Beets are one of the most nutritious vegetables available, with a unique sweet and earthy taste. They are also incredibly versatile, as they can be eaten raw or cooked, roasted, grilled, or boiled. But did you know that there are different types of beets, each with its own distinct flavor, color, and texture? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the best types of beets available and how they differ from one another.
Introduction to Beets
Before we delve into the different types of beets, let’s first understand what beets are and their nutritional benefits. Beets, also known as Beta vulgaris, are root vegetables that come in a variety of colors, including red, golden, and striped. They are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, folate, and potassium. Beets are also known to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help lower blood pressure [1].
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Types of Beets
Red Beets
Red beets are the most common type of beets and are what most people envision when they think of beets. They have a deep-red color, an earthy flavor, and a slightly sweet taste. Some popular varieties of red beets include the Crosby Egyptian, Detroit Dark Red, and Crapaudine [2]. Red beets are particularly delicious when roasted and are a great addition to salads or as a side dish.
Golden Beets
Golden beets have a mellow, less earthy flavor compared to red beets and are slightly less sweet. They have a bright, zesty yellow color and are great when served roasted or in salads. Golden beets are also ideal for adding to a pan of roasted vegetables since they don’t stain everything pink, like red beets do [1].
Striped Beets
Striped beets, also known as Chioggia beets, are characterized by their unique red and white striped pattern. They have a sweet, tender, and mild flavor and are a great addition to salads. When cooked, their stripes fade, giving them a unique look [2].
White Beets
White beets are less common than red or golden beets and have a milder flavor with a hint of sweetness. They have a creamy white color and are often used in salads or roasted alongside other vegetables [3].
Bull’s Blood Beets
Bull’s Blood beets are a type of red beet that has dark purple-red leaves and stems. The leaves are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked, while the roots have a sweet and earthy flavor. Bull’s Blood beets are often used in salads, soups, or as a garnish [3].
Chioggia Beets
Chioggia beets, also known as candy cane beets or bullseye beets, are a visually stunning variety of beets. They have alternating red and white rings inside and a slightly sweeter and milder flavor than red beets. Chioggia beets are an excellent option for roasting, as their unique stripes make for a visually appealing side dish or salad topping [1].
Cylindra Beets
Cylindra beets, also known as Formanova beets, are a cylindrical-shaped variety of beets that have a deep-red color and a sweet, earthy flavor. Cylindra beets are a popular variety for canning and pickling, as their shape makes them easy to slice into uniform pieces. They are also delicious roasted or grated raw into salads [3].
Touchstone Gold Beets
Touchstone gold beets are a vibrant golden-yellow variety of beets with a mild and sweet flavor. They are an excellent choice for roasting or grilling and are also delicious when sliced thinly and served raw in salads [3]
Detroit Dark Red Beet
The Detroit Dark Red beet, as its name suggests, is a dark red beet with a sweet flavor. It is round in shape and has a smooth texture, making it perfect for roasting, boiling, or pickling. Its deep red color also makes it a popular choice for beet juice.
Forono Beet
Forono beets are long and cylindrical with dark red skin and tender, sweet flesh. They are ideal for slicing and are often used in Mediterranean cuisine, particularly in Italy. They are also great for roasting, boiling, or grilling.
Ruby Queen Beet
Ruby Queen beets are a deep red color and have a sweet flavor. They are round and smooth with a tender texture, making them perfect for roasting or boiling. They are also a great choice for beet juice.
Lutz Green Leaf Beet
Lutz Green Leaf beets have a distinctive green stem and leave with a large, round, and red root. They have a sweet flavor and a tender texture, making them ideal for roasting, boiling, or pickling. The leaves can also be cooked like spinach.
Merlin Beet
Merlin beets are a deep red color and have a slightly sweet, earthy flavor. They are ideal for roasting, boiling, or pickling and are also great for beet juice.
Green Leaf Beet
Green Leaf beets have sweet and tender flesh and a green stem and leaves. They are often used in salads or as a garnish and can also be cooked like spinach.
Red Ace Beet
Red Ace beets have a deep red color and a sweet, earthy flavor. They are round and smooth with a tender texture, making them perfect for roasting or boiling. They are also a great choice for beet juice.
Avalanche Beets
The Avalanche beet is a variety of beet that is known for its white color and sweet, mild flavor. It is a hybrid variety that was developed by breeders to have a smooth, uniform shape and a high sugar content. Avalanche beets have a similar texture and taste to red beets, but with a milder flavor that makes them a great choice for those who don’t enjoy the earthy taste of red beets.
One of the benefits of Avalanche beets is their high nutritional value. They are packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and folate. Like other beets, they also contain betalains, which are natural compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
These compounds have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including improved heart health, better digestion, and reduced inflammation.
Avalanche beets are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. They can be roasted, boiled, or steamed and used in salads, soups, or as a side dish. When roasted, they develop a caramelized sweetness that pairs well with savory flavors like garlic and rosemary. They can also be thinly sliced and used as a substitute for pasta in dishes like lasagna or used to make beet chips as a healthy snack option.
When selecting Avalanche beets, it’s important to choose ones that are firm, smooth, and free of any cracks or blemishes. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, but should be kept separate from other fruits and vegetables to prevent them from absorbing any odors.
Overall, Avalanche beets are a unique and flavorful variety of beet that can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes. They offer a range of health benefits and are a great choice for those looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet.
Crosby Egyptian Beets
Crosby Egyptian is a type of beet that has a long and cylindrical shape with a deep red, almost purplish skin. It is one of the oldest and most popular beet varieties, dating back to the 1800s. Crosby Egyptian is known for its sweet and tender flesh, which makes it a popular choice for roasting, boiling, and pickling.
One of the benefits of Crosby Egyptian beets is their high nutritional value. They are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, potassium, and fiber. They also contain betalains, which are natural pigments that give the beet its deep red color and have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Crosby Egyptian beets are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. They can be roasted or boiled and served as a side dish or added to salads. They can also be pickled and used as a topping for sandwiches or as a snack. When cooked, Crosby Egyptian beets have a sweet and earthy flavor that pairs well with savory ingredients like goat cheese, walnuts, and arugula.
When selecting Crosby Egyptian beets, it’s important to choose ones that are firm, smooth, and free of any cracks or blemishes. The skin should be deep red and free of any soft spots. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks but should be kept separate from other fruits and vegetables to prevent them from absorbing any odors.
Overall, Crosby Egyptian beets are a flavorful and nutritious variety of beet that can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes. They offer a range of health benefits and are a great choice for those looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet.
Early Wonder Beets
Early Wonder is a variety of beet that is known for its vibrant red color and sweet, tender flesh. As its name suggests, Early Wonder is an early-maturing variety, meaning it can be harvested earlier in the growing season than other types of beets.
One of the benefits of Early Wonder beets is their high nutritional value. They are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, potassium, and fiber. They also contain betalains, which are natural pigments that give the beet its deep red color and have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Early Wonder beets are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. They can be roasted or boiled and served as a side dish or added to salads. They can also be pickled and used as a topping for sandwiches or as a snack. When cooked, Early Wonder beets have a sweet and earthy flavor that pairs well with a variety of ingredients.
When selecting Early Wonder beets, it’s important to choose ones that are firm, smooth, and free of any cracks or blemishes. The skin should be deep red and free of any soft spots. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks but should be kept separate from other fruits and vegetables to prevent them from absorbing any odors.
Overall, Early Wonder beets are a delicious and nutritious variety of beet that can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes. They offer a range of health benefits and are a great choice for those looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet.
Golden Detroit Beet Root
Golden Detroit beets, also known as Yellow Detroit or Golden, are a beautiful variety of beets that are known for their deep yellow color and sweet, mellow flavor. They are a great alternative to red beets and are a perfect choice for adding color and flavor to your salads or roasted vegetable dishes.
Golden Detroit beets have a flattened shape and medium size, with a smooth and tender texture. They are typically harvested when they are about 2-3 inches in diameter, although they can grow up to 5 inches in diameter if left to mature for longer. These beets are easy to grow and are a good choice for beginners, as they are more forgiving than some other varieties.
One of the advantages of Golden Detroit beets is that they are less likely to stain your hands, clothes, and cooking utensils than red beets. This makes them a great choice for anyone who wants to avoid the hassle of cleaning up after cooking with beets.
When it comes to cooking, Golden Detroit beets can be roasted, boiled, steamed, or pickled, just like other types of beets. They can also be eaten raw in salads or juiced. These beets pair well with a variety of flavors, such as citrus, ginger, and honey.
In terms of nutrition, Golden Detroit beets are a great source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, potassium, and folate. They are also rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties, making them a healthy addition to any diet.
Overall, Golden Detroit beets are a delicious and nutritious variety of beets that is easy to grow and versatile in the kitchen. If you’re looking for a new way to add some color and flavor to your meals, give these beets a try!
Merlin Beets
Merlin beets are a variety of beets known for their high sugar content, disease resistance, and heat and cold tolerance [1]. These beets are typically ready to be picked in 30 to 40 days and have crimson-stemmed greens that are also delicious to eat. Merlin beets can be roasted, baked, or boiled and are often featured in salads [1].
One of the standout features of Merlin beets is their sweetness. In fact, they are considered one of the sweetest and darkest red beet varieties available [2]. The beets themselves are uniform and round-shaped with a deep burgundy-red color and very little interior zoning. In terms of nutritional value, beets in general are a rich source of carbohydrates and protein, and also contain important vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients [3].
Overall, Merlin beets are a popular variety for home gardeners due to their easy growth, disease resistance, and sweet flavor. They can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, roasted vegetable medleys, and as a side dish for meat entrees.
Moulin Rouge Beetroot
Moulin Rouge beets are a beautiful and tasty variety of beets that is popular among home gardeners. According to [2], Moulin Rouge beets produce smaller fruit than other varieties but are still just as delicious. They thrive in full sun and warm temperatures, making them ideal for gardens in extra-sunny areas. This variety can be grown in containers, allowing those with limited space to enjoy fresh beets as well.
Moulin Rouge beets are a deep wine-purple-red color with a profound, sweet flavor that captures the full spectrum of beets’ signature taste [1]. They are best harvested when they reach a diameter of about 1 inch. Moulin Rouge beets are one of the 17 best beet varieties to grow at home, as listed by GardenersPath [3].
Overall, Moulin Rouge beets are a delicious and visually striking variety that can be grown in gardens or containers, making them a great choice for home gardeners.
Red Ball Beets
Also known as ‘Burpee’s Red Ball,’ this heirloom cultivar has sweet, mild, red flesh and deep purple, smooth skin. Uniformly round three-inch roots are ready for harvest after 60 days.
‘Red Ball’
This variety produces an abundance of particularly tasty greens, which you can harvest young for salads, sautes, and stir-fries.
Touchstone Gold Beets
Touchstone Gold is a popular golden hybrid variety, and seeds have an above-average germination rate.
Bright yellow flesh with smooth deep-orange skin is sweet and mild when eaten raw or cooked.
Touchstone Gold Three-inch roots display clear concentric rings when sliced, and these are ready for harvest after 55 days. Light green tops with yellow stems are tender and ideal for adding to salads or stir-fries.
White Detroit Beetroots
With all the distinctive taste of a red beet but no staining, ‘White Detroit’ has creamy-white, three-inch roots with a sweet yet hearty flavor.
This heirloom cultivar matures in 55 days and roots can be harvested early for baby beets.
What Are the Benefits of Beetroot?
Beetroot is a nutritious root vegetable that is often used in salads, juices, and smoothies. It is packed with essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which offer numerous health benefits.
- Lowering blood pressure: Beetroot has been found to have a significant effect on reducing blood pressure [1]. The nitrate compounds in beetroot are converted into nitric oxide, which helps to relax and dilate blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.
- Improving digestion: Beetroot is a good source of fiber, which promotes healthy digestion by adding bulk to stool and reducing constipation [2]. The betaine compound in beetroot also helps to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, thereby improving gut health.
- Boosting brain health: The nitrates in beetroot help to increase blood flow to the brain, which can improve cognitive function and memory [2]. Beetroot is also rich in antioxidants such as betalains, which can help to protect brain cells from damage caused by free radicals.
- Enhancing exercise performance: Beetroot has been shown to improve exercise performance by reducing the amount of oxygen needed to perform physical activity [1]. This is because the nitrate compounds in beetroot help to increase blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles, thereby reducing fatigue and improving stamina.
- Reducing the risk of chronic diseases: Beetroot is packed with antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer [3]. The betalains in beetroot have been found to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, while the fiber in beetroot can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
In conclusion, the health benefits of beetroot are numerous and wide-ranging. From reducing blood pressure and improving digestion to boosting brain health and enhancing exercise performance, beetroot is a valuable addition to any healthy diet.
FAQs
Are golden beets healthier than red beets?
Golden beets and red beets have similar nutritional profiles, so both are healthy options. However, golden beets have slightly less sugar and a milder taste, which some people may prefer.
Can I eat the leaves of beets?
Yes, the leaves of beets are edible and nutritious. They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach.
Are striped beets a different variety of beets?
No, striped beets are not a different variety of beets. They are simply red beets with a striped pattern inside.
How do I store beets to keep them fresh?
Beets can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Before storing, cut off the greens and store them separately. The beets should be placed in a plastic bag with some ventilation holes.
Can beets be used in desserts?
Yes, beets can be used in desserts such as cakes, brownies, and even ice cream. They add a natural sweetness and a unique earthy flavor to the desserts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several different types of beets available, each with its own unique characteristics and uses. Red beets are the most common and can be roasted, boiled, pickled, or used in a variety of dishes. Golden beets have a milder taste and add a bright, zesty yellow color to salads and roasted vegetable dishes.
Striped beets are simply red beets with a striped pattern inside, while other varieties like Chioggia and Bull’s Blood have distinctive patterns or colors. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to incorporate beets into your diet and enjoy their many health benefits.
Whether you’re roasting them as a side dish, adding them to a salad, or using them in a dessert recipe, beets are a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. More information is on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetroot. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-beetroot
