You have probably enjoyed the sweet, earthy flavor of beetroot more than once, and might have heard that beets are packed with nutrients like folate, manganese, potassium and fiber, and thus should be included in you healthy diet on a regular basis.



Nevertheless beets often get rejected in many kitchens due to the long and often messy process of cooking. While they can take hours to boil or cook in the oven, it takes only a few minutes to prepare beets in the microwave. Microwaving fresh beets preserves more nutrients and it is a much easier and quicker way than cooking them any other way, and less messy too!



If you decide to try and cook beetroot in the microwave, make sure you select your beets correctly. Always use beets that are approximately the same size to ensure even cooking. Look for smaller beets as they are usually more tender than the big ones.



You must also ensure that the container you want to use in the microwave is suitable for the task, and has the right size. An 8 x 8 x 2-inch square glass dish with a lid or a round dish of a similar size in diameter is ideal. It should be enough to fit 7 small to medium beets. Avoid using containers that are too big.



Do not overload the container with beets. Microwaving works best for beets in quantities of up to 1 pound; otherwise, the beets may cook unevenly. It is often faster to microwave two successive batches than it is to cook beets in one batch by a slower method. If you know your microwave oven well enough to get the timing right, the beets always turn out just the way you want.



If you’re cooking beetroot in your microwave for the first time, don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust the timing according to the power of your microwave. Enjoy and stay healthy!

