Beetroot Powder in Air Fryer Recipe
Create vibrant, nutrient-packed beetroot powder right in your air fryer! This recipe makes a small batch of beetroot powder, but it can easily be scaled to make a larger batch. 3 medium-sized beets will make approximately 3 tablespoons of powder. This batch fits perfectly in my 4-quart air fryer. If you want to make more, simply work in batches.
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
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.
To use the powder in 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.