Roasted beets are a year-round staple in our house; they're fantastic for tossing in salads, quick pickling, or making into fritters. We roast several at once by wrapping them in foil and tucking them into the oven to cook alongside braises, bread, or whatever else we might be cooking. Then the beets are ready for whenever we need them. Here's a step-by-step guide for roasting perfectly tender beets every time.

Beets (bunches or trimmed)

1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 200C.

This is a flexible cooking temperature; if you're using the oven for cooking something else, beets can be cooked at that temperature.

Beets will cook more slowly at lower temperature and more quickly at higher temperatures.

At higher temperatures, check more frequently for scorching (see Step 3).

2. If the beets still have their leafy tops, cut off the tops close to the tops of the beet, leaving yourself enough to grip.

Save the beet greens for another purpose.

Scrub the beets thoroughly, then wrap them loosely in aluminium foil.

No need to dry the beets before wrapping.

Small beets can be wrapped together, but it's easiest to roast large beets individually.

3. Place the wrapped beets on a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips in case the beet juices leak.

Roast for 50 to 60 minutes.

Check the beets every 20 minutes or so.

If they are starting to look dry or are scorching on the bottoms, dribble a tablespoon of water over the beets before re-wrapping.

Beets are done when a fork or skewer slides easily to the center of the beet. Small beets will cook more quickly than large beets.

4. Set the beets aside until cool enough to handle.

Hold one of the beets in a paper towel and use the edges of the paper to rub the skin away.

The skin should peel away easily; if it doesn't, the beets likely need to cook for a little longer.

Peel the remaining beets.

Storage: Roasted beets can be refrigerated whole or sliced in airtight container for up to 1 week.