An interesting preparation for the winter: we store dried beets correctly together with the tops and use them in cooking

The use of dried beets helps to cleanse the body of toxins, improves the process of removing toxins, and increases appetite. Due to the high content of flavonoids, spasms in the vessels are relieved, blood pressure stabilizes, the strength of capillaries increases, and carcinogens are eliminated. Therefore, many housewives are looking for ways to dry beets at home, and how to use them to get the most out of them.

Which beets are best for drying

Not all beet varieties can be used for drying. It is better to give preference to root crops that have a rich red or dark purple hue. It's good if the vegetable has no rings in the cut.

Form also matters. Better to choose round and flat-round beets. In most cases, it has a sweet flesh and does not contain coarse fibers.

It is not recommended to take a vegetable that has traces of damage (darkening, brown spots, holes). The petiole should be about 2 cm long.

Suitable varieties

Housewives say it's better to dry canteens beet varieties... These include Bordeaux and Incomparable. There are other roots with a similar shape and structure (Egyptian, Vira), but they are not suitable for drying.

How to prepare a root vegetable for drying

If it was decided to dry a red vegetable for the winter, it must be properly prepared:

1. Wash off soil residues with a soft sponge.
2. Pour cold water over the beets and leave for 2 hours.
3. Drain the water, pour the vegetable with clean water and put on fire.
4. After boiling, wait 20 minutes and refill with cold water. Changing the temperature will shorten the cooking time.
5. After cooling, peel the beets, remove the root and head.
6. Cut the vegetable in any way (cubes, strips, slices).

It is very easy to check the readiness of beets. To do this, stick a match or a toothpick into the vegetable. If it's cooked, it will come in easily.

How to cook dried beets

Housewives use three main drying methods: in an electric dryer, in the oven and in the sun. Choose the one you like best.

In an electric dryer

The most modern method is the use of an electric dryer. This technique is ideal for those who live in an apartment or grow a lot of vegetables in their own garden. Thanks to the electric dryer, environmentally friendly blanks are obtained without any additives.

The main advantage of the method, compared to drying in the sun, is considered to be independence from weather changes. It is the high humidity and frequent rains that make it difficult to prepare the beets properly.

The step-by-step process is as follows:

1. Prepare 5 kg of beets. After cleaning, about 4.5 kg will remain.
2. The root vegetable can be cut into slices, and then mince. It will look like noodles.
3. Distribute the vegetable on the trays of the electric dryer. On average 350 g each.
4. The temperature in the electric dryer is set at 55 degrees, and in the room where the equipment is installed, it should be on average 12 degrees.
5. The approximate drying time for such a volume of beets is 9 hours.
6. At the exit from 5 kg of fresh vegetable, 600-650 g of dried product is obtained.

Then the beets can be placed in a tray or glass jar and sealed with a lid.To check the quality, take a small pinch of the resulting mass and fill it with water. If the liquid turns red-burgundy, then the product is suitable for use.

In the oven

You can prepare dried beets for the winter using the oven. The root vegetable is boiled until it is partially cooked (about 10 minutes after boiling), then cooled in ice water.

Attention! A distinctive feature of drying beets in the oven is that they require a higher temperature than other vegetables (20-30 degrees higher).

The next step is to peel the vegetable, remove the tail and head. Then the beets are cut into circles no more than 0.5 cm thick. They are laid out in one layer on a baking sheet and placed in the oven for 5 hours at a temperature of 80-85 degrees. Store in a cool, dark place, previously placed in a jar and tightly closed with a lid.

In vivo

Air drying is the most natural way. Most often, food was stored in the attic, in a shed, or under a shed so that the wind could blow them well. Pre-cooked and cut into thin slices, slices or strips the root crop should be laid out on a sieve in one layer.

Council.It is recommended to dry the beets for 45-60 days.

It is impossible to use a pallet or a sieve with this technique, since natural airflow from all sides is necessary. They put the vegetable in a place where there is no direct sunlight, and wait for it to dry completely. You can store it in any container that is hermetically sealed.

How to store

Regardless of which recipe was used to dry beets for the winter, they are stored the same way. Clean, dry jars or plastic containers are perfect for this.

The main thing is that the container is hermetically sealed. It is best to use vacuum containers. Next, the workpiece is placed in a dark cool place. Someone uses a basement or a barn, others simply store it in the refrigerator.

What can you use dried beets for?

The field of application of dried root vegetables is as diverse as fresh. For example, it is ideal for cooking borscht.

If you pre-soak the beets in water and then drain the liquid, you can add the vegetable to various salads. Also, the product is perfect for making fresh beet kvass. Some children eat dried beets as chips, which is very beneficial for the growing body.

Can beet leaves be dried

During harvesting, when the red root crop is harvested fresh for storage, the tops are removed from it. Few people know that it has a high content of vitamins and minerals.

How to dry the tops

For preparation, it is initially necessary to thoroughly wash each sheet. Then the greens are dried with a towel and cut into strips 3-4 cm thick. After that, the tops are laid out on a wooden tray or on a sheet of white paper (it is better to take thick cardboard).

How to store

After the tops are completely dry, it must be rubbed. To do this, use a coffee grinder or do everything by hand. The resulting powder is poured into glass jars and tightly closed with lids. The workpiece is stored in the same way as a root crop - in a dark cool place. It is important that the room is dry, otherwise the product will deteriorate.

What to cook from dried tops

Dried beet tops in grated form, they are used as greens for first and second courses. If the preparation was in the form of large pieces, it is added as a secondary ingredient to salads, chicken soup (dried tops are added at the very end of cooking), various juices and smoothies.

There are a lot of recipes for using beet tops. It can be harvested for the winter not only dried, but also pickled, frozen and canned. Most often, this part of the root crop is used for medicinal purposes, but before using it, you should consult a doctor.

Conclusion

Since ancient times, beets themselves and dishes with them have been considered very healthy. If you prepare a vegetable or its tops in dry form, this will help to preserve all the properties of the product, and the body will receive useful substances in winter.