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Science & Nature • Vegetable

Beetroot

Beetroot is the edible taproot of the plant Beta vulgaris subsp.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Beetroot is the edible taproot of the plant Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, usually grown as a root vegetable. It is also known as beet, table beet, garden beet, or red beet, and its leaves are eaten as beet greens. In Canada, beetroot is a common root vegetable used in salads, pickling, and roasted dishes.

Description

Beetroot is the swollen taproot of Beta vulgaris cultivated for food. It is usually deep red, though some varieties are golden or other colours, and it is one of several crop types within the same species.

Cultivation and classification

Beetroot belongs to the Conditiva Group of Beta vulgaris. The plant is generally biennial but is commonly grown as an annual, and related cultivated forms include sugar beet and chard.

Culinary uses

Beetroot may be eaten raw, roasted, steamed, boiled, canned, or pickled. It is used as a side dish, in salads, and in preserved preparations.

Nutrition

Raw beetroot is mostly water and contains carbohydrates, some protein, and little fat. It is especially noted as a source of folate, with useful amounts of manganese and potassium.

Key facts

  • Beetroot is the taproot portion of a cultivated variety of Beta vulgaris.
  • The leaves are also edible and are known as beet greens.
  • It is commonly prepared by boiling, roasting, steaming, pickling, or canning.
  • Raw beetroot is a source of folate, manganese, and potassium.
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Canadian context

Beetroot is grown and sold in Canada as a common root vegetable and is familiar in Canadian cooking, especially in salads, pickling, and roasted vegetable dishes.

Frequently asked questions

What is beetroot?
Beetroot is the edible taproot of Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, a cultivated root vegetable.
Is beetroot the same as beet?
In common usage, beetroot and beet refer to the same edible root, especially in British English.
What part of the plant is eaten?
The swollen root is eaten, and the leaves are also edible as beet greens.
How is beetroot usually prepared?
It is commonly eaten raw, boiled, steamed, roasted, canned, or pickled.
What family does beetroot belong to?
It is part of the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetroot
    Supports: Scientific name, common names, edible parts, native range, preparation methods, and general description.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/beet
    Supports: Botanical classification, edible leaves and taproot, and culinary uses.
  3. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beetroot
    Supports: Chiefly British usage of beetroot for the edible beet root.
  4. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_vulgaris
    Supports: Species classification, cultivar groups including beetroot/garden beet, and relation to sugar beet and chard.
  5. PubChem — https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/Beta-vulgaris
    Supports: Species classification and distinction between root and chard cultivars.
  6. Royal Horticultural Society — https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/fff-beetroot
    Supports: Biennial habit, origin from wild sea beet, and general cultivation notes.