Golden beet is a vegetable from the beet family and it’s known in the US under many different names, including beetroot and the dinner beet. It’s used as food and for food coloring as well as a medical plant.
The whole plant is edible but it’s mostly used for its root. It’s been used in the US cuisine for centuries and wine was made out of it for a while in the 19th century before wine industry in California become what it is today.
Golden Beet Trivia
- It’s a cure for hangover
- It gives you a sugar rush
- It can dye your hair
Golden Beet Buying Guide
The first thing to look for in gold beets is their size. Smaller and younger beets are tender and they cook faster than the larger ones. Larger ones may even be too difficult to cook and may remain firm even after cooking which isn’t a good way to use them.
Make sure the beets are smooth and round. The surface shouldn’t have any cuts on it and it should appear to be unbruised. If there are still leafs attacked to the beet, they need to look green and fresh. They will stay fresh longer if you keep them attached to the beets.
Golden Beet Production & Farming in Texas
Commercial growth of sugar beets has moved away from Texas in the 1990s. However golden beet and other similar species are still grown and sold in state since it’s used by restaurants and by chefs working in the health food industry.
The key to growing Golden Beets is to plant the and harvest them in just the right time. The beets should be soaked overnight and transplanted into ground in season. It’s done by placing them in a one-inch trench in the ground and with plenty of space between them so that they can grow both in and above ground.
The majority of work will be done on watering and keeping the soil rich in nutrients. You’ll need to use fertilizer and to beets take a long time to be ready. It sometimes takes up to 55 days until golden beet is ready for market.
They will probably grow up to 6 inches and it’s best to allow each beat to have as much as 2 inches or space to grow side to side. It’s also possible to harvest leafs before you take out the roots.
Pesticides
Plenty of pesticides are used on beets and it’s usually the same pesticides as the ones that are used on peaches and nectarines. Since it has thick skin it will absorb and contain pesticides for a long time.
Geography
Golden Beets are first domesticated in the Middle East and at first they are used for the leafs and not for the roots as it the case now. It seems as if they were used in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. They’ve moved to Europe and in the Middle Ages it was used for medicinal purposes.
Commercial use in the US started in the 19th century and mostly for sugar production. Until the 1940s golden beats were mostly underused in comparison to the red ones. Even now they are mostly used by restaurants and elite markets.
Packaging
There’s no rules at how the beets are packed because the root is protection in itself. They are mostly placed in cardboard boxes and sold from them. In some cases, they are individually wrapped in plastic but there’s no really reason for it.
In some cases, when the leafs are still attached the beets may be sprinkled with some water to stay fresh.
Enjoying Golden Beets
There are more than a few ways to eat beets and that’s why it’s such a popular vegetable. You can eat them raw simply by slicing them up and sprinkling them with some chile and lemons. They are also great roasted, especially with cheese since it melts on top of them.
They are a good addition to any salad because, especially if it contains onions, and feta cheese. The key to a good salad is to mix and match flavors and textures. The beets can also be pickled and that’s how it lasts the longest.
In the end beets can also be a desert when mixed with ice cream and cocoa.
Cooking
Since there are a lot of different dishes to make with beets we’ll be focusing on one salad in particular. Golden beets are mild in flavor so they mix well with vegetables with a bit of flavor to them. Add some spicy greens, a bit of pungent goat cheese, and toasty almonds and you’ll have a full meal.
The salad will be sweet and tender and can be a course of its own or a side dish to a larger more filling meal depending on when and for whom you’re cooking it.
When Are Golden Beets in Season in Texas?
To find out when Golden Beets are in season in Texas, please check the seasonal chart below. Why is this important? We are rarely encouraged to think about the physical lengths our food travels before arriving on the market shelves. And all of this travel comes with a hefty environmental cost that is concealed from the consumer’s eye. One of the most salient benefits to eating seasonally is that you are effectively reducing your carbon footprint and supporting a more geographically sustainable food economy. Check other fruit and veg that’s in season in Texas now.
