Speed up your beet: Cut cook time by half with icy trick
Beets are a true treasure trove of vitamins and minerals. Their deep, intense colour is a testament to the abundance of antioxidants that support our immune system. However, many people are put off by the lengthy cooking time of these root vegetables. But what if we told you there's a simple way to cut this process in half?
Beets are exceptionally healthy vegetables that work well in various dishes, from salads to soups and desserts. Their preparation can be time-consuming, especially when dealing with older and larger specimens. If you think cooking beets is a tedious task, we have a simple trick that will cut this process in half. With it, you'll save not only time but also energy.
Cooking beets – how to reduce time in the kitchen?
Traditional beet cooking is often associated with long waiting times. Especially in the fall and winter, when these vegetables are larger and more mature, cooking can take up to an hour. However, it's worth applying a simple trick that significantly speeds up the entire procedure to enjoy their taste and nutritional value without spending ages in the kitchen.
The key is to cook the beets whole, without peeling them. This method preserves the intense colour of the vegetables as well as their vitamins and minerals, making them an even healthier addition to dishes.
Quick beet cooking – step by step recipe
With this method, cooking beets will become much simpler. All you need are a few easily accessible ingredients and two pots to get perfectly tender vegetables in no time.
Ingredients:
- medium-sized beets,
- crust of whole-grain bread,
- 1 tablespoon of sugar per kilogram of beets,
- very cold water,
- ice cubes,
- two pots.
Preparation:
- Thoroughly wash the beets under running water to remove soil residues. Do not peel the skin – this way, the vegetables will retain more nutrients and their natural colour.
- Place the beets in a pot, add the bread crust and sugar. The proportion of sugar is one tablespoon per kilogram of beets. Pour boiling water into the pot – the water should completely cover the beets and be about 2.5 cm above their surface.
- Cook the beets over medium heat for 30 minutes. If the water starts to evaporate, replenish it.
- After 30 minutes, drain the beets and immediately transfer them to another pot with very cold water and ice cubes. Leave them in the icy water for 15 minutes.
- Once cooled, the beets will be ready to peel. The skin will easily come off the flesh, making it much easier to prepare dishes.
Why does this trick work?
The secret of this method lies in using icy water after initially cooking the beets. The sudden change in temperature causes the vegetables to soften faster, and their skin easily separates. This makes cooking beets significantly less time-consuming, which is particularly important with larger specimens.
Additionally, using bread crust and a little sugar during the cooking process gives the beets a slightly sweet taste and enhances their natural aroma.
