Canned Pickled Beets Recipe

4.93 from 147 votes
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This Canned Pickled Beets Recipe makes pickling beets easier than you think! This is a tried and true recipe that was one of my Grandma’s favourite recipes to use and now is my go-to pickled beets recipe. There is nothing like a stash of delicious of beets to eat in the depths of a cold winter!

Table of Contents
  1. How To Make Pickled Beets
  2. Canning is messy.
  3. Are Pickled Red Beets Good For You?
  4. A few hard and fast rules that I obey for safe canning pickled beets and of non-acidic foods all the time.
  5. PIN THIS RECIPE to your CANNING RECIPES Boards and Remember to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!
  6. Canned Pickled Beets Recipe Recipe
pieces of Pickled Beets in a white plate and on the jar at the back
Pickled Beets

How To Make Pickled Beets

Ah, pickled beets. These purple beauties are most certainly a taste of my childhood as my Grandma canned beets in great numbers. Unlike most children, I have loved beets since I was a young ‘un running around my Grandma’s Manitoba farm in the hot summer sun.

I could have eaten them from the jar happily all day long, but alas, these were a truly coveted treat,  usually reserved for big family dinners along with a wild duck or a beautiful venison roast. Now that I’ve taken on the canning and preserving role that my Grandmother did for so many years, I understand why they weren’t simply a snack for hungry children’s bellies and I was shooed out to the garden to find something else.

Canning is hot, sweaty, nasty at moments darn hard work.

Oh yes, Pinterest and so many other websites make it look so glamorous and easy to boot! Suzy Homesteader in her little white chef’s kitchen, canning away merrily all day long, children sitting nicely at the table and the house so perfectly clean around you.

They lie.

Every single, stinking one of them.

Canning is messy.

Canning takes an organized mind-which I sadly lack some days- and canning takes a lot of reading, research and smarts as well. Is it worth it? Absolutely! I sincerely wouldn’t want anyone walking away from my site thinking that they are a failure because they aren’t smiling and happy like so many writers portray it.

  • You’re gonna sweat.
  • You’re gonna swear.
  • And you are going to be proud of yourself.

Sure, your kitchen will be a disaster, but canning in-season, fresh food with no preservatives, no chemicals leaching out from tin cans and knowing exactly what is in your food is worth it!

close up Canned Pickled Beets in a glass jar
Canned Pickled Beets in a glass jar

Are Pickled Red Beets Good For You?

Pickled red beets are insanely good for you! They are chock full of fiber, folate and iron, to name the first few. Then they are also full of trytophan, know to help you relax and sleep better. Pickled beets are also anti-inflammatory and are loaded with antioxidants as well. That blood red colour means that they are loaded with goodness for you.

The recipe I used is from the Atco website and can be found below in my printable recipe. The one thing I would like to stress is that beets are a non-acidic food, meaning in layman terms that they are more dangerous to can with. Non-acidic foods that are canned can be a breeding ground for botulism, as well as many other things if you don’t follow the directions carefully. The risk is very minimal, however let’s remember that we are feeding our families with this food.

A few hard and fast rules that I obey for safe canning pickled beets and of non-acidic foods all the time.

1) Never, ever change the vinegar to water ratio in a recipe for canning non-acidic foods. These recipes have been developed in labs to ensure the correct amount of acidity required to eliminate the chance of botulism. Botulism grows in an air-free, low-acidic environment. See how canning gives it the perfect breeding ground? When we can vegetables we seal low acid food into an oxygen free environment.  I myself do not change a recipe ever. The only thing you may alter is spices. That’s it. Nothing else.

2) Always process the food for the exact times given. Do not boil your vinegar mixture more than the recipe states. Do not skip the processing time. Find out your altitude and process accordingly.

3) Read the website The National Center For Home Food Preservation because it has all the real facts. Start with the FAQ then delve into the recipes.

4) Fitting in with number three, always take your recipes from reputable sites. I’ve seen some canning recipes that just scare me, to be honest. The vinegar ratios are way off and they promote unsafe and un-recommended methods of canning. Remember, anyone can write a recipe, but you have no idea if it’s a safe one!

Canned Pickled Beets on a white plate and in a glass jar
Canned Pickled Beets on a white plate

So now that I’ve scared you off canning forever, here’s the recipe!

Truly, it’s a tried and true tested recipe from the Blue Flame Kitchen, so don’t worry! Like I said, before you make any canning recipes with vegetables, ask where the recipe is from, just to be safe. Or better yet, just head to the Atco website or check out all the amazing recipes on the  The National Center For Home Food Preservation

So what has everyone else been canning? I have so many recipes to share with you these next few weeks, I’ve been a busy canning bee!

Thanks for stopping in!

Happy Canning!

Love,

Karlynn

PIN THIS RECIPE to your CANNING RECIPES Boards and Remember to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!

How to Make Canned Pickled Beets & Recipe! It's easier than you think to make these delicious pickled beets at home! Recipe from @kitchenmagpie. #Canning #pickles #preserving #beets #harvest #pickledbeets

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Canned Pickled Beets Recipe

A classic canned pickled beets recipe, just like my Grandma used to make! This makes 4 pint ( 500ml) jars!
4.93 from 147 votes
slices of pickled beets in a white small plate with a fork
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Course
Appetizer
Cuisine
American
Servings
4
Calories
527
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients
 

  • 4-5 pounds small beets 40 – 48
  • 2 teaspoons pickling salt
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 3 cups white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons mixed pickling spice tied in cheesecloth bag
  • 1 cup water

Instructions
 

  • Wash the beets and remove most of the tops, leaving about 1/2 inch of beet top remaining.In a large boiling pot of water, cook the beets until barely tender.Remove from the stove.
  • Submerge the beets in a large bowl of ice water, I find this helps the skins come off with more ease.
  • Cut off the tops and the roots completely, then remove the skin.Peel and slice beets into preferred size, I like larger chunks and not slices.
  • Combine the vinegar, sugar, water, salt and pickling spice in a nonreactive pot and bring mixture to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Add the beets to the pickling liquid and return to a boil.Remove the spice bag.Carefully ladle the beets and pickling liquid into hot sterilized pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
  • Remove any air bubbles with a non-metal utensil.Add additional pickling liquid, if needed, to keep the proper headspace.
  • Wipe the jar rims thoroughly with a clean damp cloth, failure to do this can result in the jars not sealing properly!
  • Seal the jars and process for 35 minutes in a boiling water bath.
  • For altitudes higher than 3000 ft (914 m), add 5 minutes to processing time.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 4g, Calories: 527kcal, Carbohydrates: 120g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 3852mg, Potassium: 1505mg, Fiber: 13g, Sugar: 105g, Vitamin A: 165IU, Vitamin C: 23.4mg, Calcium: 104mg, Iron: 3.9mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

Site Index Beets Pickles

Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Clarita says

    This is the best recipe for preserved beets.
    No gimmicks, straightforward.
    Thanks.

  2. heather j wadsworth says

    can i use splenda instead of sugar

  3. Rebecca Gervais says

    Hi. May I use orange beets in this recipe? (They taste sweeter… ) Thanks.

  4. Libby says

    The recipe that shows up calls for 4-5 pounds of beets! Where is the recipe for using canned beets?

      • Emma Hicks says

        You would need to buy a few cans drain and weigh them the cut the water and spices to equal what you have then bring to a boil remove spice bag and store in fridge about 3 weeks then they will be ready to eat… if you try to recap them they will be mushy.

    • Lindamarie gossen says

      Lol
      Canned beets are already processed. You can also buy pickled beets in store .

  5. Darlene says

    I have made pickled beets for many years and several years ago. I started roasting the beets instead of boiling them. Wash them. put in foil in a 400 degree oven and roast till done. So much less mess and no standing by the stove.

  6. Katherine Horton says

    This are just simply delicious . First time doing pickled beets and they are fantastic. 16 pints of heaven in the pantry. Thank you. Rather than double brine I did 4 pints at a time to make sure ratio stayed correct. Worth every second5 stars

  7. Richard Z says

    How long do you boil the beets until “just tender”? Thx again.

  8. Anita says

    These pickled beets are so sweet and tender. They’re good enough to give away for presents!! Love this recipe!! Thank you!!!5 stars

  9. Jen says

    I made these today didnt use pickling spice I used brown sugar white vinegar and beets juice along with a tsp of salt for the brine.. I dont have a pressure canner so my question is where should i store my 7 jars and how long will they be good for?

    • Nina says

      Hey Jen,
      I’m pretty sure that, due to the acidic nature of pickled food, you don’t need to pressure can these. The processing in which she is referring to is a water bath canner (just a boiling pot of water that comes about 1” over the tops of your jars). Once processed in the water bath they should last for quite a long time in a cool dark place (pantry). As always, just be sure to use your best judgement.
      Hope this helps!

  10. Tara says

    Is it possible to safely add sliced onions? Thank you 🙂4 stars

  11. Shane says

    OMG, these are DELICIOUS!!! Have the last couple jars in the canner right now and sampled the extras that were still warm out of the vinegar. I don’t think I can eat store bought again.5 stars

    • Katherine Horton says

      This are just simply delicious . First time doing pickled beets and they are fantastic. 16 pints of heaven in the pantry. Thank you. Rather than double brine I did 4 pints at a time to make sure ratio stayed correct. Worth every second5 stars

  12. Janet says

    Wondering how soon we can eat these after canning?

  13. laura says

    I am eager to try this! You said in the recipe to process the jars of beets for 35 minutes but also to check adjustments for my altitude. I live at 6500 feet and when I googled that it said to add 15 minutes. 50 minutes sounds like a really long time! Thoughts?

  14. Chandra says

    Loved our beets! The only thing we did differently was no pickling spice or cloves. It’s great the way it is. Thank you! Looking for more tried and true recipes. ☺️5 stars

    • Kaye says

      To waterbath-what level of water should be in the pot? Over the jars or just up to the lids and rings??

      • Samantha says

        I have done a fair amount of pickling and my only education was my MIL and grandmother. When I do research new recipes they often tell me to process with water levels one inch above the jars….but we have never done it this way. We’ve always just gone to about 3/4 the height of the jar and this has always worked for us.

  15. Gail Rendle says

    I’m looking for a way to “pickle” the sliced tinned beets I bought at the grocery store. Is it impossible to do so? It’s only about a cup or less of beets, plus juice.

  16. Shelly Kelley says

    What is in the pickling spice and the amounts please, thank you!

  17. BrandiAnn Pagano says

    This recipe was very easy to follow. I used white sugar beets, and the flavor was amazing. The only downside to this recipe is the amount of the brine; I had to double the brine ingredients in order to have enough brine to cover the beets. I was able to can 9 pints using 5 pounds of beets and doubling the brine.5 stars

    • Sharon says

      Followed the recipe to a T. Same problem, not sufficient liquid to cover the beets. So, I had to stop the whole process to make more liquid. I also used 1 and half vinegar and 1 and a half apple cider vinegar. It added a softer flavour on the palette.4 stars

  18. Lori says

    Hi
    My beets are already peeled and cut can i still follow the rest of the recipe?

  19. Alissa says

    I am interesting in using your recipe and since I am first time canner I am pretty nervous. On your recipe you say to put pickling spice in a cheesecloth, but what is the pickling spice? Do you make this yourself or buy it pre-made?

    • Sarah says

      I have seen several of her recipes and cannot find the instructions for the pickling spice. What a weird oversight to not even provide a hyperlink to this.

      • Tracy says

        Pickering spice can be found in the spice section of the grocery store.

      • Karlynn says

        Hey, you buy bags of pickling spice at the store. It’s like allspice or pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own but it’s a lot easier to buy it in the bag.5 stars

    • Joyce says

      You buy it pre-made. I don’t bother with a bag for them, just throw it in the brine.

  20. Billy says

    How long do they have to sit before I can eat them

  21. Monique Chamberlain says

    This recipe looks awesome! wanted to know if I can double, triple this recipe>. Thank you!

  22. Roy C Hunter says

    Karlynn … Did you read over the recipe before posting it? Please not the amount of pickling salt to be used. On one page it says 2 tablespoons and on the directions page it says 40 – 482 tablespoons. You also mentioned in your narrative not to boil the canning liquid but the instructions say to bring it to a boil. I appreciate all the information in your blog and your frankness is refreshing.
    Keep up the great blog

    Roy

      • Rondalynn Schmick says

        First recipe I looked at for pickled beets and I cant wait to try it!

      • Kaye says

        To waterbath-what level of water should be in the pot? Over the jars or just up to the lids and rings??

        • Robin says

          With any canning you should have the water over the jars.

    • Mr. Kitchen Magpie says

      The recipe plug-in screwed up the amounts. And yes, you do boil it, just the EXACT amount of time the recipe says, no further.5 stars

  23. Joan Edwards says

    I am about to can my first batch of harvested beets. I love horseradish added to the beet solution as a kick with the sweet/sour flavor. Do you think that would be a safe addition to the recipe in place of the spices?

  24. Joseph Delawsky says

    karlynn
    i absolutely love your comments thankyou for sharing your knowledge5 stars

  25. Ann Mayo says

    Hi;

    I’d like to use this recipe, but I only have a pressure canner. Would you please let me know how many pounds of pressure I should use and for how many minutes?

    Thanks,
    Ann

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      Hi Ann,

      You would have to check that out on the home preservation website I linked to!5 stars

  26. Diane says

    I just made this recipe! I did cut my beets though, they were big. This is my second shot at this ,the last recipe had too much vinegar although after reading your recipe I might have boiled the brine too long. Don’t you hate it when people readjust your recipe ? I do not like pickling spice or cloves, so I don’t use them, I will have to write back and let you know how they are, can’t wait 🙂5 stars

  27. Becky Shepherd says

    You can’t change the ratio of vinegar to water safely. The sugar is there mostly as a flavouring (I think) so you could use less, but don’t reduce the amount of vinegar unless you’re making a small batch and reducing the amount of water in the same ratio.5 stars

  28. Becky Shepherd says

    Anything can be intimidating when your first start.

    I’ve gotten a fair number of my friends started canning, and baking. I’ve found that most people learn better and become confident quicker if they learn in person from a friend or family member. Since I learned all sorts of cooking and preserving from my mom and grandmothers this makes sense to me. So I pass it on by sharing with my friends.5 stars

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