A How To: Canning Pickled Red Beets

I love me some pickled beets. So sweet. They are such a pretty addition to a bland winter plate. And beets are loaded with nutrition, though the amount of sugar used might just counteract with that.

*Please note: I do not necessarily follow the tested methods of canning. But this way has always worked for me with no spoiling or food poisoning issues.

Step 1 Acquire a large bowl of red beets.

Any dark purple variety will do. These happen to be Cylindra. This is 7 1/2 pounds of beets (not including the weight of the leaves).

Comments

[maryliz]

Those finished pickled beets in the dutch oven look soooooo good my mouth is watering !!! My Mom used to can everything. I think that I will start with your recipe. You did a great job explaining everything. One question. Why do you remove the screw on ring though? Nice pictures too !!

[zoedawn]

It's not necessary to keep the ring on once the lid is sealed. I reuse my rings all through the canning season. If I had enough rings for all my jars, they'd fill several cardboard boxes but this way, I only need a few dozen.

[maryliz]

OK just curious. I'm getting some jars at yard sales and will buy new lids. Thanks, Can't wait to have some of these.

[Mr. E Meat]

Nice Instructible! I know what I'm doing with the mess of beets that are in my garden.

[Beatle4]

I've been doing pickled beets for years and the recipe I use is almost the same as yours. The only difference I do is I roast them instead of boiling them. One trick I have learned over the years, latex gloves help keep you from getting red hands. You did a great job with the article.

[zoedawn]

Thanks Beatle!

I roasted beets for the first time last week and did NOT like them. I tried salt roasting them and may have over baked them a little. What's your method? I really want to get it right!

I've thought about using latex gloves but I can't stand working with gloves on. I'm afraid I'll have less control and then cut myself or something. I don't mind the pink hands. If anyone asks, I tell them I just work hard :)

[Beatle4]

I just wash them real good, lay them out on a cooking sheet and then put them in a 325 degree oven for about 3 hours. It depends on the size of the beets of course on how long it takes to cook them I just check every so often for doneness. Once I get very little resistance when checking them, I pull them out of the oven and let them cool down. I usually let them sit overnight before I start the pickeling process.

[zoedawn]

Thanks again Beatle! I'll have to try it this way. Hopefully they are better than my first try :)

[90mp11]

Lemon juice works a treat for getting rid of the beet colour

[zoedawn]

Good tip!