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In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of creating a vibrant, nutrient-packed beetroot powder right in your air fryer.
Beetroot powder has so many uses, from adding color to your recipes to acting as a natural dye for crafts and cosmetics.
With just a few simple steps, you’ll learn how to make beetroot powder so you can always have a fresh batch ready to sprinkle into smoothies, baked goods, or your own DIY projects.
I recently decided to make beetroot powder for DIY skincare products after realizing how many store-bought products rely on artificial dyes and fillers. Beetroot powder has a natural vibrant color and is packed with nutrients. It just seemed like a perfect addition to homemade lip balms, scrubs, and even candles!
Not only does it add a beautiful light purple to rosy hue, but it also has antioxidants that can complement any skincare routine. Making it myself in small batches has been a fun way to add color my products, and I know exactly what’s going into them—pure and simple beet goodness.
What is Beetroot Powder?
Beetroot powder is simply dried, finely ground beets. It’s made by drying out beetroots and then blending them into a powder. The finished powder has a vibrant purplish-red color.
You can mix some of the powder into smoothies, yogurt, or baked goods to add in some antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also popular as a natural dye for foods, homemade soaps, candles, lip balm, and many other DIY crafts!
What I also love about it is, depending on the application and how much you use, you can get light purple tones, or deep vibrant red ones. The photo below is a homemade lavender soy wax candle. I mixed 1/4 tsp of beetroot powder into the melted wax to get this light purple tone.
And if you’re wondering if my lavender candle smells like beets, I’m happy to report that it doesn’t! 🙂
How Much Beetroot Powder Should I Use?
This, of course, depends on what you’re using it for. Usually, 1 teaspoon of beetroot powder is equivalent to 1 small-medium fresh beet. The powder is potent, so a little can go a long way. Experiment to find the balance that suits your recipe and the look you’re going for!
For smoothies and drinks, you can start with a small amount – like half a teaspoon – and then add more to taste. To color food, start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon to achieve a light pink or purple color, and then adjust to your liking. To achieve a deeper red, try using 1/2 to 1 teaspoon, and then adjust.
For cosmetics like a small batch of lip balm or lip gloss, you can start with 1/4 teaspoon of powder for a subtle color and build up to 1/2 teaspoon for a deeper hue. It’s really all about experimenting and having fun with it.
How to Dry Beets to Make Beetroot Powder
In this post, I’m specifically showing steps on how to dry beets in an air fryer to make beetroot powder, but that’s not the only way to do it.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can use a food dehydrator by slicing the beets thinly, then dehydrating them at a low temperature for about 8-12 hours, or until they are fully dry and crisp.
You can also dry the thinly sliced beets in your oven on the lowest setting for 4-6 hours, flipping them halfway, until they are crisp.
How to Make Beetroot Powder in an Air Fryer
This recipe makes a small batch of beetroot powder, but it can easily be scaled to make a larger batch. I used 3 medium-sized beets to make approximately 3 tablespoons of beetroot powder. This batch fits perfectly in my 4-quart air fryer. If you want to make more, simply work in batches.
Supplies:
- Air fryer
- Food processor (optional but recommended)
- High speed blender or coffee grinder
- Small airtight container, for storage
Ingredients:
- 3 medium-large fresh beets
Instructions:
- If you are using a food processor, wash, dry, and cut the beets into pieces (no need to peel them first). If you don’t have a food processor, wash, dry, and thinly slice the beets or use a cheese grater to shred them, then set aside.
- Place beet chunks into the food processor, and pulse into small pieces.
- Place beet pieces (or slices) into the basket of your air fryer. Important: don’t use parchment paper, as it can fly up and burn into the heating element.
- Air fry at 170°F (approx. 77°C) for 20 minutes.
- Open the basket and mix beet pieces around, then air fry again for another 20 minutes.
- Open the basket, mix the pieces around, and continue air frying at 5-10 minute intervals until they are dry. When they are done, their size will have significantly reduced, and they will have a slight brownish color to them.
- Place beet pieces into the blender or coffee grinder, and blend until it becomes a powder. Tip: don’t open the top of the blender or grinder right away. Wait until the powder has settled a bit, or else you’ll lose some to the air, your face, and/or your countertop.
- Check your beetroot powder and decide if you want a finer powder. If so, continue blending until it reaches your desired texture. The finer the powder, the more effective it is as a dye.
- You now know how to make beetroot powder! Store the powder in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (like a cabinet or pantry) to maintain its color. If stored properly, it can last several months.
Final Thoughts
I hope this post inspires you to easily make beetroot powder right at home using your air fryer. It’s a fun and rewarding way to add vibrant color and nutrients to your recipes. Best part, this method is quick and convenient compared to using a dehydrator or oven.
Once you’ve dried and ground your beets, you’ll have a beautifully earthy powder that’s ready to enhance everything from smoothies to baked goods and even DIY skincare products.
Plus, making it yourself means no added preservatives—just pure beets. I hope you enjoy experimenting with this vibrant powder!
Other Recipes you Might Like
Beetroot Powder in Air Fryer Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Food Processor (optional but recommended)
- High speed blender or coffee grinder
- Small airtight container, for storage
Ingredients
- 3 medium-large fresh beets
Instructions
- If you are using a food processor, wash, dry, and cut the beets into pieces (no need to peel them first). If you don’t have a food processor, wash, dry, and thinly slice the beets or use a cheese grater to shred them, then set aside.
- Place beet chunks into the food processor, and pulse into small pieces.
- Place beet pieces (or slices) into the basket of your air fryer. Important: don’t use parchment paper, as it can fly up and burn into the heating element.
- Air fry at 170°F (approx. 77°C) for 20 minutes.
- Open the basket and mix beet pieces around, then air fry again for another 20 minutes.
- Open the basket, mix the pieces around, and continue air frying at 5-10 minute intervals until they are dry. When they are done, their size will have significantly reduced, and they will have a slight brownish color to them.
- Place beet pieces into the blender or coffee grinder, and blend until it becomes a powder. Tip: don’t open the top of the blender or grinder right away. Wait until the powder has settled a bit, or else you’ll lose some to the air, your face, and/or your countertop.
- Check your beetroot powder and decide if you want a finer powder. If so, continue blending until it reaches your desired texture. The finer the powder, the more effective it is as a dye.
- Store the powder in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (like a cabinet or pantry) to maintain its color. If stored properly, it can last several months.
Notes
