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Boiled beets in a slow cooker. How to cook beets in a slow cooker: tips from home cooks. Beets in a slow cooker - how to cook beets quickly and how much

How to cook beets in a slow cooker? This question is often asked by the happy owners of this kitchen appliance. In particular, those who have just purchased it and are beginning an exciting acquaintance with their assistant. Many people often prepare salads from boiled beets. And when the question arises about cooking this vegetable, a long process immediately appears. In fact, boiling beets is very simple if you have a multicooker at home.
It is steamed in the peel. You can cook it whole or cut it in half depending on the size of the root vegetable. If the beets are young, they will cook faster. You can also speed up the cooking of this product in another way - cut it into cubes or slices. There may be several options, now we will tell you how and how much to cook beets in a slow cooker. Let's focus on the simplest option. Boil the beets whole in their skins.

Ingredients

Beets – 2-5 pieces
Water – 2 liters

Preparation

In this case, we will learn how to cook beets in a Redmond multicooker. But using this example, you can cook it in any multicooker that has a “Steam” program.
Each multicooker model is equipped with a steamer basket. It is on this that we will cook the beets. First, let's rinse it thoroughly. Choose small or medium root vegetables. It is important that they are approximately equal in size.
Place the beets in the basket. If it is too large, cut it in half. Pour about two liters of water into the multicooker bowl. Place the basket on the bowl. Close the lid. Select the “Steam” program from the menu.
How long to cook beets in a slow cooker? The average cooking time is 40 minutes. Therefore, we set the time indicator to 40 minutes. Press the “Start” button. We are waiting for the end of the program.

After the signal, open the lid of the multicooker. We check the readiness of the beets by piercing the root vegetable with a wooden stick or a thin knife. If the beets are ready, remove them. If not, then set the same mode again and the cooking time is 10-20 minutes, depending on the readiness of the beets.
The fact is that this vegetable is prepared differently each time. Here it is better for housewives to observe the process themselves, adjusting the cooking time.
Small beets usually take 30 minutes to boil completely in a slow cooker; medium ones usually take 40 minutes. If you have large beets, they will cook for about an hour; to speed up the time, cut the beets into pieces.
Young beets cook faster than old ones, but as a rule this is also due to the fact that small beets are small in size.

Now you know how to cook beets in a slow cooker. It's very simple.

Please note that in most multicooker models, the countdown on the “Steam” program begins not from the moment you press the “Start” button, but from the moment the water boils.
The “Steam” program can be replaced by the “Cooking” or “Soup” program. In this case, the water will definitely boil and steam will come out.
This is how easy it is to cook beets in a slow cooker.

In cooking, beets are an indispensable vegetable for preparing salads, first courses, drinks and desserts. Each method of cooking beets depends on what dish and how you are preparing it. Beets are boiled in water (in a slow cooker or saucepan), steamed in a double boiler or baked in a microwave or oven. The finished beets are peeled, cut into strips or grated, and then added to the dish. There are quick ways to prepare beets, when raw peeled fruits are cut into cubes or strips and cooked in crushed form. Also, to prepare borscht or beetroot soup, you can grate peeled raw beets and simmer them with vinegar or lemon, and then add them to the soup.

Beet cooking time

In a saucepan: 30-40 minutes.
In a slow cooker: 35-40 minutes.
In a double boiler: 1 hour.
In the oven: 30-40 minutes.
Microwave: 10-12 minutes.
In a slow cooker in pieces: 15 minutes.

Cooking methods

How to Peel Beets Before Cooking

Pre-soak the beets in cold water, and then wash them thoroughly under running water with a brush.

Separate the tubers from the tops, because tubers and beet tops are always prepared separately.

How to cook beets in a saucepan

1. The beets must be washed well under running water, without cleaning or removing the tails - only the leaves of the tops are removed.

2. Place in a saucepan, add cold water until the tubers are completely covered, and cook.
3. Beets are cooked for an average of 30-40 minutes. You can check the readiness by piercing the vegetable with a fork - the finished beets are soft in the center.
4. Drain the water, clean the finished beets hot - under running cold water, or place them in a saucepan with cold water for 10 minutes before cleaning. Then we clean it, removing the skin.

How to cook beets in a slow cooker

We choose medium-sized fruits, just like for cooking in a saucepan.
We wash the beets, separate the tops, place them in the multicooker bowl, and fill them with water.
Cook the vegetable in the “Baking” mode. The cooking time for beets in a slow cooker is 35-40 minutes. For large beets, the time is increased to one hour.
You can bake beets in a slow cooker, as in this recipe: “Beet caviar in a slow cooker”

How to bake beets in the oven

You can bake beets in the oven by wrapping them in foil or placing them in a baking bag. Cook for approximately 30 minutes at a temperature of 190-200 degrees. The time depends on the size of the beets and the individual characteristics of your oven.

1. Wash the beets, separate the tops.
2. Wrap the tubers in foil or place in a baking bag.
3. Place on a baking sheet.
4. Bake the beets in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius.
5. Baking time: 30-40 minutes.
6. Open the foil or bag slightly and let the vegetable cool.
7. Peel off the skin.

Quick Cooking Methods

Beets in the microwave

Pierce the washed fruits in several places and place them in a special microwave-safe bowl or food bag. Cook in the microwave for 10-12 minutes at 800 watts.

Quick beets in a slow cooker

You can quickly cook beets in a slow cooker by first cutting them into pieces or strips. To do this, the beets must be peeled and chopped.

Pour vegetable oil into the multicooker bowl, add beets, mix well and cook in the “Baking” mode for 15 minutes.
These beets can be added to salads, borscht, or made into beetroot caviar.

Beetroot dishes - recipes

Beets have become a part of our diet and it is simply impossible to imagine our daily and holiday menus without them.
In cooking, beets are used to prepare cold appetizers and salads, not only from the rhizome, but also from the tops. It’s hard to imagine borscht or beetroot soup, Botvinnik or beetroot okroshka without beets, not to mention vinaigrette or the famous and healthy “Brush” salad. Beetroot is used to make healthy and tasty drinks, and even desserts and sweets.

* Simple raw beet salad.
It is very useful to prepare salads from raw beets, because it is in raw beets that all vitamins and nutrients are preserved. So, we bought, washed and dried the beets. Peel a few tubers and grate them on a coarse grater or a Korean carrot grater. Prepare only as much as you can eat in one sitting because, even if stored in the refrigerator, a beet dish loses all its magical properties.
Grate 200 g of beets and mix with 1 tbsp. l. lemon juice.
Add a pinch of red hot pepper. A few coriander grains ground in a mortar, salt to taste and season with olive oil, add 1 tbsp. l. finely chopped green onion.

* Boiled beets with olive oil and lemon.
A very popular appetizer in Greece, served with fatty fish Dorado or Salmon baked on charcoal or grilled.
Cook 200 g of unpeeled beet tubers and beet tops in a slow cooker in the “Steam” mode. The tops will cook much faster than the tubers, so we’ll take them out in about 15 minutes. We check the readiness of the tubers by piercing them with a fork, which goes into the finished tuber easily and softly. We peel the hot tubers, cut them into circles and place them beautifully on a dish. Place the tops nearby and water with 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil and 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice and sprinkle with oregano to taste.

* Beetroot caviar with walnuts and prunes.
Wrap beet tubers (200 g) in foil and place in the oven. Bake, peel the finished beets and grate them on a fine (carrot) grater, you can punch them with a blender.
Finely chop a small onion and lightly fry in two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Dried and very soft prunes 5-6 pcs. cut in small pieces. Chop the dried nuts with a knife. Mix everything together and season with 2 tbsp lemon juice. l., adding a little ground coriander in a mortar, salt and black pepper to taste.

*See also other recipes with beets:
Beetroot salad with banana sauce
Snack cake "Beetroot"
Vinaigrette in the microwave
A very simple salad of cheese, eggs and beets
Cold beetroot soup with yogurt
Salad “Bite off your tongue”
Married beetroot grower
Vinaigrette “One-two and done”

Arrangement of salads and appetizers
Beetroot chip rose
Beetroot juice is an excellent natural coloring and is used in making desserts and baked goods: Multicolored Strawberries cookies

Beneficial properties of beets

Beetroot is a valuable food product that contains vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates, magnesium, potassium, iron, etc., as well as organic acids and dyes. It is a true food source of copper, iron, phosphorus and vitamin C. Its leaves contain a lot of vitamin A, and the presence of folic acid in beets promotes the formation of new cells and rejuvenation of the body. Vitamin B9 prevents heart disease because it is responsible for the body's production of hemoglobin. The presence of pectin in beets helps remove heavy metal salts and radiation from the body and lowers cholesterol.
Despite the sugar content in beets, they are recommended for people suffering from obesity and fluid retention. It cleanses the liver and kidneys well, stimulates brain function, lowers blood pressure, but at the same time, beets are not recommended for people with a weak stomach and high acidity.
Red beets, rich in nutrients, are important and necessary for all of us. It helps women during menopause and cope with menopause; in men it stimulates sexual and muscle activity, and for children it is a source of vitamins, iron and iodine.

Energy value of beets

Energy value per 100 g. fresh beets 43 kcal 180 kJ.
Proteins - 1.6 g, fats - 0.2 g, carbohydrates - 9.6 g. - including sugar 6.8 g.

Beet varieties

All types of beets originate from wild beets, which grow in India and the Far East. The most common types of beets known to us: sugar, fodder and ordinary, are quite unpretentious, grow and are found everywhere except Antarctica. We are talking about ordinary beets, which we use to prepare our dishes, which we buy in stores and markets, and which we also grow in our summer cottages. So, ordinary beets have many varieties: Ataman, Bordeaux, Detroit Cadet, Captain, Aelita, Cylinder, Commander, Cadet and Red Ball. Most popular and loved for its rich burgundy color and sugar content Bordeaux beet variety.

Selection, purchase, processing, storage

When purchasing beets, try to choose tubers that are medium to uniform in size, thin-skinned, and deep burgundy in color.
If the beets have tops, do not rush to throw away the tops - they can be used to prepare salad, borscht and beetroot soup.
Separate the tubers from the tops and dry thoroughly if you do not use the beets right away. It is better to store tubers on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator in special containers for vegetables or in a cool, dry, dark place. The tops can be frozen and placed in a food bag to freeze.

Interesting Facts
To prevent beets chopped for mixed salads from coloring the rest of the ingredients, you need to add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil to it and let it stand for a few minutes.
In the old days, in the Mediterranean, only beet leaves were eaten, and the roots were used only for medicinal purposes.

You can talk about the beneficial properties of beets for a long time, but most people who take care of their health are aware of this. However, even realizing all the benefits of beets, some housewives rarely prepare delicious dishes from them. The reason is that beets take a very long time to cook, and you need to constantly make sure that there is enough water in the pan. Perhaps if everyone knew how to bake beets in a slow cooker, this vegetable would be included in the menu much more often. After all, this process is simple and relatively short.

Technology for baking beets in a slow cooker

The most healthy, tasty and juicy beets baked in a slow cooker will be if you follow the technology and cooking time, and also know some little secrets.

It is better to bake beets whole in a slow cooker, unless the recipe calls for cooking them in pieces.
The beets will be juicier and more tender if you lightly brush them with olive oil and wrap them in foil before baking.
Before putting into the multicooker, the beets must be thoroughly washed and dried with a napkin. It is better not to cut off the “tail”, otherwise the beets baked in a slow cooker will be pale and unappetizing.
When roasting beets in pieces, add a little vinegar or lemon juice - this will preserve the color of the root vegetable.
Bake small young beets (up to 7 cm in diameter) for 40 minutes. Larger specimens are baked for an hour.
There is no need to add water to the multicooker bowl when baking beets.
To bake beets in a multicooker, select the “Baking” program.

You can bake beets in a slow cooker not only whole, but also in pieces - in this case it will be a complete dish that can be served as a side dish or as a dessert, depending on the specific recipe.

Whole beets baked in a slow cooker

beets – 0.3 kg;
olive oil – 20 ml.

Cooking method:

Wash the beets well and dry with a napkin.
Brush each vegetable with a thin layer of oil.
Place the beets in the multicooker bowl. If desired, each fruit can be wrapped in foil, although this is not necessary. Lower the lid and start the Baking program. Set the timer for 40–60 minutes.

Then you just have to wait until the beets have cooled and peel them. Roasted beets are commonly used in salads and other dishes. Please note that the recipe does not specify the amount of salt. This is not a mistake: it is better to add salt to the beets after baking.

Beets baked with sour cream

beets – 0.3 kg;
sour cream – 0.2 l;
ground black pepper – 5 g;
coriander – 5 g;
vegetable oil – 20 ml;
apple cider vinegar (6 percent) – 10 ml;
salt - to taste.

Cooking method:

Wash, peel the beets, cut into circles about 0.7–0.8 mm thick.
Sprinkle the beets with vinegar and stir.
Add seasonings and stir again.
Grease the multicooker bowl with oil and add the beets.
Turn on the “Baking” program for 40 minutes.
20 minutes after the program starts, brush the beets with sour cream mixed with salt and continue baking the beets until tender.

Video recipe for the occasion:

When serving this dish, it would be nice to sprinkle it with fresh herbs.

Beetroot baked with honey

beets – 0.3 kg;
olive oil – 50 g;
balsamic vinegar – 50 ml;
dried thyme – 10 g;
honey – 70 g;
goat cheese (optional) – 100 g.

Cooking method:

Wash the beets, peel them, cut each root vegetable into 4 parts.
Grease the bottom of the multicooker bowl, place the beet slices in it, and sprinkle them with a small amount of vinegar.
Cook using the baking program for 30 minutes.
Melt the honey, mix it with the remaining vinegar and oil, add thyme. Pour the mixture over the beets. Run the Bake program again for 30 minutes. Cook with the lid open for the last 15 minutes. If desired, you can add some diced goat cheese at this stage.

Beets baked with honey according to this recipe can be served for dessert. The beets look like glass – it’s unusual and very appetizing.

Beets baked with garlic and mustard

beets – 0.3 kg;
mustard (sauce) – 20 ml;
honey (liquid) – 20 ml;
garlic – 2 cloves;
balsamic vinegar – 50 ml;
olive oil – 50 ml;
soy sauce – 40 ml.

Cooking method:

Wash and peel the beets, cut them into cubes or small slices.
Pass the garlic through a press, mix it with honey, mustard, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Pour the marinade over the beets and leave in it for an hour.
Place the beets in foil, wrap and place in the multicooker bowl.
Cook using the Bake setting for 40 minutes.

This dish is perfect as a side dish for poultry dishes, although you can eat it just like that.

If you know how to properly bake beets in a slow cooker, you can prepare a variety of dishes that are tasty, healthy and unusual.

Boiling a bright red root vegetable in a saucepan takes a lot of time, and the quality of the final result often leaves much to be desired. But if you know how to cook beets in a slow cooker, you can not only save time, but also get a really high-quality product. Using a modern device from the Redmond, Tefal and other brands will allow you to spend no more than 40-60 minutes cooking beets. In a pressure cooker the process will go even faster and the product will be ready in about 30 minutes. In both cases, there is no need to monitor the process or add water; just set the timer for the recommended time.

Options for cooking vegetables in a slow cooker

Redmond and many other appliances have several modes that can be used to cook beets. You just need to know how long to set the timer in which case.

Using the “Steam” mode. Place the washed and cleaned product in a basket for steaming the ingredients. If the vegetables are small, they do not need to be cut; otherwise, it is better to cut them into halves or quarters. Pour some water into the bowl of the device, place the basket, close the lid and select the desired mode. Processing time – 40 minutes. The result is a soft, but retained product that is ideal for preparing snacks or salads.

Tip: Before cooking beets in a slow cooker or double boiler, it is recommended not only to wash them thoroughly, but also to peel them. The duration of the manipulation is not so significant and most of the useful components will remain even after it has been carried out. But it’s not so easy to wash the bowl from the dirty residue that forms in any case.

Using the Soup mode. Place the prepared component in the bowl of the device and fill it with cold water. The liquid should cover the product by about 1 cm. We set the program, set the timer parameters to 1 hour. After the processing completion signal sounds, open the lid and assess the condition of the vegetable. If necessary, cook the product for some more time or immediately cool it and use it for its intended purpose.
Using the "Cooking" mode. Even if you have to deal with the simplest multicooker, this program will definitely be present in it. Place the main component in a bowl, fill it with water and close the lid. How long to cook a root vegetable depends on its size. On average, it takes about 60 minutes to cook vegetables. If this is not enough, you can simply keep the product in boiling water or cook it for another 20 minutes.

Practice shows that each of the above modes allows you to obtain a product with its own taste and special texture. Therefore, you should try all available approaches and choose the best option.

Before cooking beets in a slow cooker, it is worth evaluating the advantages of using other modern devices. For example, in a pressure cooker, the process of boiling vegetables will take less time and will allow you to get a truly juicy product rich in microelements. Devices from manufacturers such as Redmond have several functions that can be used for this purpose.

Option 1. Cut large beets into 2-4 parts, lay out small ones as a whole. Fill the vegetable with water so that the liquid only slightly covers the workpiece. Add auxiliary components to taste. We are introducing the “Beans” program. If the pressure cooker does not have time for this program, set the timer for 30 minutes. After the specified time, we check the readiness of the product and act according to the situation. When calculating the time for preparing beets, do not forget that, depending on the model, you will have to spend 10-15 minutes building and releasing pressure in the structure.
Option 2. You can also cook beets in a pressure cooker not in the traditional way, but by steaming them. To do this, the product, cut into medium-sized pieces, is laid out on a special grid in the device. A glass of water is poured into the bowl itself or the profile compartment. The program “Steamer” or “Steam” is set, the timer is set to 30 minutes. It is with this approach that the maximum amount of useful substances is retained in the component.

When boiling beets in a Redmond slow cooker or a regular saucepan, it is better to avoid salt. This component is actively absorbed by the pulp of the vegetable, causing its dehydration. Pre-salted root vegetables lose their purity of taste and juiciness. And it takes much more time to bring them to readiness.

When a vegetable is boiled in a pressure cooker, you can use not only salt, but also pepper. Some housewives even add a little balsamic vinegar, the presence of which only improves the taste characteristics of beets. Just don’t overuse herbs that are too aromatic; they can overpower the natural aroma of the product.

Beets are a “serious” vegetable and require quite a lot of time to prepare. But salads, beetroot soups, pickles, and borscht made from boiled beets are very tasty. And before you start preparing them, you need to actually boil the product itself.

In a gas pan, this process takes an hour or more. In addition, the kitchen is filled with steam, which is not pleasant. Cooking vegetables in a pressure cooker will be much easier and faster.

Steaming

In a slow cooker you can cook even the largest beets in a relatively short time. One way is by steaming.

Preparing the vegetables. They need to be thoroughly washed with a brush so that no dirt or sand remains. If the root vegetable is large, cut it in half or even into quarters. The small one can be left entirely.
In the multicooker, set the “Steam” mode. Pour water into the bowl up to the bottom line and install a mesh for steaming. If you have the opportunity to use metal mesh, do so. Plastic may become stained.
Place the beets on the grid, close the lid and cook until the beep sounds. Place the cut side up so that the juice does not leak out of the fruit during cooking.

How long you need to steam depends on the power of your kitchen assistant. On average it is from 40 to 60 minutes.

“Cooking” mode

The average multicooker has a standard set of functions. “Cooking” or “Soup” is available in almost every one. We use them exactly.

For this cooking method we use medium or small beets.

Wash the root vegetables thoroughly and place them on the bottom of the bowl in the multicooker. Fill with water so that it covers the contents by 1 cm.
Set the “Cooking” or “Soup” mode. How long it takes to cook beets depends on the power of the device. On average - up to 1 hour.
If after the beep it seems to you that it is still too harsh, add another 15-20 minutes.

To prevent the beets from losing their bright color during cooking, add a little citric acid (1/4 tsp) to the water. The acid will preserve the pigment.

Fast way

Cooking vegetables in a pressure cooker is the fastest way to boil root vegetables.

This model of kitchen appliance is the most versatile type, which has many more functions than a regular multicooker. Cooking in such a unit is much faster and easier.

Steam process

The pressure cooker does not always come with a metal mesh. And plastic ones can be painted with beet pigment. Before cooking vegetables this way, make sure you purchase the necessary accessory.

Wash the vegetable and place it on a grid.
Pour one multi-glass of water, which will correspond to the bottom mark.
Close the lid and begin the cooking process. How long it takes depends on the model of the device. On average - 25-35 minutes.

After the beep, do not immediately open the lid. Let the beets simmer a little more to reach full condition.