How to store boiled beets in the refrigerator and for how many days?

Beetroot is a healthy and tasty vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked.

Prepared in advance, it can be stored in the refrigerator, retaining all its positive properties and nutritional value characteristic of a raw product.

This is only possible if all conditions are met. We will tell you later how long boiled beets can be stored in the refrigerator.

Preparation

If beets are intended to be stored in the refrigerator, the vegetable must be properly prepared. You should cook a ripe root vegetable that is not damaged.. To do this, first wash it thoroughly and cut off the leaves.

After the root vegetable is cooked, it is taken out of the pan and dried. Wet vegetables should not be sent for storage. It is also important that after the beets are cooked, immediately remove them from the water. Otherwise, the vegetable will not only lose its bright color, but also its usefulness will decrease.

Features of storage organization

The length of shelf life depends on several factors. First of all, this is the condition of the product itself. Peeled, and even more so chopped, beets are stored for much less time than boiled beets in their peels and not peeled.

In the peel

Cooked but not peeled, beets can be stored for several days. To prevent the vegetable from spoiling, it must be placed in cellophane or put in a container. You can also keep the processed root vegetable in a saucepan with a lid.

Purified

If boiled beets are peeled, their shelf life is reduced. Before placing the vegetable in the refrigerator, it is recommended to pack it in a plastic bag.

Also Vacuum packaging or resealable container can be used. In this case, the vegetable can be stored for 1 to 3 days.

If possible, do not peel cooked beets in advance. It's better to do this as needed.

Sliced

If chopped boiled beets were purchased in a store in vacuum packaging, then they can be stored in the refrigerator until the expiration date specified by the manufacturer. In most cases – up to two months.

After opening the sealed package, the shelf life is 24 hours.. Vegetables that were cooked and cut at home have the same shelf life.

Expiration dates

The duration of storage depends on the condition of the root crop and the characteristics of its preparation. Cooked, unpeeled beets can be stored on average for 4 days. If it is longer, it will begin to dry out, even if the correct temperature is maintained.

When a root crop needs to be preserved for months, freezing comes to the rescue. In this case, it can be stored at low temperatures (-20? C) for up to six months. After the expiration date, beets should not be used for food.

In the freezer: advantages and disadvantages

You can preserve the beneficial qualities of beets by freezing.This allows you to always have something on hand for quick cooking.

Cooking procedure beets for freezing:

1. Rinse the vegetable.
2. Boil the root vegetable with the peel.
3. Cool.
4. Clean.
5. Chop or grate.
6. Pack into portioned bags or containers.

For convenience, it is advisable to mark the packaging with the date of preparation.

Depending on the air temperature in the freezer, the vegetable can be stored from 3 months to six months: at -20? C – 6 months, at -10? C – 3 months. If, due to a power outage or for some other reason, the temperature in the freezer is increased, the shelf life will be reduced.

Advantages of freezing:

• obtaining a finished semi-finished product;
• saving time on cooking in the future;
• preservation of useful substances in a frozen product;
• possibility of compact storage of vegetables;
• long shelf life.

Flaws:

• it takes time to prepare the vegetable, package it, cut it;
• for large items, there should be a lot of free space in the freezer;
• The shelf life is limited to several months.

You can watch the video on how to freeze beets:

Is it possible to increase the shelf life of the product?

The following circumstances can increase the storage duration:

• selection of vegetables for cooking - ripe, without damage;
• high-quality heat treatment;
• selection of suitable containers;
• compliance with temperature conditions;
• preventing sun exposure to the product.

Unpeeled and unchopped beets will last the longest in the refrigerator.Placing cooked vegetables in vacuum packaging allows not only to preserve the taste better, but also helps to extend the storage period.

This is due to the lack of oxygen access to the root crop and the slowing down of the development of pathogenic microorganisms. Vacuum packaging can be used both in the general compartment of the refrigerator and in the freezer.

Alternatives

In addition to the refrigerator, boiled beets can be kept in the cellar or even on the balcony. But such a room must meet strict requirements:

1. Temperature range – from 0? C to +8? C.
2. No exposure to direct sunlight.
3. High-quality packaging that will prevent moisture evaporation and prevent the vegetable from spoiling in the open air.
4. Protection from rodents in the basement and birds on the balcony.

If there is a threat of frost, beets should not be stored on an open balcony.

In what container?

When choosing a container for storing beets that have already been boiled, The following packaging requirements should be taken into account:

1. The surface of the dishes should not react with the product and accelerate its deterioration.
2. The dish must have a lid or cover it with cling film on top.
3. The dishes must be of the appropriate size.
4. The container must be dry and clean on the inside.
5. The prepared dishes should not contain other products, including boiled vegetables.

The following can be used to store boiled vegetables:

• glass jar;
• glass saucepan/bowl;
• ceramic container;
• plastic bag;
• container;
• Vacuum package.

For chopped beets, it is more convenient to choose a container or zip-lock bag for storage.If there are a lot of vegetables, then you can choose a pan of a suitable size or a large bowl to contain them.

Adviсe

When storing boiled beets in the refrigerator, The following expert advice should be taken into account:

1. Vegetables should not be re-frozen after defrosting. This significantly reduces the nutritional value of the product and worsens the taste.
2. Boiled beets should not be stored warm, at room temperature, as the vegetable quickly deteriorates. Sliced ​​beets should not remain warm for more than a few hours.
3. If the root crop is harvested for the winter, then the best option is to store it raw in the cellar. If such conditions cannot be created, then the solution is to freeze grated or chopped beets.
4. If there is no urgent need to cook the vegetable in advance, then it is better to avoid long-term storage of the product and find a use for it within a few hours after cooking.
5. It is most convenient to freeze boiled beets by dividing them into small portions, each of which is designed for one use. This will prevent you from defrosting more food at a time than is necessary for cooking.

Conclusion

Beets are a healthy product that supplies the body with vitamins and microelements. This boiled vegetable is used to prepare various dishes, and is often used in dietary nutrition.

So that beets have only benefits, it should be stored correctly, taking into account the condition of the product and controlling all conditions.