Pickled Beets Are Easy to Make at Home With This Recipe (2024)

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A midwestern classic—our favorite refrigerator pickled beets recipe.

By

Elise Bauer

Pickled Beets Are Easy to Make at Home With This Recipe (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated January 28, 2024

Pickled Beets Are Easy to Make at Home With This Recipe (2)

Beets are a weekly ritual around here. Usually we boil them and toss them in a sweet sour vinaigrette and keep them in the refrigerator to eat all week. The vinegar in the dressing "pickles" the beets, helping them last longer in the fridge.

Many pickled beets I find are much too vinegary, hiding rather than enhancing the naturally sweet flavor of the beets. This recipe is my mother's approach to preparing the beets, using cider vinegar balanced with a little sugar (you could also just use balsamic), along with olive oil and some dry mustard.

We love it! The vinaigrette complements the sweetness of the beets without overpowering them.

Pickled Beets Are Easy to Make at Home With This Recipe (3)

Updated from the recipe archive, first posted in 2006.

Pickled Beets Are Easy to Make at Home With This Recipe (4)

More Quick Pickle Recipes

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  • Quick Pickled Radishes
  • Pickled Green Tomatoes
  • Quick Pickled Cherries

Reader Variations

Over the years many of you have shared the ways you like to make this recipe your own. Here are a few to try.

  • Jessica E.: "I subbed balsamic vinegar for the cider vinegar since I didn't have any. Soooooo good!! Definitely putting this recipe in my arsenal for future use."
  • Sarah: "I've made these several times. I roast the beets, which gives them a smokey flavor."
  • Not Contrary: "The sugar really does a great job of cutting the bite of the vinegar. I did not have mustard powder so I used whole grain mustard from a jar. It worked just fine. It tasted great but, I can never leave well enough alone. So, I added brown mustard seeds and dried basil leaf."

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Easy Pickled Beets

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time50 mins

Total Time55 mins

This recipe uses a basicvinaigrette, heavy on the vinegar to offset the sweetness of the beets, but you could easily use any favorite vinaigrette. A little olive oil with salt, pepper, and balsamic is lovely. Try sprinklinga little orange zest in with the beets, or adding some lime, lemon, or orange juice to the dressing for a citrus note.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch (4 or 5) beets

  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Prep and cook the beets:

    Remove the greens from the beets, save for future use (see beet greens recipe). Scrub the beets free of any dirt.

    Boiling method

    Place the beets in a medium saucepan and cover with water by about an inch. Bring to a boil on high heat then lower the heat and maintain a simmer for 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the beets, until they are easily pierced with the tines of a fork.

    Roasting method

    Rub the beets with olive oil and wrap them in foil (you can wrap them all together, no need to wrap them individually). Roast in a 400°F oven for an hour or until they are easily pierced with a fork. Let them cool to the touch.

  2. Peel the beets and cut into quarters or slices:

    If you have boiled the beets, drain them and rinse them with cold water. Use your fingers to slip the peels off of the beets. The peels should come off easily. Discard the peels. Quarter or slice the beets.

  3. Make the vinaigrette and pickle the beets:

    Make the vinaigrette by combining the cider vinegar, sugar, olive oil, and dry mustard. Whisk ingredients together with a fork. The dry mustard will help to emulsify the vinaigrette. Adjust to taste. Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine beets and vinaigrette in a bowl and allow to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.

    Store in the refrigerator.

    Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!

  • Canning and Preserving
  • Summer
  • Beets
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
80Calories
4g Fat
11g Carbs
1g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories80
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 0g2%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 206mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 11g4%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 3mg14%
Calcium 15mg1%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 244mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Pickled Beets Are Easy to Make at Home With This Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What happens if I eat pickled beets every day? ›

Pickled beets are generally safe to eat. But, depending on how they're made, some varieties of pickled beets may pack salt and added sugars. Too much salt can increase your blood pressure. While too much sugar can lead to weight gain and other health problems.

Are pickled beets good for blood pressure? ›

Pickled beets are naturally rich in nitrates, which your body converts into nitric oxide. This molecule helps blood vessels dilate, which protects against high blood pressure ( 8 ). Research suggests that beet products can lower blood pressure by up to 10 mm Hg.

How long does it take for pickled beets to be ready to eat? ›

How to Store: Place the pickled beets sealed in the jar with the lid in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks. Use a butter knife to help move the ingredients around once the brine is in the jar and the beets. For best flavor results, wait at least 24 hours before eating the pickled beets.

Are pickled beets good for your kidneys? ›

Beetroot's antioxidants have been associated with a lower risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease and dementia, and with supporting liver and kidney health. A bitter-sweet result of the pickling process, however, is that small amounts of these antioxidants are lost.

What are the side effects of eating beets every day? ›

Beetroot Side Effects and Reactions
  • Hypotensive Effects (Lowers Blood Pressure)
  • Beeturia - Pink-Colored Waste.
  • Mild Allergic Reactions.
  • Oxalates May Impede Calcium Absorption.
  • Upset Stomach from Beetroot Side Effects.
  • Fatigue or Dizziness During Pregnancy.
  • Possible Kidney Stones.

Are pickled beets full of sugar? ›

Unfortunately, all of that comes with a high amount of sodium – 350 to 500 milligrams, depending on the brand and around 16 grams of sugar, about the same amount as four teaspoons of sugar. So if you eat pickled beets, keep the quantity small.

Who should not eat pickled beets? ›

Canned and pickled beets likely contain high amounts of sodium, so if it's heart health you're after, these choices should be limited.

Are pickled beets bad for high cholesterol? ›

The phytosterols, or plant sterols, present in beets, are structurally similar to cholesterol and can help to lower LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. In the body, phytosterols compete with the cholesterol to decrease the amount of cholesterol absorbed and lower harmful LDL cholesterol.

What is the healthiest way to eat beets? ›

Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead. Or lightly steam them for just a few minutes, suggests Doyle.

Why do my pickled beets taste like dirt? ›

Their “earthy” flavor comes from a compound called geosmin, which is also the same compound that we associate with the smell of “fresh rain” and “forest soil”. Some people are much more sensitive to this compound than others, that is why some people say they taste like dirt, and others love them.

Can homemade pickled beets go bad? ›

To enjoy them at their best and freshest, store your pickled beets in the refrigerator and plan to use them within a maximum of three months, or ideally within several weeks. Always keep an eye out for signs they've passed their prime before that though.

Can you eat pickled beets right out of the jar? ›

No special preparation is required for pickled beets. You may eat them directly out of the jar! Most people eat pickled beets chilled or at room temperature.

Why do I feel dizzy after drinking beet juice? ›

A doctor can advise on whether drinking beet juice alongside taking medications to lower blood pressure may lower a person's blood pressure too much. If this occurs, the individual may experience symptoms such as : dizziness or lightheadedness. blurry vision.

Are beets good for seniors? ›

Older adults with high blood pressure can particularly benefit from combined exercise and beet juice, due to the powerful effects that nitrates have on blood vessels; not only can they lower their blood pressure, but they can greatly improve their athletic performance at the same time.

Are pickled beets inflammatory? ›

While there are a variety of ways to boost nitric oxide production, pickled beets are a convenient, tasty source. Nitric oxide helps inhibit the inflammation of cells and promotes adequate oxygen and nutrient flow to facilitate optimal health and cell function.

Is it okay to eat beets every day? ›

Can you eat beets everyday? It's always best to follow a varied diet. Eating a small amount of beetroot every day is unlikely to do any harm, but a high intake could lead to low blood pressure, red or black urine and feces, and digestive problems for anyone with a sensitivity to the nutrients.

Can too much beet be bad for you? ›

While it may seem like a good idea to have beets daily because of their benefits, you may need to exercise caution when eating them. Eating beets or drinking beet juice may lead to kidney stones, a potential food allergy, or stool or urine color changes.

Is it okay to eat pickled vegetables every day? ›

While pickles should be consumed in moderation due to their high sodium content, they may have some health benefits: Probiotic effects: Naturally fermented pickles and their juice contain good bacteria, which when ingested in moderation can help with digestion and immune health.

How many times a week can you eat beets? ›

Moreover, beets are low in calories with zero cholesterol and a small amount of fat. However, the root is high in sugar and carbohydrates, so while you can consume the greens on top of the root in unlimited quantities, you should only have the root a few times a week. Beets are best from early spring to late fall.

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