Beets are often referred to as winter ginseng because they are both delicious and nutritious. When cooked, beets have a sweet, refreshing taste. You can use beets to make a variety of dishes such as stir-fried beets, beet and bone soup, boiled beets, pickled beets… Each dish has its own unique flavor.
Beets are sold in many stalls in markets or supermarkets. However, not everyone knows how to choose the freshest beets. It’s not just about choosing big, shiny beets. To choose good beets, you should refer to the following tips.
Look at the beet skin
Beets with a round, even shape and smooth skin are the best. During the growing process, beets absorb enough water and develop well, so the skin is smooth. This type of beets will taste sweeter. You can also store these beets for a longer period of time. Even after 10 days, beets are still fresh and juicy.
Do not buy beets with shriveled or soft skin.
Avoid buying beets with slightly rough skin. Rough skin indicates that they have absorbed less water during the growing process, making the flesh harder and less flavorful.
In addition, with regular beets, the skin will be naturally white or white mixed with a little dirt. If the beets look unusually white and glossy, they may have been soaked in chemicals to make them more attractive.
Do not buy beets that are crushed or have a lot of scratched skin. These beets are not tasty and cannot be stored for a long time.
Size of the beet
Many people believe that when buying beets, bigger is better. However, it is not necessary to choose large beets. Oversized beets may not necessarily have a delicious flavor. The flesh inside them may be hollow, spongy, not sweet, and slightly dry.
Also, do not choose beets that are too small because it indicates that they have a short growth period or did not receive enough nutrients during the development process. Underdeveloped beets will have a woody taste.
Therefore, farmers recommend choosing beets that are medium-sized with smooth skin. This type of beets will have enough moisture and a crisp, sweet taste.
Look at the leaves
Beet leaves do not last long. Therefore, when buying, observe the leaves as well. If the leaves are still fresh, it means they were just harvested.
If the beets have no leaves or the leaves are turning yellow, it means they may have been harvested for a while and are not the freshest.
Weight
Hold two beets of similar size in your hand, choose the heavier one. Farmers explain that heavier beets have more moisture, resulting in a crisper, sweeter taste. Lighter beets usually have less water, making them more spongy or hollow.
Look at the roots
Look at the roots of the beets. Choose beets with only one long main root. Beets like that usually have enough nutrients.
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