Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (2024)

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

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 young, running around my Grandma’s Manitoba farm in the hot summer sun.

I could have eaten them from the jar happily all day long. Still, these were a genuinely 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.

Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (2)

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

Oh yes, Pinterest and many other websites make it look glamorous and easy to boot! Suzy Homesteader is in her little white chef’s kitchen, canning away merrily all day long, with 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. Is it worth it? Absolutely! I sincerely wouldn’t want anyone walking away from my site thinking they are a failure because they aren’t smiling and happy like many writers portray it.

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

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

Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (3)

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 a few. They are also full of tryptophan, which helps you relax and sleep better. Pickled beets are also anti-inflammatory and loaded with antioxidants. That blood-red color means that they are loaded with goodness for you.

The recipe I used is from the Atco website and can be found in my printable recipe below. I want to stress that beets are a non-acidic food, meaning, in layman’s terms, 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.

There are a few strict rules that I always follow for the safe canning of pickled beets and non-acidic foods.

1) Never 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 consume vegetables, we seal low-acid food in an oxygen-free environment. I myself do not ever change a recipe. 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 National Center For Home Food Preservation website. It has all the facts. Start with the FAQ, then delve into the recipes.

4) To follow up on number three, always get your recipes from reputable sites. To be honest, I’ve seen some canning recipes that just scare me. The vinegar ratios are way off, and they promote unsafe and unrecommended methods of canning. Remember, anyone can write a recipe, but you have no idea if it’s safe!

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

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

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

Canned Pickled Beets Recipe (4)

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

How long are homemade canned pickled beets good for? ›

How to Store Pickled Beets. Because these pickled beets are processed, they are shelf-stable and do not need to be stored in the refrigerator when sealed. Store canned pickled beets in a cool, dry place for up to 12 months. Once opened, pickled beets will last about three to four days in the refrigerator.

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.

Do you have to add salt when canning 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. So if you'd like to add the salt, do 1 tsp for quarts or 1/2 tsp for pints.

Do you have to process pickled beets in a water bath? ›

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.

Can you eat 20 year old canned food? ›

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

Can bacteria grow on pickled beetroot? ›

The pickle will preserve it, but unless you heat it sufficiently there is a risk of bacteria growing in the jar and causing it to ferment and go off, which in extreme cases could mean the jar would explode.

How healthy are canned pickled beets? ›

Pickled beets also contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals. 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.

Can you eat too many pickled beets? ›

Possible downsides. Depending on how they're made, some varieties of pickled beets may pack salt and added sugars ( 23 , 24 ). Research links excess sugar and salt intake to poor health and an increased risk of illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Can beets lower blood pressure? ›

Beets and beet juice are high in nitrates, substances that turn into nitric oxide inside your body. Your body naturally produces nitric oxide, which is crucial for blood vessel health. Nitric oxide relaxes and widens your arteries, allowing more blood to flow through and significantly lowering blood pressure.

Why are my pickled beets too vinegary? ›

Cutting back any further on the sugar will make the pickles taste too vinegary. And you don't wanna cut back on the vinegar or you won't have a good acidic brine. Think of the brine as a preservative and a marinade— you don't actually drink it. Make sure all the beets are completely covered with the brine.

What happens if you use iodized salt in canning? ›

Table salt is safe to use for canning. However, it usually contains anticaking additives that may make the brine cloudy or produce sediment at the bottom of the jar. Iodized salt is not recommended for any home food preservation because it may cause darkening, discoloration, or spotting.

Can I use table salt instead of canning salt? ›

Pickling salt is the best salt to use in canning brine because the fine grains dissolve easily and result in a clear liquid that highlights the bright, green pickles inside the jar. Using table salt in your pickle brine will result in cloudy, murky liquid because the anticaking additives are not water soluble.

Is it OK to drink the juice from pickled 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!

How long before you can eat pickled beets after canning? ›

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.

Can you freeze beets to pickle later? ›

I made this recipe with frozen beetroot. I'd always wondered how that would turn out, but rest assured, it's absolutely perfect. Like many seasonal vegetables, often it's a quick 'chop, blanch and freeze' to extend the life of an ample harvest before throwing them in an air-tight container in the freezer.

How long do homemade canned pickles last? ›

“We recommend that you use them within one year,” she says. “And that's more of a quality issue than a safety issue. From a safety standpoint, they should be fine for an extended period of time as long as people canned the food properly.”

Do canned beets go bad? ›

Canned beets have a longer shelf life than fresh beets and can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to two years. Once the can of beets is opened, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use them up within three to five days.

Do homemade pickled vegetables go bad? ›

Yes. Like any other food, pickles can go bad. No matter what veggie is being pickled, whether it's a classic cucumber, snap peas or even mini bell peppers, they can go bad for a couple reasons: Age: Like any food, pickles won't last forever.

Can you eat out of date pickled beetroot? ›

Pickled Items

Pickled cucumbers, peppers, beets or other vegetables are good for one to two years past their best before date, whether opened or unopened and can be stored in the refrigerator or pantry. They may lose their crunch over time, but are still safe to consume.

References

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