Canning Pickled Beets (Beet Pickles)

This post as all about how to make pickled beets. If you are looking for canning plain beets, check this post instead.

For pickling beets the steps generally look like this…. Cook and peel your beets removing the tops and root. Thinly slice onions. Make pickling brine with the correct ratios of vinegar, sugar, and water. Pack beets onions, and spices like cinnamon or allspice if desired. Bring brine to a boil and pour over beets. Process in a water bath canner or a steam canner. Details follow.

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A hint of cinnamon makes this pickled beets recipe a winner. If you don’t like cinnamon, just leave it out. The spices can be adjusted safely but not the vinegar ratios.

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Quantity

This recipe makes 6 pint jars. Quarts are not recommended. You can however reduce the jar size and use 1/2 pints. You’ll just still process for the pint size jar recommendations. I do this all the time as I’m the only one in our house that loves pickled beets. (silly people I live with)

Know Your Canner

This recipe can be processed in a water bath canner (also known as a boiling water canner). It is also a great option to use a steam canner. (not to be confused with pressure canning).

To get familiar with these methods, I recommend checking out these helpful guides: “How to Use a Water Bath Canner” and “How to Use a Steam Canner.” They’ll walk you through the ins and outs of each technique, ensuring you’re all set up.

They’ll also help you decide which method to use. I’d recommend steam canning if you’ve got the right equipment.

Pickled Beets: Extended, Step-By-Step Directions

This recipe was adapted from the Ball Canning Pickled Beets recipe. It has the seasonings that we love. Check below for any adaptations you can safely make to create the recipe for your family.

Gather your supplies:

• water bath canner
• canning jars
• canning seals and rings
• jar lifter and canning funnel
• large pot
• bowls
• large spoons
• sharp knife
• towels and dish cloths
• ladle

Ingredients:

• Beets – enough to make 3 quarts
• onions 4-6 small onions, 2 to 2-1/2-inch diameter (optional)
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 Tbsp. whole allspice
• 1 1/2 tsp. canning salt
• 4 cups vinegar (standard 5% acidity)
• 2 cups water

Preparing Beets

Wash

Cut stems to about 2 inches, and leave on the taproot. This will help keep the color when you boil the beets to loosen the skins.

Cook and peel, remove tap roots and stems.

Cook beets in boiling water at medium-high heat until they are tender and skins will slip off.

This may take 25 to 35 minutes, depending on the size of your beets. It helps to scrape a spoon against the beets while cooking to see when the skins start to scrape off easily.

I often have a variety of sizes of beets. I try to sort my beets and cook those of similar size together. The larger ones will take a little longer to cook.

Remove from water and cool in very cold water. When cool enough to handle, use your hands to slip the skins off. Use a knife for the stubborn spots. Cut off the tops and taproots at this point.

Slice or chop beets to desired size.

I usually slice or cut into chunks. If you’ve got a french fry blade and like that shape it works really well and quick! They should be approximately 1/4 inch thickness.

Onions is an optional ingredient. There is not an exact amount for this recipe. No more than 4 to 6 small onions. (2- to 2-1/2-inch diameter).

Peel onions and thinly slice.

Prepare the Pickling Solution

Combine vinegar, water, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick.

The vinegar you use should be a standard vinegar with 5% acidity. Check your labels. There are many fun vinegar recipes available, and I know some people make homemade vinegar. But the acidity levels matter here. I prefer the apple cider vinegar… but white is fine too. They’ll give a slightly different flavor.

How to Can Pickled Beets

Pack prepared beets into hot canning jars. Cover beets in jars with hot vinegar solution, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with a plastic knife or other small tool. (I like to use an orange peeler. )

Wipe rims clean and process according to water bath canning directions.

Pints – Process for 30 minutes.

Adjust this time according to your altitude on the chart below. For more information on why this is important, see this altitude adjustments page.

Safe Substitutions and Adaptations

• It is safe to adapt seasonings for this recipe. For instance if you really don’t like the taste of cinnamon, you can just leave that out. Or leave out the spices altogether and just have a plain pickled beet. Add some whole cloves if you like that. It is still good… Personally I like the spices as written in this recipe. I’ve got some ideas for homemade pickling spice in this article that might give you some good ideas.
• Do not adapt the ratio of vinegar and water. 2 cups water/4 cups vinegar mixture is required for safety acidity reasons if you want to process these for storage in your pantry. If you are making less quantity, you can cut the recipe in half… but keep that same ratio.
• You can choose between either plain white vinegar or apple cider vinegar but be sure the acidity level of your vinegar is at 5% acidity. Check the labels.
• Because this is considered a quick process pickle, (there is no fermenting involved) you can safely reduce the sugar.
• This recipe is a canning recipe but if you want just a refrigerator beet recipe you can simply skip the processing step and put these in the refrigerator. I’d suggest you cut the recipe down so you only make the amount you’ll eat in a short time. This recipe is only shelf stable if you process the jars as instructed.

Pickled Beet Eggs

The brine from these pickled beets can also be used to make pickled eggs! Pickled eggs are always a refrigerator pickle. When you’ve eaten all the pickled beets from a jar, don’t toss the juices.

Pickled Beets Tips and FAQs

Pickled Beets Recipe Card

Pickled Beets

A hint of cinnamon makes this pickled beets recipe a winner. If you don’t like cinnamon, just leave it out. The spices can be adjusted safely but not the vinegar ratios.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:2 hours hrs

Processing Pints (adjust for altitude):30 minutes mins

Total Time:2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Equipment

• Water Bath Canner
• Canning Jars
• Canning Lids and Rings
• Funnel, Jar Lifter, Lid Lifter, Bubble Tool
• Ladle
• Large Pot

Ingredients

• 7 pounds Beets approximate
• 2 cups Sugar 
• 1 stick Cinnamon 
• 1 Tablespoon Whole Allspice
• 1½ teaspoon Canning Salt
• 4 cups Vinegar
• 2 cups Water
• 2-4 small Onion(s) optional

Instructions

Preparing Beets 

• Wash beets, keeping taproot and 2” of stem. 
• Boil the beets until tender, about 25–35 minutes. 
• Transfer beets into very cold water. 
• Remove skins, stems, and taproots.  
• Slice or chop beets to desired size. Keep hot.  
• Peel and thinly slice onion if using.

Prepare Brine  

• Combine vinegar, water, sugar, and seasonings in a saucepan. 
• Bring brine to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. 
• Remove cinnamon stick.

Canning Procedure 

• Start by preparing jars and getting water in the canner heating. You want the canner hot, but not boiling, when the jars are ready to be processed.

  See full water bath canning instructions here.  

Hot Pack only

• Pack beets and onion into hot canning jar.  
• Cover beets with hot brine, leaving 1/2” headspace. 
• Remove air bubbles, wipe rim clean, and place on seal and ring. Place the jar in the warm canner. Proceed to fill all jars. Process according to chart below.   

Notes

Processing with a Water Bath Canner

Place the jar in the warm canner. Proceed to fill all jars placing them in the canner.

When all the jars are filled, bring the water in the canner to a boil.  When a boil is reached that is when you’ll start your timing.   Process for the length of time on the chart below.  Adjust for your altitude. 

 After your time is over, turn the heat off remove the lid and allow the canner to rest for about 5 minutes. Then bring your jars up out of the water.  Allow them to rest for another 5 minutes. Then remove the jars and place them a few inches apart on a thick towel to cool completely.  Leave them alone for about 12 hours.  

When they are cooled remove the metal bands, check the seals, label the jars and store them away! 

Processing Times for Water Bath Canner (Hot Pack) 

Altitude – Pints  

0-1,000 ft – 30 minutes 

1,001-3,000 ft – 35 minutes 

3,001-6,000 ft – 40 minutes 

Above 6,000 ft – 45 minutes 

Adapted from: Ball Blue Book, The National Center for Home Food Preservation

Servings: 6 pints

Author: Sharon Peterson

Related Pages

Canning Beets

The process is fairly simple, but may take a little longer than other vegetables you’re used to canning. Step-by-step guide, with tips and tricks, included here.

Canning Greens

Canning greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard, or beet tops is super easy.

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Sources:

• Ball Blue Book,
• The National Center for Home Food Preservation,
• https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/safefood/files/2019/08/SafeSubstitutions.pdf