How to Roast Beets

Beets don't have to be roasted, and are actually quite good thinly sliced and eaten raw. But roasting transforms beets from something crunchy into something silky and tender. Though it requires a hot oven, roasting is preferred over boiling or steaming because roasting intensifies the beet's flavor and brings out its earthy sweetness. Roasting also makes their peels easy to peel off

1. Heat the Oven: Heat the oven to 400°F. Beets are fairly flexible veggies, if you have something else in the oven at anywhere between 325°F and 425°F, beets will happily roast up at that temperature alongside what you're already cooking, it just will take a bit longer at lower temperatures. At higher temperatures, check more frequently for scorching (see Step 3).

2. Prepare the Beets for Roasting: Slice off the beet leaves close to the tip of the beet, leaving yourself enough to grip. Save the beet greens for another purpose. Scrub the beets thoroughly, then wrap them loosely in foil. No need to dry the beets before wrapping. Small beets can be wrapped together, but it's easiest to roast large beets individually. Beets could also be tossed with a little olive oil and roasted on a baking sheet.

3. Roast the Beets: Transfer the wrapped beets to a baking sheet (to catch drips in case the beet juices leak). Roast for 50-60 minutes. Check the beets every 20 minutes or so. If they are starting to look dry or are scorching on the bottoms, dribble a tablespoon of water over the beets before re-wrapping. Beets are done when a fork or skewer slides easily to the middle of the beet. Small beets will cook more quickly than large beets.

4. Peel the Beets: Let the beets cool enough to handle. Hold one of the beets in a paper towel and use the edges of the paper to rub the skin away. The skin should peel away easily; if it doesn't, the beets likely need to cook for a little longer. Peel the remaining beets.

5. Store the Beets: Beets can be stored whole or sliced for up to a week in the refrigerator.