How to Cook Beets

4. Steaming Beets

If you wish to preserve the beautiful, rich color of beets, steam them. After thoroughly washing the beets, trim off the beet greens and refrigerate them for later use. Remove the root on the bottom of each beet. Scrub the skins to remove any dirt. Cut each beet into quarters and place into a steamer over a pot of boiling water for about 15 minutes. Check with a fork to ensure that they are tender. Remove the beets from the steamer and cool so that you can safely handle them. Peel the beets, slice, and serve.