Beetroot powder is prepared by grinding dehydrated beetroot and is a great way to preserve this root vegetable. It’s highly concentrated and packed with nutrients, therefore much appreciated as a food additive and supplement. Due to its strong and radiant colour, beetroot powder is a natural dye widely used in the food and cosmetic industries.

HISTORY OF BEETROOT

Beets are tuberous root vegetables that belong to the Amarathaceae family. Its scientific name is Beta vulgaris.

The wild beet is thought to have originated in prehistoric times in North Africa and grew wild along Asian and European seashores. In these earlier times, people exclusively ate beet greens and not the roots. The ancient Romans were the first to cultivate beets and used their roots as food. Beet cultivation spread throughout northern Europe where they were first used exclusively as feed for domestic animals and from 16th century onwards also for human consumption.

Beets’ popularity grew in the 19th century when it was discovered that they were a concentrated source of sugar. When access to sugar cane was restricted by the British, Napoleon decreed beetroot to be used as the primary source of sugar, which made the beets even more widely spread.

In the middle of the 19th century, beetroot juice became popular as a natural dye and was used to improve the colour in wine.

Food shortages in Europe following World War I caused extreme hardships, people had to survive on eating beets. Nowadays, beetroot is regarded as a popular and nutritious food. The roots are eaten boiled, roasted or raw, and used in soups, drinks and salads. The young leaves of the beetroot plant are also edible and great in salads.

WHAT GIVES THE BEETROOT ITS RED COLOUR

The red colour of the beetroot is caused by betanin and vulgaxanthin pigments. The beet powder can vary in shades of red, depending on the colour of the beets.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BEETROOT POWDER

In the Middle Ages, beetroot was used to treat various medical conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and blood. 

Beetroot has many benefits. It’s believed to lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and to protect the liver and kidney, as well as to prevent tumour formation and growth.

It’s unlikely that you will overdose on beets if you don’t live on them but I thought you may want to learn about the risks of overconsumption. Beetroots are high in oxalates, which bond with calcium and may cause the formation of kidney stones and loss of calcium in the body.

HOW TO MAKE BEETROOT POWDER

📋 INGREDIENTS IN BEETROOT POWDER

The only ingredient that you will ever need to make the powder is the beetroots. If you will be using the beetroot powder as a supplement or a natural dye in your food, it’s best to source organic beets. And last but not least, make sure the fruit is healthy and fresh.

📖 STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

The process of making the powder is quite messy due to the beet being a strong colourant. Use gloves when grating it and cover the surface you are working on to prevent staining.

STEP 1: Grate the beetroot

First, peel and wash your beets thoroughly. Then, grate them or use a food processor to finely dice them. If your food processor bowl gets stained, wash it with warm soapy water as soon as possible, then soak it in lukewarm water and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Spread the grated beetroot thinly and evenly on baking paper. This is important for the beetroot to dry evenly.

STEP 2: Dry the beet fruit 

There are several ways to dehydrate beets:

DRYING BEETROOT IN THE SUN

The cheapest and easiest way is to dry the grated beetroot in the sun. Spread the grated beets on parchment paper thinly and leave it on a sunny window sill for 48 hours. After that time, check it content and, if needed, let it dry longer. You’ll know the beets are ready when they are crispy.

DRYING BEETROOT IN THE OVEN

Alternatively, place the sheets with grated beets in a preheated oven at 80C/180F and let it dehydrate for about 20 minutes. Toss the contents and return to the oven to dry for an additional 20 minutes or until completely dry.

DRYING BEETROOT IN THE DEHYDRATOR

Depending on your machine’s settings, it may take 4-12 hours to fully dehydrate your beets. I dry grated beetroot in my dehydrator at 75C for 4 hours.

STEP 3: GRIND THE BEETROOT

If you have a coffee grinder, put it to use to grate the dehydrated beets. That is the easiest way to do it. If you don’t have a coffee grinder, use a powerful food processor, then grind it to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle. Finally, sieve the beetroot into an airtight container.

🍲 HOW TO USE BEETROOT POWDER

In cosmetics, beetroot powder can be used as a substitute for mocha to add colour to lip salves, face blushes and soaps. You can use it as a colourant in my Homemade Rose Soap.

Beetroot powder will add lovely colour to smoothies, sauces, gravies or soups. You can sprinkle it on yoghurt, pancakes or salad as a garnish and to create vibrant colour.

FAQ

How much beet fruit to add to my smoothie? Just one teaspoon of the powder is enough to give your smoothie, yoghurt or sauce a wonderful strong colour.

Does beetroot powder stain? Not as much as fresh beets. If your hands or kitchen surfaces get stained use washing up liquid and water to clean them as soon as possible. To clean the bowl of your food processor, wash it with warm soapy water first, then let it soak in lemon juice and water.

How to make lip salve with beetroot powder? You will need to use fine powder for that. Mix one teaspoon of beetroot with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, or as much as you need to achieve the colour you desire, and stir to integrate the powder in the oil. 

How to store beet powder? Store in an airtight container at room temperature and keep it out of the sun.

MORE CRAFT IDEAS

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