Ginger pickled beets are incredibly easy to make and taste amazing. Boiled beets are marinated in a ginger-spiced pickling brine, which infuses them with the most incredible flavor. Make a large batch and store the extras in your pantry!
If you like pickled beets, you will LOVE these ginger pickled beets. The marinating brine is full of warm spices like cinnamon, anise, and peppercorns, which gives the beets a wonderfully savory flavor. You’ll love how these ginger beets manage to be both warm and winter-like from the ginger and cool and crisp like summer. If you can get your hands on tiny ‘baby’ beets, you can use them whole. Otherwise, use quartered regular-sized beets.
Pickled beets vs. marinated beets
Pickling refers to preserving food in a salt brine or vinegar. The goal of pickling is to extend the shelf life of food. Marinating food is a way to infuse flavor into food by using spices and an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice.
In this ginger pickled beets recipe, we pickle the beets in vinegar and spices which both preserves the beets and infuses them with flavor.
Handy canning equipment
You don’t need any fancy equipment to can ginger-pickled beets. We’ve made them many times with only a pot and some canning jars, but here are a few gadgets that make it a little easier.
- Jar lifters – These are like tongs designed specifically for lifting jars out of water.
- Canning Pot Rack —This can be used to keep the jars off the bottom of the pot, as there’s a small risk of them breaking if they are directly against the surface of the pot. Another low-cost option that we often use is to put a tea towel on the bottom of the pot and set the jars on top of that.
- Canning Lids – Ideally, these should not be reused as the silicone seal degrades over time.
- Wide Mouth Mason Jars —I find that wide-mouthed jars work best, as they are easy to get the beets into and out of.
How to use ginger pickled beets
Ginger pickled beets are wonderful eaten straight out of the jar. We love using them in place of roasted beets in our crispy kale salad and our beet and goat cheese salad . Try slicing them and putting them on a sandwich. Or serve them alongside a rich meal to cleanse the palate. They also make a delicious addition to a charcuterie board!
What Vinegar Should You Use for Pickled Beets?
We like to use apple cider vinegar, as its flavor doesn’t overwhelm the beets.
How Soon Can Pickled Beets Be Eaten?
While you can technically eat them immediately, the flavor is best after 2 weeks.
How do I know the beets canned properly?
You’ll want to make sure that the jars are sealed properly. To do this, first let them cool completely on your counter. Then, ensure the raised button on top of the lid is concave. You can also test the lids by unscrewing the ring and gently pulling on the lid – don’t pull so hard that you take the lid off! Just put a little pressure on it to make sure that it’s held in place.
How long do ginger pickled beets last in the pantry?
Beets remain safe to eat for a very long time. However, for the best flavor, they should be eaten within one year.
Once I open a jar, how long will it last in the fridge?
These ginger pickled beets are best if eaten within 1-2 months of opening a jar.
Ginger Pickled Beets Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 20 baby beets
- ▢ 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 1 ½ cups water
- ▢ ½ cup sliced fresh ginger
- ▢ 2 cinnamon sticks (broken into pieces)
- ▢ 6 star anise
- ▢ 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
Instructions
- Sterilize jars by placing the washed jars on a baking sheet, then placing them in a cold oven, and then turning the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the jars in the oven for 10 minutes at full heat, and then open the oven door and let them cool.
- While the jars are sterilizing, begin preparing the beets. Remove the stems from the beets and scrub them thoroughly. Place beets in a large pot, cover with cold water and bring the pot to a boil. Cook the beets until they are fork tender. 20 baby beets
- While beets are cooking, mix remaining ingredients together in a medium-sized pot and bring the pot to a boil. Boil hard for 3 minutes then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar, 1 ½ cups water, ½ cup sliced fresh ginger, 2 cinnamon sticks, 6 star anise, 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
- Drain the beets and set them aside until they are cool enough to handle. Once they are cool remove the skin from the beets. It will easily peel off with your fingers. Cut the beets in half or leave whole if they are very small.
- Pack the beets into the sterilized jars with a piece of star anise and a few pieces of ginger. Pour the pickling liquid over beets. Leave a ¼″ space at the top of the jar. Seal lid and allow it to sit for at least 2 weeks.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Ginger Pickled Beets Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 baby beets
- 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ cup sliced fresh ginger
- 2 cinnamon sticks , broken into pieces
- 6 star anise
- 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
Instructions
- Sterilize jars by placing the washed jars on a baking sheet, then placing them in a cold oven, and then turning the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the jars in the oven for 10 minutes at full heat, and then open the oven door and let them cool.
- While the jars are sterilizing, begin preparing the beets. Remove the stems from the beets and scrub them thoroughly. Place beets in a large pot, cover with cold water and bring the pot to a boil. Cook the beets until they are fork tender. 20 baby beets
- While beets are cooking, mix remaining ingredients together in a medium-sized pot and bring the pot to a boil. Boil hard for 3 minutes then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar, 1 ½ cups water, ½ cup sliced fresh ginger, 2 cinnamon sticks, 6 star anise, 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
- Drain the beets and set them aside until they are cool enough to handle. Once they are cool remove the skin from the beets. It will easily peel off with your fingers. Cut the beets in half or leave whole if they are very small.
- Pack the beets into the sterilized jars with a piece of star anise and a few pieces of ginger. Pour the pickling liquid over beets. Leave a ¼″ space at the top of the jar. Seal lid and allow it to sit for at least 2 weeks.
