How to Dehydrate Beets:
Make Crispy Homemade Chips or Powder

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Susan Gast | Author and blogger at Bored Boomers, Beesville Books, A New Sober You and Easy Food Dehydrating

Here's how to dehydrate beets to make a nutritious beet powder! Preserve these nutritious root vegetables for long-term storage, too. Plus dried beets make a delicious and healthy snack. See my recipe for Tasty Dehydrated Beet Chips further down the page.

Whole red beets in a dish
Photo by Annemarie Schaepman on Unsplash

You can dry beets using a food dehydrator, a regular oven, or the new kid on the block: an air fryer. Any of these machine-drying methods retain most of the beets' nutrients and leave you with crispy beet chips... or grind up the dried slices into a powder! More on that later.

Beet Nutrition Info.

VITAMINS: Folate (Vitamin B9), Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6.

MINERALS: An excellent source of Manganese, Potassium, and Iron, along with Magnesium and Copper.

Beets also contain nitrates, which may help lower blood pressure, and betalains, which are considered to contain powerful antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties. Beets also contain fiber. We need more fiber, folks!

How to Use Beet Powder in Everyday Meals

I’ve found that beet powder is a super way to add extra nutrition to my meals. I've even sprinkled a dash of it into my morning smoothies for a color - and a nutritional boost.

Beet powder works great in:

  • Smoothies
  • Soups and stews
  • Baked goods
  • Homemade energy bars

Linda M via Facebook says:

"I’ve even experimented with using beet powder as a natural food coloring in frostings and as a base for homemade makeup like blush and lip gloss. It’s a fun and healthy way to add some color to my life!"


Varieties of Beets You Can Dehydrate

I always thought there was only one kind of beet, color-wise. I'm so used to buying canned pickled beets which I use in salads.

But I discovered at least six varieties:

  1. Red Beets (Deep Red): The most common variety is a deep red or purple color with a sweet, earthy flavor AND are the ones most often pickled.
  2. Golden Beets: They are a bright yellow-orange color and have a milder, less earthy flavor than red beets. They're a little sweeter and less "beety" tasting.
  3. Chioggia Beets (Candy Cane Beets): They have a pink exterior with white and pink rings inside! They have a mild flavor and are slightly sweeter than red beets. Look how gorgeous they are sliced!
  4. White Beets: White or off-white in color. They are sweeter and less earthy than red beets. Use these in salads or for pickling.
  5. Cylindra Beets: Elongated shape (rather like a carrot). They are deep red in color and are good for slicing and canning.
  6. Baby Beets: Any variety harvested young - typically sweeter and more tender.

Each of these varieties can be used when dehydrating beets. Obviously, you'll get a color and subtle flavor difference with each. Golden beets are milder-tasting, while Chioggia beets make visually striking chips with their ring pattern - see the image below, courtesy of rareseeds.com.

Chioggia Beets - courtesy of rareseeds.comChioggia Beets / Source: rareseeds.com

Why and How to Blanch Beets Before Dehydrating

Blanching beets before dehydrating helps preserve their color and reduces dehydrator-drying time. How so? Blanching creates tiny cracks in the skins making it faster and easier to dry. Slicing beets thinly and evenly gives good, consistent results.

When stored properly, dehydrated beets can last for months, making them a great pantry addition in an effort to keep your food pantry full.

Dehydrating Beets: Getting Started the Right Way

here's how to select the best beets and prepare them for dehydration.

Choosing the Right Beets

When picking beets for dehydration, choose firm, smooth-skinned roots without blemishes. Fresh beets are colorful and have crispy green tops. I prefer medium-sized beets as they’re easier to slice evenly!

Large beets often have woody centers, so I avoid those. If possible, I use organic beets to minimize pesticide exposure. At the store, I gently squeeze each beet – it should feel solid with no soft spots.

To prepare beets for my food dehydrator, I start off by washing them thoroughly and scrubbing off any dirt with a vegetable brush, or a finger-nail cleaning brush.

Step-by-Step Infographic: How to Dehydrate Beets

Want the quick version? This visual guide walks you through how to prep, blanch, dry, and store beets—whether you're making chips or stocking your pantry.

Infographic - How to Dehydrate Beets PerfectlyInfographic - How to Dehydrate Beets Perfectly

📌 Pin this for later!


Step-by-Step: How to Dehydrate Beets

SPECIAL NOTE for Steaming or Pre-Cooking ONLY

Trim off the tops and roots, leaving about an inch of stem to prevent color bleeding. What's that, you ask? It's when beets are raw, their colorful pigments can leak out so leaving a bit of the stem in place kind of keeps it sealed.

Also, keep a tad of the taproot in place. This ONLY applies if you're going to steam, or pre-cook the beets before drying. If you're drying your beets raw, then slice away as you would a potato. There is no need to keep a part of the stem or part of the taproot at the bottom.


Preparation Before Dehydration

Next, peel the beets using a vegetable peeler. For even drying, I slice them into 1/8-inch thick rounds using a mandoline or a sharp knife. (Amazon Affiliate link, thanks). Consistency in thickness is key for uniform dehydration so all the slices dry at the same rate.

Badia Complete seasoning bottle

Before loading my dehydrator trays, I blanch the beet slices in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. This helps preserve color and texture. After blanching, I immediately plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking process.

IF you wish to season your chips with salt or your favorite seasoning - do it now.

I love Badia Complete which I put in just about every savory dish I make. It's readily available at your local supermarket. And probably Amazon has it. They have everything... right?

Drying Beets in a Dehydrator

  1. Prep as described above.
  2. Season as desired.
  3. Arrange them on your dehydrator trays, trying not to overlap the pieces.
  4. Turn on your food dehydrator and set the temperature between 125°F and 135°F (or per your food dehydrator's instructions).

💡 Tip: Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

  • Fully dehydrated beets will be crisp and brittle when fully dried.
  • Drying time: between 16-20 hours.
  • Please remember to rotate your dehydrator trays, for even drying.

Drying Beets in a Regular Oven

  • Preheat oven to 275°F.
  • Brush slices with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, as desired.
  • Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper without overlapping the slices) for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Note: Flip 'em over at the one-hour mark.

💡 Tip: Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

Beets are "done" when they're dry and crispy, with no moisture left.

Drying Beets in an Air Fryer

  • Slice the beets thinly, same as the other methods: 1/8" thick.
  • Toss slices with olive oil, and salt - if desired.
  • Preheat air fryer to 320°F
  • Arrange the slices in a SINGLE layer. Don't overcrowd. 
  • COOK the chips for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the air fryer basket every five minutes.

💡 Tip: Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

NOTE: This method is more for cooking than for dehydrating, IMHO. And keep an eye on them as you near the 20-minute mark as they can burn quickly in an air fryer.

Allow them to completely cool down so they'll crisp up even more!

Tasty Dehydrated Beet Chips Recipe

Tasty Dehydrated BEET CHIPS Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 medium-sized beets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite herb blend

Instructions:

  1. Wash and scrub the beets thoroughly.
  2. Peel the beets if desired (peeling is optional but can result in a more uniform texture).
  3. Slice the beets very thinly (about 1/8 inch thick) using a mandoline or sharp knife.
  4. In a large bowl, toss the beet slices with olive oil (if using), salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings.
  5. Arrange the beet slices in a single layer on dehydrator trays, making sure they don't overlap.
  6. Dehydrate at 125°F (52°C) for 8-12 hours, or until the chips are crispy and dry.
  7. Check the chips periodically and rotate trays if your dehydrator doesn't have a good air-circulating fan.
  8. Once fully dried and crispy, remove from the dehydrator and let cool completely.
  9. Store in an airtight container.

Dried beet chips in a rustic bowl on a kitchen countertop

How to Store and Rehydrate Dehydrated Beets

Store your dried beets in vacuum-sealer bags or Mason jars with an oxygen absorber before sealing. Easy, airtight, and pantry-ready.

To rehydrate, just soak them in cool, clean water for 15–30 minutes—hot water works too, but I’m not a fan of soaking stuff in warm water (hello, germs).

They bounce back close to their original flavor and texture. Toss 'em straight into soups or stews and they’ll rehydrate as they cook. Just add a splash more liquid. Easy peasy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Dehydrate Beets To Make Powder?

Follow the instructions as given earlier, allow to cool, and then grind into a fine powder using a blender, or a food processor.

What Can I Do With Dehydrated Beets?

Use dried beets in lots of ways! Add to recipes, and to smoothies for color. And "Linda M" on Facebook uses her powdered beets by adding a little to her homemade lip gloss, and blush, and to add a tad of color to her cake frostings.

Are Dehydrated Beet Chips A Healthy Snack Option?

Dehydrated beet chips are a nutritious snack and when dried, they do keep most of their nutrients and fiber, plus they are low in calories. However, I'm mindful of any added salt or oil when preparing them to keep them as healthy as possible.

Thanks for stopping by to learn how to dehydrate beets. Now you know how to make crispy, homemade beet chips! Share this page with your friends. :-)

Get Your Free Guide to Dehydrating Like a Pro!

Don't forget to grab your free Six Simple Steps eBook! It’s packed with tips for dehydrating everything from fruits and veggies to dog treats. Get it here.

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