Beets were eaten by the ancient Romans. In the middle of the XIX century, she was already quite popular, in particular, Mrs. Beaton’s famous recipe book contains 13 ways to prepare dishes from this root crop, including beet jam and even beetroot pancakes. Beets are very rich in potassium, iron, calcium, copper and phosphorus. Beetroot leaves, which taste and smell like spinach, contain a large amount of vitamin A. Vitamin B9 in beets is needed for the prevention of heart disease. In addition, this vitamin takes part in the synthesis of hemoglobin, it is important for the prevention of anemia and leukemia. Beetroot has anti-aging properties, which are manifested due to the presence of folic acid in it, which contributes to the appearance of new cells. Another important element that determines the anti-aging properties of beets is quartz, which is necessary for blood vessels, bones and skin. Beetroot helps cleanse the liver, kidneys and blood, reduces acidity in the stomach.
What is the best way to cook beets? The answer is unequivocal - bake it. This article will tell you how to bake beets in the oven or microwave. The arguments in favor of this cooking method are as follows:
- Beets in the oven are much more useful and tastier than boiled, because all the valuable ingredients that are lost during the cooking process remain in it.
- Baked beets for a long time retains its rich, beautiful beetroot color.
- You can not be afraid that the water will boil, because of which the beets can burn.
- After cooking in the oven or microwave, do not clean up the kitchen and do the dishes.
How to bake beets in the oven? There are several options, one of them is offered below, which is simple.
Take one large beet or several small. Before baking beets in the oven, thoroughly wash the root crop with a brush. It is not necessary to peel, dry and wipe - too, although in some recipes it is advised to dry the beets. We place the beets in a special baking sleeve or perforated plastic bag, tie the ends of the sleeve on both sides. On a baking sheet or deep plate, line the foil in two layers. We lay a sleeve with beets on the foil, which again is wrapped in foil in two layers from above. All this is placed in an oven already preheated to 200 degrees for one and a half to two hours - the cooking time depends on the variety and size of beets.
Readiness is checked by piercing with a sharp wooden stick or fork. After cooking, let the beets cool, without removing it from the foil.
Thus, you have learned how to bake beets in the oven in the simplest and most common way. Next, you will learn how to cook this root vegetable in the microwave.
How to bake beets in the microwave
Cooking beets in this way is extremely simple. This will take you significantly less time than when cooking it on a conventional gas stove or in the oven.
What is needed for that:
- microwave (with sufficient power, at least 700, and preferably 800 watts);
- washed beets;
- special glassware for microwave ovens (in the absence, a deep plate or a plastic bag with perforation is suitable).
Cooking beets is very simple and fast, as mentioned above. First thoroughly wash the root crop. Then with a sharp object (awl or fork) we make holes in it. Next, put the beets on a plate or in a bag, while water does not need to be added anywhere! We put in the microwave for 10 minutes, if the power is 800 watts. If the microwave oven is weaker, then the cooking time increases, if it is more powerful, it decreases. After this time, beets can be considered ready for direct consumption or use as an ingredient in another dish.