Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (2024)

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This Canned Pickled Beets Recipe makes pickling beets easier than you think! This is a tried and true recipe that was one of my Grandma’s favourite recipes to use and now is my go-to pickled beets recipe. There is nothing like a stash of delicious of beets to eat in the depths of a cold winter!

Table of Contents
  1. How To Make Pickled Beets
  2. Canning is messy.
  3. Are Pickled Red Beets Good For You?
  4. A few hard and fast rules that I obey for safe canning pickled beets and of non-acidic foods all the time.
  5. PIN THIS RECIPE to your CANNING RECIPES Boards and Remember to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!
  6. Canned Pickled Beets Recipe Recipe

How To Make Pickled Beets

Ah, pickled beets. These purple beauties are most certainly a taste of my childhood as my Grandma canned beets in great numbers. Unlike most children, I have loved beets since I was a young ‘un running around my Grandma’s Manitoba farm in the hot summer sun.

I could have eaten them from the jar happily all day long, but alas, these were a truly coveted treat, usually reserved for big family dinners along with a wild duck or a beautiful venison roast. Now that I’ve taken on the canning and preserving role that my Grandmother did for so many years, I understand why they weren’t simply a snack for hungry children’s bellies and I was shooed out to the garden to find something else.

Canning is hot, sweaty, nasty at moments darn hard work.

Oh yes, Pinterest and so many other websites make it look so glamorous and easy to boot! Suzy Homesteader in her little white chef’s kitchen, canning away merrily all day long, children sitting nicely at the table and the house so perfectly clean around you.

They lie.

Every single, stinking one of them.

Canning is messy.

Canning takes an organized mind-which I sadly lack some days- and canning takes a lot of reading, research and smarts as well. Is it worth it? Absolutely! I sincerely wouldn’t want anyone walking away from my site thinking that they are a failure because they aren’t smiling and happy like so many writers portray it.

  • You’re gonna sweat.
  • You’re gonna swear.
  • And you are going to be proud of yourself.

Sure, your kitchen will be a disaster, but canning in-season, fresh food with no preservatives, no chemicals leaching out from tin cans and knowing exactly what is in your food is worth it!

Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (2)

Are Pickled Red Beets Good For You?

Pickled red beets are insanely good for you! They are chock full of fiber, folate and iron, to name the first few. Then they are also full of trytophan, know to help you relax and sleep better. Pickled beets are also anti-inflammatory and are loaded with antioxidants as well. That blood red colour means that they are loaded with goodness for you.

The recipe I used is from the Atco website and can be found below in my printable recipe. The one thing I would like to stress is that beets are a non-acidic food, meaning in layman terms that they are more dangerous to can with. Non-acidic foods that are canned can be a breeding ground for botulism, as well as many other things if you don’t follow the directions carefully. The risk is very minimal, however let’s remember that we are feeding our families with this food.

A few hard and fast rules that I obey for safe canning pickled beets and of non-acidic foods all the time.

1) Never, ever change the vinegar to water ratio in a recipe for canning non-acidic foods. These recipes have been developed in labs to ensure the correct amount of acidity required to eliminate the chance of botulism. Botulism grows in an air-free, low-acidic environment. See how canning gives it the perfect breeding ground? When we can vegetables we seal low acid food into an oxygen free environment. I myself do not change a recipe ever. The only thing you may alter is spices. That’s it. Nothing else.

2) Always process the food for the exact times given. Do not boil your vinegar mixture more than the recipe states. Do not skip the processing time. Find out your altitude and process accordingly.

3) Read the website The National Center For Home Food Preservationbecause it has all the real facts. Start with the FAQ then delve into the recipes.

4) Fitting in with number three, always take your recipes from reputable sites. I’ve seen some canning recipes that just scare me, to be honest. The vinegar ratios are way off and they promote unsafe and un-recommended methods of canning. Remember, anyone can write a recipe, but you have no idea if it’s a safe one!

Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (3)

So now that I’ve scared you off canning forever, here’s the recipe!

Truly, it’s a tried and true tested recipe from the Blue Flame Kitchen, so don’t worry! Like I said, before you make any canning recipes with vegetables, ask where the recipe is from, just to be safe. Or better yet, just head to the Atco website or check out all the amazing recipes on the The National Center For Home Food Preservation

So what has everyone else been canning? I have so many recipes to share with you these next few weeks, I’ve been a busy canning bee!

Thanks for stopping in!

Happy Canning!

Love,

Karlynn

PIN THCanned Pickled Beets Recipe (4)IS RECIPE to your CANNING RECIPES Boards and Remember to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!

Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (5)

Canned Pickled Beets Recipe

A classic canned pickled beets recipe, just like my Grandma used to make! This makes 4 pint ( 500ml) jars!

4.94 from 165 votes

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Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Course
Appetizer
Cuisine
American
Servings
4
Calories
527
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

  • 4-5 pounds small beets 40 – 48
  • 2 teaspoons pickling salt
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 3 cups white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons mixed pickling spice tied in cheesecloth bag
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  • Wash the beets and remove most of the tops, leaving about 1/2 inch of beet top remaining.In a large boiling pot of water, cook the beets until barely tender.Remove from the stove.

  • Submerge the beets in a large bowl of ice water, I find this helps the skins come off with more ease.

  • Cut off the tops and the roots completely, then remove the skin.Peel and slice beets into preferred size, I like larger chunks and not slices.

  • Combine the vinegar, sugar, water, salt and pickling spice in a nonreactive pot and bring mixture to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer 10 minutes.

  • Add the beets to the pickling liquid and return to a boil.Remove the spice bag.Carefully ladle the beets and pickling liquid into hot sterilized pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.

  • Remove any air bubbles with a non-metal utensil.Add additional pickling liquid, if needed, to keep the proper headspace.

  • Wipe the jar rims thoroughly with a clean damp cloth, failure to do this can result in the jars not sealing properly!

  • Seal the jars and process for 35 minutes in a boiling water bath.

  • For altitudes higher than 3000 ft (914 m), add 5 minutes to processing time.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 4g, Calories: 527kcal, Carbohydrates: 120g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 3852mg, Potassium: 1505mg, Fiber: 13g, Sugar: 105g, Vitamin A: 165IU, Vitamin C: 23.4mg, Calcium: 104mg, Iron: 3.9mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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FAQs

What's the difference between canned beets and canned pickled beets? ›

What is the difference between canned beets and pickled beets? Pickled beets are canned in some type of vinegar solution and are usually used in salads. These beets are not pickled, just canned in water, and the ingredients are very basic.

What can I add to canned beets? ›

If you want to give them a try, bring sugar, white vinegar, water, and cornstarch to a boil in a saucepan. Add chopped beets and cook until they soften. Once they're a bit mushy, add butter, salt, and pepper to taste.

Can pickled beets be water bath canned? ›

Make sure that there is adequate vinegar in your red beet pickle recipe. Scientifically research tested recipes use more than ½ cup vinegar per pint jar. Pickled beets are safe to process in a boiling water bath or atmospheric steam canner. The USDA recommends processing pickled beets in boiling water for 30 minutes.

Do you have to add salt to canned beets? ›

You can also add a tsp of salt to your jars with the beets. This is totally optional, it doesn't affect the safety, just the taste when you open the jars. I pretty much always add the salt when I'm canning vegetables.

Are Aunt Nellie's pickled beets good for you? ›

Aunt Nellie's Pickled Beets contain no fat, saturated fat or cholesterol; they are kosher and gluten-free.

How long do you have to wait to eat canned pickled beets? ›

No need to wait to enjoy your pickled beets. They're ready to eat as soon as they've cooled down, however, the longer you wait, the better their flavor. Give them at least a week or two.

What makes canned beets taste better? ›

Therefore, if you're looking to amp up the flavor of your canned beet dish, go ahead and add some extra olive oil, butter, cheese, or delicious bacon fat. Calling for full-fat yogurt, our roasted beets and strawberries recipe could easily be done with the canned variety.

Is it OK to drink the liquid from canned beets? ›

While not as popular as other canned vegetables like corn or green beans (via USA Today), canned beets are an honorable underdog, and so is their liquid. Plain or salted, you should never get rid of the liquid from canned beets because it is completely edible!

What makes beets taste better? ›

Roasting beets deepens their natural sugars while tempering bitterness. Bake whole, wrapped beets at 400°F for 60-75 minutes until easily pierced by a fork. Allow to cool before peeling and juicing. Incorporating roasted beets creates a smoother, mellower, almost nutty-flavored blended juice.

How healthy are canned pickled beets? ›

They are a good source of potassium, calcium, and iron. The micronutrient content of pickled beets varies depending on how the beets were processed. Because pickled beets are fermented, they are rich in probiotics. Probiotics are "friendly bacteria" present in your digestive system.

Is it necessary to water bath pickled beets? ›

Fill the jars

Wipe down the jar rims then add clean lids and rims. At this point you can either place the beets inn the fridge and wait at least one week to allow them to pickle before enjoying. Or you can process them in a water bath and they will be shelf stable for 12-18 months.

How long should you water bath pickled beets? ›

Quickly pour over the beets in the jars, leaving 3/4-inch headspace (the liquid should go no further than the shoulder of the jar!). Process in a boiling water bath for 12 minutes. Cool on a rack.

How often should you eat canned beets? ›

The oxalates found in beets can increase your uric acid level, meaning that too many beets can lead to gout. To avoid this, stick to no more than a single half-cup serving of beets per day.

Why did my beets turn white when I canned them? ›

Presto (maker of pressure canners) also says that the loss of color from beets during canning may also be due to beets that are too old. If possible, can young, tender, very dark red beets which are freshly gathered. Precooking beets with 2 inches of the stem and all of the root on also helps to retain the juices.

Are canned beets good for blood pressure? ›

Beets are high in nitrates which research suggests improve cardiovascular health in several ways. Some studies show beetroot juice supplementation may lower blood pressure and increase blood flow. It increases oxygen uptake, lengthening the time it takes to become fatigued, which allows people to stay active longer.

Which is better beets or pickled beets? ›

Packed with beneficial compounds

They're especially rich in betalains and betanins, two polyphenols that give this veggie its deep red color (6). However, the pickling process reduces antioxidant levels by 25–70%. Thus, pickled beets contain lower antioxidant levels than those of other forms of beets (6, 9 ).

Are pickled beets the same as beets? ›

Pickled beets are beets that have gone through a pickling or fermentation process. Pickled foods are preserved in an acidic solution, then sealed in a sterile jar or can so they won't spoil. Beets are often pickled in a solution of vinegar, sugar, and salt. Some pickled beets are also pickled with cloves.

What's the difference between beets and pickled beets? ›

Pickled beets are fresh beets that have been preserved using a salt and vinegar brine which are then canned to extend their shelf-life and make them more convenient to eat while adding a tasty pickled flavor.

Are pickled beets as healthy as regular beets? ›

If you don't like raw beets, don't fret. Cooked, fermented, or pickled beets retain much of their nutritious value, although some of the nitrites and other nutrients may be lost during preparation (13, 18, 19, 20).

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