Grating beets?

[crafty_packrat]

Anyone know tips for grating beets? Do you wash and peel them like carrots? Or cook them first?

I might see if I can find all the parts for my tiny food processor and do it that way, or see if I can roast them soft and put them through my ricer... I don't have a four-sided grater, just a rotary grater that is pretty banged up.

Comments

[twistedchick]

I think even roasted it will be difficult to put them through a ricer, since they have a good deal of internal structure. What I generally do with them is scrub them and trim obvious rough bits (stem, root end), then cut them up and either roast them or microwave them. The one time that I did try to do julienne beets, I steamed/boiled them, then slipped the skins (easier after that) and made sure to wear gloves while cutting them up, but it was more trouble than I would go to on a regular basis.

Is any of that helpful?

beets

[texasgrandma]

Why do you want to grate them? I agree with Twisted chick, either wash, trim and bake or microwave. You can also simmer them and then slip off then slip off he skins. Do you want to pickle them, make Harvard beets, season with orange juice? There are lots of good ways to prepare them

Re: beets

[crafty_packrat]

I've got a pastry recipe that calls for grated beets, but doesn't tell you *how* to grate them.

beets

[texasgrandma]

Wash and trim. Peel with a vegetable peeler. Grate in a food processor or on largest side of a box grater or similar. Do you have a micro planer? You could use the larger blade on a planer. The idea is to do this the same way you would grate a carrot. You could also use a vegetable peeler to make long strips and then crosscut with a knife.

Re: beets

[crafty_packrat]

I trimmed and peeled them and ran them through the food processor. We'll see if they work out well -- the directions are a bit vague on amounts (does 6 small beets = 2 cups when grated?)