Pickled Beets Recipe (2024)

Recipes

Pickled Beets Recipe (1)

My mom has always made these pickled beets every summer and I've carried on the tradition with my family.

You can keep them in the refrigerator and add more cooked beets to the liquid when they start to get low. We also add shelled, hard-boiled eggs to the juice in this pickled beets recipe, and after 2 to 3 days, they are a beautiful purple all the way down to the yolk (and taste divine!). Slice these eggs, and they are a stunning garnish to salads.

Submitted by: Katherine from Petersburg, TX
Yield: 3 quarts

Spices

Featured in this Recipe

Preparation Instructions:


  1. Put beets in a large saucepan or stockpot and add enough cold water to cover them with 3 inches over the top. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to maintain a slow boil. Cook until beets are tender when pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes. Pour water off and let beets cool. Slip skins off once the beets are cool enough to handle. Slice and set aside.
  2. Place the sugar, cider vinegar, water, salt, and spices in a smaller saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Pour this pickling liquid into a large glass jar (1.5 liters or &frac12 gallon), add the sliced beets, cover with a lid and refrigerate. Let the beets sit at least a week before tasting.
  3. Add shelled hard boiled eggs to the mixture as well. Try to use them in 2 to 3 days. If left in the pickling liquid too long, they turn rubbery.
  4. Keep adding more cooked beets (and eggs) as needed. May keep in the refrigerator up to 6 months.

Pickled Beets Recipe (4)

thespicehouse.com

More About This Recipe

These beets make a delicious summer lunch accompanying good cheese and home made bread.For vegan beets, make sure the sugar you use is vegan. Some white sugar is processed with bone char.

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Comments

Based on 29 reviews

Customer Reviews

Cindy D.

I just want to mention two tips if you want to safely can beets. Be sure the vinegar is 5%. The other is minimum processing time is 30 minutes depending on altitude.

Table 1. Recommended process time for Pickled Beets in a boiling-water canner.
Style of Pack Jar Size. Process Time at Altitudes of
Hot. Pts or Qts 0 – 1,000ft1,001 – 3,000ft3,001 – 6,000ftAbove 6,000ft
30 min 35 min 40 min 45 min

Table from National Center for HomeFood Preservation. nchfp.uga.edu

Tam

This is the best pickled beet recipe I’ve tried! I believe it all has to do with your spices. My old recipe used McCormick pickling spice but my beets always had this sharp “bite” to them. I used to think it was the vinegar that caused this but using your spice mix made a world of difference! My pickled beets are completely gone so I’ll be making some brine and putting my regular beets in it and keep them in the fridge. I’ll be making a double batch for sure this year.

Andie Lok

I have this recipe bookmarked and use it every year now as soon as the beets come in! I love it, the week wait is excruciating though! thank you yo the reviewer who gave canning instructions. if i ever get enough beets, I will try it.

EllenMarie

I love these beets. I’ve made them many times. However, I peel and roast the beets. I also add 2 Tbsp of Kosher salt to the liquid. They make great hostess gifts.

Darlene W

I like mine better actually so many love my pickled beets.

Pat H

I will rate this again when I try the beets at Fourth of July. I made one change; I couldn’t stand to throw out the water I cooked the beets in with all that great color and nutrition. It smells wonderful and it should be great with my organically grown beets fresh out of the ground.

Misty from Montana

For those who want to can these. Use the ingredients and amounts as listed and follow this:
In a large pot cook the unpeeled beets until fork-tender (do not overcook) cool and then remove the skins.
Slice into about 1/4-inch thick or cut into cubes.
Pack snuggly into the canning jars (be careful not to bruise).
In a large saucepan combine the sugar, water, vinegar, ground cloves, allspice, cinnamon and whole cloves; bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes (no sugar granules should remain).
Quickly pour over the beets in the jars, leaving 3/4-inch headspace (the liquid should go no further than the shoulder of the jar!).
Process in a boiling water bath for 12 minutes.
Cool on a rack.

Frances G

My daughter-in-law said that she would never eat a beet. When I told her that these didn’t taste like ‘dirt’, she tried a bite. And another! My family loved these beets. Every one went home with a jar, so I’m making another batch. They taste just like the pickled beets I grew up with as a child. this recipe will be repeated many times throughout the year,and plan on giving out for Christmas gifts.

Sharon

Can you use white vinegar instead of cider? I made beets many years ago but I know I used white vinegar…thanks
Haven’t made yet so disregard the rating

Jane S

oops, I just added more beets to my jar and a few of them are not fully submerged (but partially) in the brining liquid. could I add a little water or would diluting the brine be a bad idea?

Pickled Beets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are pickled beets good for your kidneys and liver? ›

There are many benefits of pickled beets as they are one of the best foods for nitric oxide boosting, even when pickled. Beets are low in fat and calories and are a great plant-based source to fuel the body including vital systems like the brain, heart, kidneys, and the nervous system.

How long will homemade pickled beets last? ›

How to Store Pickled Beets. Because these pickled beets are processed, they are shelf-stable and do not need to be stored in the refrigerator when sealed. Store canned pickled beets in a cool, dry place for up to 12 months. Once opened, pickled beets will last about three to four days in the refrigerator.

How long after pickling beets can you eat? ›

No need to wait to enjoy your pickled beets. They're ready to eat as soon as they've cooled down, however, the longer you wait, the better their flavor. Give them at least a week or two.

Why are my pickled beets too vinegary? ›

Cutting back any further on the sugar will make the pickles taste too vinegary. And you don't wanna cut back on the vinegar or you won't have a good acidic brine. Think of the brine as a preservative and a marinade— you don't actually drink it. Make sure all the beets are completely covered with the brine.

Are pickled beets good for kidneys? ›

Beets can keep your kidneys and liver healthy.

Keep in mind, however, that beets are also rich in compounds called oxalates, which can contribute to kidney stones. So eat beets in moderation if you're prone to kidney stones.

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.

Is it OK to eat pickled beets every day? ›

The answer is yes! Pickled beets can offer several potential health benefits. If you want to boost your fiber intake or get more antioxidants in your diet, pickled beets may be a good option. Just remember to watch your sodium intake, as some brands of pickled beets can be high in sodium.

Can you eat too many pickled beets? ›

Possible downsides. Depending on how they're made, some varieties of pickled beets may pack salt and added sugars ( 23 , 24 ). Research links excess sugar and salt intake to poor health and an increased risk of illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Can you freeze beets to pickle later? ›

Frozen beets, on the other hand, would pickle just fine. What is this? Once you've picked a peck of frozen plants, pickle it how you would any other vegetable. Place your frozen vegetables in a heat-safe jar—there's no need to thaw.

What kind of vinegar is best for pickles? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Can homemade pickled beets go bad? ›

This acidity slows down the process of decay and prolongs the lifespan, but it doesn't make fresh foods last forever. 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.

When should you throw out beets? ›

The beets will not spoil if left at cool room temperature for a few days, but they do best when refrigerated for up to 10 days. If they turn soft, discard them.

What happens if you don't boil vinegar before pickling? ›

The key is knowing that first off, boiling your brine (vinegar mixture) will help all the flavors meld better, and that if you add in your pickling subject while the brine is hot, your pickle will be briefly cooked, and you risk losing some of the crunch.

Should I boil pickling vinegar? ›

Vinegar-based pickling is a much faster process than fermentation pickling. In its quickest form, you'll just boil a vinegar solution, pour it over the the object of your pickling desire, let it all cool and stash it in the fridge.

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.

Are pickled beets in a jar good for your liver? ›

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.

Should you eat beets if you have kidney problems? ›

However, for ESRD patients, beets are typically avoided because they are also high in potassium. Your kidneys work to filter out excess potassium and the amount of potassium in your diet is directly related to the amount of potassium found in blood.

Are pickled beets in a jar healthy? ›

The answer is yes! Pickled beets can offer several potential health benefits. If you want to boost your fiber intake or get more antioxidants in your diet, pickled beets may be a good option. Just remember to watch your sodium intake, as some brands of pickled beets can be high in sodium.

Do beets affect kidney function? ›

There is concern that beets might cause low calcium levels and kidney damage. But this hasn't been shown in people. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if beet is safe to use as a medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

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