ShelfLife
How long do beets last?
Fresh raw beets keep 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge from purchase, and about a day at room temperature. Cooked and frozen, they keep 6 to 8 months. Pickled beets keep about a year in the pantry unopened, then 1 to 2 months in the fridge.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh beets | 1–2 weeksfrom purchase | 6–8 monthsfrom purchase | 1 dayfrom purchase |
| Pickled beets | —Opened: 1–2 months | — | 1 year |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if beets have gone bad
- Soft, wrinkled or shriveled roots.
- Mold, or slimy, dark patches.
- A sour or musty smell. Limp leaves alone don't mean the root is bad.
How to store beets
- Cut off the leaves, leaving about 2 cm (1 inch) of stem, and store them separately: they draw moisture from the root.
- Keep the roots unwashed in a bag in the crisper drawer.
- Use the leaves within a few days, like chard.
- Keep cooked beets in a sealed container in the fridge and eat them within 3 to 4 days.
Can you freeze beets?
Yes, cooked, for 6 to 8 months. Boil or roast them until tender, cool, peel and slice or cube them, then freeze them in a single layer before bagging. Raw beets turn rubbery when frozen.
Questions
How long do cooked beets last?
3 to 4 days in the fridge, in a sealed container.
How long do vacuum-packed cooked beets last?
Follow the date on the pack; once opened, eat them within a few days.
Why is my urine pink after eating beets?
It's harmless and common: some people pass the red pigment, betanin, after eating beets.
Add root vegetables to ShelfLife, and know what's in the crisper drawer.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.