Can you eat beet greens?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Beet greens Take the waste from your garden and turn it into gourmet items. I would throw away beet greens for compost I was ignorant of their abilities until a neighbor instructed me. If the young leaves are only 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) or 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm), the greens will still have a tender texture. The mature beet greens should be stiffer from the veins. The flavor of beet greens is best before the plant hits the bolt.
Harvesting Tips
- Pick outer leaves first to allow inner growth
- Cut 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) above soil to avoid dirt splash
- Avoid greens from plants showing flower stalks (bolting)
Cooking Methods
- Sauté: 3 minutes with olive oil and minced garlic
- Blanch: Dip in boiling water 30 seconds to reduce oxalates
- Bake: Toss with oil for 15 minutes at 375°F (190°C) as chips
Bitter greens indicate stress. A bolting crop or drought situation increases oxalic acid concentrations in greens. My August harvests are always sharper in flavor than my other spring pickings. To reduce the taste of bitterness, I recommend soaking or rinsing the leaves in cold water just after cutting the crop. If I still notice some bitterness, I will soak the greens in cold water for 10 minutes.
How storage methods can influence how long we can keep things before they spoil. Unwashed greens can last about 5 days in the fridge if put in perforated bags. To have greens for our use the entire year, we can blanch and freeze them. I take frozen greens from my freezer all winter to make soups vibrant. When dehydrating green into powder, I can add nutrition to smoothies without changing the flavor.
Do not dispose of the colorful stems. Ruby-red stalks lend a lovely crimson quality to stir-fries when sliced thinly. Golden beet stems are great for pickling, just combine equal amounts of vinegar and water, along with some mustard seeds. My children eat them up faster than they can eat a cucumber pickle. Every piece can provide nutritional value when prepared and consumed with intention.
Read the full article: How to Grow Beets: Expert Tips for Sweet Roots & Vibrant Greens
