.

[coomber]

I can't remember their name,but this year we grew(are growing)some ringed ones.(red with white rings going through).As they don't bleed I've been slicing them in circles & steaming.
Otherwise I usually boil or roast.

Choggia i think?

[di]

Choggia i think?

I beg your pardon???
(may well have been?I must start trying to save my seed packets!!~they're nice anyway!!)

[Hilary B]

Not sure Madmax would be too happy if I put the microwave on for that long with leccy prices as they are just now! Might just try them in the oven next time (if there is a next time). Thanks for the tip though - prolly worth it if you are doing a big batch.

Is it best to leave them to cool in the water or not?

Microwave for half hour is probably no worse than boiling for a couple of hours, unless your fuel for the boiling is a lot cheaper than the electricity (I would have though 20 mins was plenty?). When I microwave root veg (or any veg) I just wash them, and put them (wet) in a freezer-bag, then you aren't using up power heating water. For small quantities the microwave may work out cheaper, for larger amounts, probably not, because if 1 big carrot takes 2 mins to cook in the micrwave, 2 big carrots will take 3½ mins.... In a saucepan, it doesn't matter how many you put in, they take the same length of time...

[zazen999]

I boil mine for about 15-20 mins, until the knife goes through them easily. Then, loads of cold water to cool them. The skins come off really easily and pop them into a dish. Chop until they get to the size you want. Sprinkle a little cumin over, and some mayo - mix and pop in the fridge until ready to serve.