Delicious & Easy Pressure Cooker Beets: Your Guide to Perfectly Tender, Flavorful Fresh Beets
Are you ready to transform your perception of beets? Forget the bland, mushy canned varieties. With the power of your Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot, you can unlock the true potential of fresh beets, yielding incredibly tender, sweet, and earthy results in under 30 minutes! This guide will show you how to effortlessly cook fresh beets that are so delicious, your family will never let you go back to canned again.
Embrace the Freshness: Pressure Cooker Beets for Unbeatable Flavor
For too long, many of us have relied on canned beets for convenience, never realizing the culinary delight we were missing. Fresh beets, when cooked properly, offer a depth of flavor and a satisfying texture that simply cannot be replicated by their canned counterparts. Before discovering the magic of pressure cooking, I admit, I was one of those who consistently reached for the can. But after just one batch of these pressure cooker beets, my family and I were converted. The difference is night and day – a vibrant, rich taste that truly elevates any meal.
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The journey to fresh beet enlightenment began during a local supermarket sale, where I found beautiful bunches of beets for an incredible price. It was the perfect opportunity to try something new, and I’m so glad I did. For a truly stunning visual presentation, consider using a mix of red and golden beets. Their contrasting colors will add a gorgeous pop to your plate, making them an ideal side dish for any occasion.
The Mighty Beet: A Nutritional Powerhouse
Beyond their delightful flavor and vibrant color, beets are a phenomenal source of essential nutrients and boast numerous health benefits. They are packed with:
- **Potassium:** Crucial for maintaining fluid balance and blood pressure.
- **Betaine:** Supports liver health and detoxification.
- **Magnesium:** Essential for muscle and nerve function, blood sugar control, and blood pressure regulation.
- **Folate (Vitamin B9):** Important for cell growth and function, and particularly vital during pregnancy.
- **Vitamin C:** A powerful antioxidant that supports immune function and skin health.
- **Fiber:** Aids in digestion, promotes gut health, and helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Regular consumption of beets may also contribute to improved digestion, reduced inflammation throughout the body, and even help in managing high blood pressure. Incorporating these root vegetables into your diet is a simple yet effective way to boost your overall well-being.
Does Size Matter? Understanding Beet Cooking Times
When it comes to pressure cooking fresh beets, size absolutely matters. The diameter of your beets will directly influence how long they need to cook to reach that perfect tender consistency. For instance, smaller beets (around 1-2 inches in diameter) will cook much faster than larger ones (3 inches or more).
To ensure even cooking, try to select beets that are roughly the same size. If you have a variety of sizes, you can either group similar sizes together for separate batches or, for very large beets, consider cutting them in half or quarters to match the cooking time of smaller beets. For the medium-sized beets (approximately 3 inches in diameter) used in this recipe, 30 minutes under high pressure yields ideal results. Always refer to the notes in the recipe card below for specific cooking times based on beet size.
Mastering the Art of Pressure Cooking Fresh Beets (Ninja Foodi & Instant Pot)
Cooking fresh beets in an electric pressure cooker like the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot is incredibly straightforward and surprisingly mess-free. Here’s your step-by-step guide to achieving perfectly cooked beets every time:
1. Preparation is Key: Trimming and Washing
Begin by trimming the beets. Leave about 1/2-inch of the stem and roots intact. This simple trick helps to minimize the “bleeding” of their vibrant red color into the cooking water and makes peeling significantly easier after they are cooked. Don’t discard those beautiful greens! Beet greens are highly nutritious and can be cooked quickly and deliciously in your Ninja Foodi in under 5 minutes. You can find my recipe for Ninja Foodi Fresh Beet Greens here.
Next, thoroughly wash and scrub your beets under cold running water. It’s important to remove any dirt or grit from their surface. There’s no need to peel them before cooking; in fact, cooking them with the skins on makes them much easier to peel once they’re tender.
2. Setup Your Pressure Cooker
Place the trivet or rack inside your pressure cooker pot. Pour 1 1/2 cups of water into the pot. Arrange the prepared beets in a single layer on the rack. This ensures even steaming and cooking.
3. Pressure Cook to Perfection
Secure the pressure cooking lid in place and lock it. Ensure the steam release valve is set to the “sealing” position. Select the “High Pressure” setting and set the cooking time for 30 minutes for medium-sized beets (approximately 3 inches in diameter). Don’t forget to press “Start” if your model requires it!
This method is fully compatible with both Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot models. I’ve personally used both and found the results to be consistently excellent. I even shared this technique with my aunt when I gifted her my Instant Pot, and she quickly became a convert!
You’ll find that these beets are incredibly flavorful on their own, often requiring no additional seasoning. We enjoy them without any salt or pepper, allowing their natural sweetness and earthiness to shine through.
4. Releasing Pressure and Checking Doneness
Once the cooking cycle is complete and the timer beeps, turn off your pressure cooker. Carefully perform a manual (quick) release of the steam by turning the pressure release control to the “venting” position. Stand clear of the steam to avoid burns.
Once the pressure has fully released and the float valve has dropped, open the lid. Use a sharp knife or a fork to pierce one of the beets to test for doneness. If the knife slides in easily with minimal resistance, your beets are perfectly cooked. If they still feel a bit firm for your liking, close the lid again, set it to high pressure, and cook for an additional 2-5 minutes, then perform another manual release.
Effortless Peeling: Making Quick Work of Cooked Beets
One of the best advantages of pressure cooking beets is how easily their skins come off. Once cooked, let the beets cool down just enough so they are comfortable to handle. To avoid staining your hands, I highly recommend wearing latex or rubber gloves for this step.
Here are a few methods for effortlessly peeling your perfectly cooked beets:
- **The Hand & Water Method:** Once cooled, trim both ends of the beet. You can then simply use your gloved hands to gently rub and slip the skins off under cool running water. The skins should slide off effortlessly.
- **The Paring Knife Method:** For a more precise approach, use a small paring knife to gently scrape or peel the skins off. They will come away cleanly without much effort.
- **The Paper Towel Rub:** Wrap a cooked beet in a paper towel and gently rub it. The friction will help loosen and remove the skin quickly.
Once peeled, slice your tender beets, serve them warm or cold, and savor the incredible, unprocessed taste of this truly remarkable vegetable!
Serving Suggestions & Storage Tips
These pressure-cooked beets are incredibly versatile. Enjoy them:
- As a simple, healthy side dish, perhaps with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
- Added to salads for a pop of color and earthy sweetness.
- Marinated in a light vinaigrette for a refreshing beet salad.
- Pureed into a vibrant soup or dip.
- Roasted again with other vegetables for added depth.
Storage
To store your cooked beets, allow them to cool completely. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. They are delicious served chilled the next day!
Place cooled beets in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. They can be enjoyed cold or gently reheated.
Absolutely! This recipe works perfectly for both Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot. Just use the same cooking times and follow the manual instructions for your specific Instant Pot model for pressure cooking.
No, it’s actually easier to peel them after they’ve been cooked! The skins will slip off effortlessly once the beets are tender and slightly cooled.
Cooking times can vary slightly based on the exact size and freshness of your beets. If they are still too firm, simply return the lid, set your pressure cooker to high pressure, and cook for an additional 2-5 minutes. Then perform another manual release and re-test for tenderness.
Discover More Delicious Recipes
Looking for more simple and flavorful recipes to make in your kitchen? Check out these other favorites:
- Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans
- Ninja Foodi Mexican Pinto Beans (Charro Beans)
- Hearty Slow Cooker Lentil Soup
- Comforting Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Fresh Beets Recipe
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Ingredients
- 6 medium beets (about 3 inches in diameter)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- Kosher salt (optional, to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Trim the beets, leaving about 1/2-inch of the stem and roots attached. This helps to prevent color bleeding and makes peeling easier after cooking. Thoroughly wash and scrub the beets to remove any dirt.
- Place the trivet or rack in the pressure cooker pot. Pour in 1 1/2 cups of water. Arrange the prepared beets in a single layer on the rack.
- Secure the pressure cooking lid in place and lock it. Ensure the steam release valve is set to the “sealing” position.
- Set the pressure cooker to “High Pressure” and cook for 30 minutes (for medium-sized beets, about 3 inches in diameter). Press “Start” if required by your model.
- Once the timer beeps, turn off the pressure cooker. Carefully perform a manual (quick) steam release by turning the pressure release control to the “venting” position.
- After the pressure has fully released, open the lid. Use a sharp knife to pierce a beet to test for tenderness. If the knife goes through easily, they are done. If they seem too firm, cook for another 2-5 minutes under high pressure.
- Allow the beets to cool enough to handle comfortably. Trim both ends of each beet. You can then easily slip the skins off using your hands under running water, with a paring knife, or by gently rubbing with a paper towel.
- Slice the cooked beets as desired, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- 1″-2″ in diameter: 10-15 minutes high pressure
- 2″-3″ in diameter: 15-20 minutes high pressure
- 3″ or larger in diameter: 25-30 minutes high pressure