Beet Facts for Kids

Learn fun beet facts, how beets grow, how to choose and cook them, and the easy steps for roasting beets. This page also includes a simple roasted shredded beet recipe.

Fun Beet Facts

Beets are root vegetables, so the part we eat grows underground.
Many beets are deep red, but some can be golden or striped.
Beets are often available from summer into fall.
Both the beet root and beet greens can be used in cooking.
Beets can be boiled, roasted, shredded, or added to soups and salads.

How Beets Grow, Buying Tips, and Storage

When Beets Are Available

Beets are often available from June through October.

How Beets Grow

Beets are root vegetables like carrots and turnips. The round root grows underground while the leafy tops grow above the soil.

What to Look for When Buying Beets

Choose beets that are round and firm. Many are red, although some varieties come in other colors. Avoid beets that look dry or cracked.

Beet Storage Tips

Store beets in the refrigerator.

Kid Tip: Beets are a great vegetable for talking about plant parts because the root grows underground while the greens grow on top.

How to Roast Beets

Wash the beets in warm water.
Tear off a sheet of foil for each beet.
Place each beet on foil and sprinkle with a little salt.
Wrap the beets and roast in the oven for about 1 hour, or until a fork can pierce through easily.
Allow the beets to cool.
Peel off the outer skin.
Shred the beets and season with salt and pepper.

Cooking Tip: Roasting brings out a sweeter flavor in beets than boiling.

Mini Activity

Compare Raw and Cooked Beets

Look at a raw beet and notice its color, shape, and texture.
Cook a beet by roasting or boiling it.
Compare the cooked beet to the raw one.
Notice how the color, softness, and smell changed.

This is a simple way to connect food facts with cooking science.

Beet Nutrition Facts

Beets contain several nutrients and are often included in colorful vegetable dishes.

Beets are high in vitamin C.
They are also a source of folate.

More Food Fact Resources

Recipe

Roasted Shredded Beets

This simple roasted beet recipe is an easy way for kids to try beets and learn how roasting changes their texture and flavor.

Ingredients

Whole beets
Salt
Pepper

Instructions

Wash the beets in warm water.
Place each beet on foil and sprinkle with a little salt.
Wrap the beets and roast for about 1 hour, or until a fork can pierce through easily.
Allow the beets to cool.
Peel off the outer skin.
Shred the beets with a cheese grater.
Place in a bowl and season with salt and pepper before serving.

Kid Cooking Tip: Kids can help wash the beets, wrap them in foil, and shred them after they have cooled.

More Beet Ideas

Borscht

Borscht is a beet soup that often includes meat, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, onion, and tomato juice. Find the Borscht recipe here.

Beet Jell-O

Try something a little different with this Beet Jell-O recipe.

Beet Green Salad

Try mixed greens or butter lettuce with roasted cubed beets, diced pear, chopped nuts, crumbled blue cheese, and balsamic vinegar. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}