Why Do Beets Taste Like Dirt? 10 Ways To Make Beets Taste Better

Ah beets. When it comes to a split opinion on flavor, beets are right up there with cilantro. It seems that half of us, present company included, think that the beets taste like dirt – and not in a good way. The other half, the beet lovers, will only partially admit to this, instead describing their flavor as “earthy.”

While I stand firmly rooted with my fellow dirt-tasters (beet pun intended), according to science, beets technically don’t taste like dirt.

The dirt flavor that some experience when biting into a beet is actually caused by the smell of geosmin, an organic compound produced by microbes in the soil. Geosmin gives off a strong odor reminiscent of a freshly plowed field or soil after a rain, and human noses are very sensitive to it. Since our olfactory senses of taste and smell are so tightly and inextricably linked, the pungent smell of geosmin leads to the perception of dirt on our palate.

How to Make Beets Taste Good

So what’s a beet-curious, geosmin-sensitive gastronome to do? Lucky for us, those in the beet-loving camp are experimenting with all kinds of ways to transform the flavor of this root vegetable. Here are ten ideas to make beets taste good.

1. Try Fresh Beets

If your beet experience is limited to the canned variety, that could have something to do with disliking their taste. Almost every beet-lover will tell you fresh is the only way to go.

Freshness is paramount. Proponents say that a fresh beet will have a sweet flavor that’s less reminiscent of dirt. It’s recommended to get them at a farmer’s market whenever possible, and even better if you can get them from a vendor who specializes in root vegetables.

2. Try Pickled Beets

Rather than hoard all the beets for themselves, the beet people just really want you to like them. So if you’re having the opposite problem of not liking fresh beets, they suggest you try them pickled.

3. Marinate Them in a Tangy-Sweet Syrup

Roasting beets seems to be the tried-and-true method to bring out their inherent sweetness. Beet aficionados like to further enhance the sweet taste with the addition of a sweet syrup or glaze. Most suggest a sweet-tangy combo for the most enjoyable flavor. Some suggestions are:

Balsamic vinegar & honey
Pomegranate juice
A simple syrup of apple cider vinegar, sugar, cloves, & ginger

4. Try Harvard Beets

The color of beets is almost an exact match for Harvard’s signature crimson, hence the name. Again making use of the sweet-sour flavor combination that’s suited to the red root vegetable, Harvard beets are a classic dish of sliced beets made with vinegar and sugar.

5. Grate Them

Rather than process fresh beets by cooking or pickling, some beet lovers suggest grating up a fresh beet to add texture and color to a salad.

You can also try making a beet slaw by mixing grated beets with chopped cilantro, sliced onions, diced chiles, lemon juice, and cumin. I’m pro-cilantro, so this is one way to jazz up beets that I’d definitely try!

6. Just Add Cheese

Beet lovers are classy, so naturally they also like goat cheese and recommend it as a delicious complement to this earthy vegetable. If sweet vegetables aren’t your thing, this savory combination might be the ticket to making beets taste better for you.

Try pairing goat cheese with a tangy juice like lemon, orange, or balsamic vinegar and toss with freshly roasted beet slices.

7. Drink Them

woman in plaid shirt drinking beet smothie

Masking beets with the flavor of your favorite fruit is one way to make consuming them more palatable. If you don’t normally use the beet greens, having a beet smoothie gives you the opportunity to swap them in for whatever green you’d normally use.

I find that the tang of fresh lemon really cuts through the beet taste and goes well with apples. To make a beet smoothie for two, I throw one apple, half a lemon (skin and all), one roasted beet and its greens, and some ice into the blender and blend with enough water to reach my desired consistency.

8. Take Your Beets South of the Border

There are plenty of ways to take this not-so-favorite vegetable and spice it up… by sneaking it into your favorite Latin-inspired dishes. People are trying beet spin-offs of everything from elote to enchiladas. Adding beets to tacos, particularly vegan ones, seems to be pretty popular.

To elevate the appetizer you bring to the next get-together (or to see who else doesn’t really care for beets), you can swap golden beets for tortillas to craft individual nacho bites topped with diced tomato and avocado, sour cream, cotija cheese, and a jalapeno slice. Golden beets have a milder flavor than their red counterparts.

9. Go Classic with Borscht

If you’ve heard of borscht before, you may associate this beet soup with Russia. Legend has it borscht actually originated in Ukraine, but no matter how you slice it, folks from that region must dig beets.

Borscht is enjoyed hot or cold, and the Ukrainian version is typically a beef and vegetable soup, the vegetables being predominately beet and cabbage. It’s traditionally garnished with sour cream, and some modern chefs like to add dill for a little extra zing.

10. Put Them in a Cake

If all else fails, you can mask the flavor of beets completely by hiding them in a decadent chocolate cake. Sounds strange, but pureed beets are the perfect addition to a cake. They add a tenderness and moisture that you definitely won’t get out of a box cake. And their red coloring makes an excellent natural dye for a red velvet cake.