I've tried baking golden beets, and they turn black the longer they sit, even if they're still golden when I take them out of the oven. Why does this happen? What am I doing wrong?

Jenny
  • Posted by: Jenny
  • November 21, 2014
  • 35657 views
  • 9 Comments

9 Comments

Droplet
Droplet November 21, 2014
The aluminum foil is the culprit here. Crumple a sheet of baking paper to soften it and line your foil before wrapping the beets in it, then proceed roasting as usual.
 
Jenny
Jenny November 24, 2014
Everyone, thank you so much for your help!!! :)
 
amysarah
amysarah November 21, 2014
Do you mean the skin turns black, or the flesh of the beet turns black?

I generally roast beets (yellow, red, rainbow) in their skins - often in a foil pouch with a little olive oil, s&p. Let them cool until they can be handled, then remove the skins (if they're fully roasted, they should slip off easily.) From there, I slice and dress them with vinaigrette, or just store in the fridge (well covered) until needed - no discoloration. Are you roasting them long enough - until quite tender? Has this happened with more than one batch?
 
Jenny
Jenny November 21, 2014
The skin and underlying flesh turns black in spots, and not like a burnt, charred black. They just discolor. I am roasting them until tender, and this has happened with two batches now. They were very fresh too, so I dont think the beets were bad.
 
amysarah
amysarah November 21, 2014
Hmm. Wish I could help, but I've never encountered this. Will leave it to someone with more beet expertise than me.
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames November 21, 2014
I've had this problem many times, and in fact, sometimes the black spots don't appear until several hours or even a day after I remove them from the oven, peel and refrigerate. I've started simply boiling them, scrubbed but unpeeled, for that reason; I never have the problem, even when I let them sit in the water for a while to cool before peeling. Roasting is overrated to my mind when you have good fresh beets. They have so much flavor, even when carefully boiled, and frankly, I find them a little too sweet when roasted. ;o)
P.S. I put a few slices of ginger in the boiling water. You can barely taste it in the beets, but it does make a subtle difference.
 
aargersi
aargersi November 21, 2014
Did you peel them and then they turned black? I just did some poking around and that appears to be the problem ... though I have peeled and the dressed them with no issues. So - roast and leave peels on until use, or peel and DRESS them is I think the answer.
 
Jenny
Jenny November 21, 2014
I did not peel them. I did dress them with olive oil, S & P. Should I be using a vinegarette? Do you think proximity has anything to do with the blackness? Should they be roasted on a sheet pan in a single layer, rather than in a pile in a foil pouch?
 
Jenell
Jenell January 11, 2020
Semi unpeeled
Soak in water with White Wine Vinegar, two hours.
Roast on parchment with Coconut oil.
 
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