Yes, you can make beet juice from canned beets; rinse well and blend, then strain for a smoother, lower-sodium drink.
Lowest Sodium
Mid Sodium
Highest Sodium
No-Salt-Added
- Bright color, mild taste
- Great base for smoothies
- Best for daily sipping
Cleanest Choice
Regular In Water
- Drain and rinse first
- Blend with citrus
- Strain through fine mesh
Balanced
Pickled Slices
- Vinegar tang, extra sugar
- Use small amounts
- Top off with water
Occasional
Opening a can is faster than scrubbing and peeling fresh beets. The catch is brine. That liquid adds salt and softens texture. With a few tweaks, you still get a bold, ruby glass that blends easily with citrus, berries, or ginger.
Juicing Beets From A Can: Best Ways
Canned pieces are already cooked. A countertop blender or stick blender handles them well. For a silky sip, pour the blend through a fine strainer or nut-milk bag. If you prefer pulp, keep it all in; the fiber helps with fullness and tames sweetness.
Quick Method That Works
Drain the can. Rinse the beets under cool water for a few seconds. Add 1 cup drained beets, ½–1 cup cold water, a squeeze of lemon or orange, and a small piece of fresh ginger. Blend until smooth. Taste. If it feels thick, splash in more water, then strain for a smoother finish.
Why Rinse And Strain
Rinsing trims salt from the final glass. Heating during canning softens cell walls, which helps blending but can loosen pigments and starches that turn the drink murky. A quick pass through a mesh sieve removes that extra cloudiness and yields a brighter sip.
Canned Options At A Glance
Labels matter. “No salt added” gives you the cleanest canvas. Regular cans vary by brand, and pickled slices ride in a sweet-tart brine. Use the table below to gauge where your can sits and how to handle it for the best result.
| Type | Approx. Sodium (per 100 g) | Best Use For Juice |
|---|---|---|
| No-Salt-Added Canned Beets | ~20 mg | Blend straight with water and citrus; strain for extra smoothness. |
| Regular Canned, Drained & Rinsed | ~110 mg | Rinse well, blend with lemon or orange; strain to reduce briny notes. |
| Pickled Slices (Canned) | ~260 mg | Use smaller amounts and dilute; expect a tangy, sweeter profile. |
Flavor Builders That Pair Well
Beet sweetness leans earthy. Citrus brightens. Apple, carrot, or pineapple round off edges. A thin slice of ginger or a few mint leaves adds lift. A pinch of salt can sharpen fruit notes in no-salt cans, though most blends won’t need it.
Managing Sugar And Calories
Beets carry natural sugars. If you mix with fruit, watch portions. When you want a lighter glass, double the water, keep the pulp, and swap juice-heavy blends for add-ins like cucumber or celery. If you track your daily intake, a quick scan of the sugar content in drinks gives handy context without any guesswork.
Drain, Rinse, Blend: The Salt Fix
Most of the salt lives in the liquid. Pour it off. A brief rinse cuts more. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that rinsing canned vegetables removes some sodium, which helps if you’re watching totals. Link the action to habit: open, drain, rinse, then blend. See the FDA’s guidance on sodium in your diet for the general playbook.
How Much Does Rinsing Help?
Tests on canned vegetables show a measurable drop when you drain and rinse, with reductions reported in a modest range depending on the food and method. Expect a friendlier, less salty glass when you give the pieces a quick wash under the tap.
Texture, Color, And That Earthy Note
Canning softens beet cubes, so they break down fast in a blender. That softness helps if your blender isn’t heavy-duty. Color comes from betalains, the pigments behind that magenta flash. Heat changes them a bit, yet your drink still pours a deep ruby. To keep the hue lively, add a splash of lemon and serve cold.
What About A Juicer?
Many centrifugal juicers need firm produce to feed the chute and grip well. Canned pieces can collapse and smear. A blender handles them better. If you only have a juicer, freeze the drained cubes for 20–30 minutes to firm them up, then alternate with firmer items like apple slices. You’ll still get more yield with a blender-then-strain path.
Nutrition Notes That Matter
Canned beets keep fiber when you blend the whole piece. You also get potassium, folate, and natural nitrates. If you strain, you lose some pulp but keep much of the water-soluble side. For balance, rotate in fresh vegetables and greens across the week.
Nitrates And Blood Pressure
Beets are known for dietary nitrate, which your body converts to nitric oxide. Research links beet beverages with a small drop in systolic blood pressure in some adults. Effects vary by dose and duration, and the drink isn’t a substitute for care plans or medication. Keep portions sensible and steer questions to your clinician.
Sodium And Pickled Choices
Pickled slices ride along with salt and sugar. If that’s the can in your cupboard, blend a small portion with water, lemon, and a neutral add-in like cucumber. You’ll keep the beet vibe without a briny wallop.
Step-By-Step: From Can To Glass
Base Recipe
Ingredients: 1 cup drained canned beets, ¾–1 cup cold water, juice of ½ lemon or ½ orange, ½ small apple or ½ cup pineapple (optional), thin slice of fresh ginger (optional).
Method: Drain and rinse beets. Blend with water and add-ins for 30–45 seconds. Taste. Adjust with water for thickness. Strain for smoothness, or sip as is for fiber.
Balanced Blends
- Bright Citrus: Beets + lemon + ice water; refreshing and light.
- Apple-Ginger: Beets + apple + ginger; gentle heat and aroma.
- Berry Twist: Beets + frozen strawberries + water; tart and bold.
Method Matchup For Home Kitchens
Choose the path that matches your tools and texture goals. A blender wins on ease, but other routes can work in a pinch.
| Method | Pros | Watch Outs |
|---|---|---|
| Blender → Strain | Fast, high yield, easy cleanup; keeps fiber if you skip straining. | Straining adds a step; very fine mesh needed for ultra-smooth pours. |
| Immersion Blender | Works in a tall jar; great for small batches and quick rinsed cans. | More splatter; texture runs slightly rustic unless you strain. |
| Juicer With Canned Pieces | Possible with firmer, chilled cubes mixed with apple or carrot. | Lower yield; feed tube can clog; cleanup takes longer. |
Safety, Storage, And Sensitivities
Pick The Right Can
Go for “no salt added” when you can. If your pantry holds regular cans, a quick rinse helps tame the final glass. Pickled options bring flavor but raise salt and sugar, so use them sparingly.
Use By, Store Smart
Once opened, refrigerate the drained leftovers in a sealed container and use within 3–4 days. Finished juice tastes best cold and fresh. If you chill it, swirl or shake before pouring because fine pulp can settle.
Home-Canned Jars
Commercial cans are shelf-stable when intact. If you work with jars you processed at home, stick to pressure-canning steps for low-acid vegetables, and discard any jar with bulging lids or off smells without tasting. For general safety basics, read the CDC’s page on home-canned foods.
Kidney Stone Considerations
Beets are high-oxalate. If you’ve had calcium-oxalate stones, pair beet drinks with calcium-containing foods at meals, and talk with your care team about limits. See the NIDDK page on kidney stone diet guidance for practical pointers that reduce risk.
Make It Fit Your Day
Keep portions modest: a small glass alongside a meal delivers color and flavor without turning into a sugar bomb. If you want a gentler sip, blend beets with cucumber, celery, or a handful of ice, and stretch with water to taste.
Budget And Pantry Wins
Low-cost cans give year-round access to a vegetable that can stain your cutting board and take time to roast. With a drain-rinse-blend routine, you get speed and a reliable base for smoothies and sippers.
FAQs You Didn’t Need To Open A New Tab For
Can I Use The Brine?
You can, though most blends taste better without it. The brine pushes salt higher and can muddy flavor. If you want a hint of that tang, add a spoonful and balance with more water and lemon.
Should I Add Sweetener?
Try fruit first. A small piece of apple, pineapple, or orange usually does the trick. If you still want more sweetness, honey or maple will change the profile; start with a tiny amount and retaste.
What About Beeturia?
Pink or red urine can show up after a beet-heavy day. It’s common and fades once intake drops. If anything feels off, reach out to your clinician.
Your Next Smart Sipper
Now you’ve got a fast path to a vivid glass without pulling out a juicer. Drain the can, rinse, blend with cold water and citrus, and strain if you like it glossy. Want more drink ideas that play nicely with everyday goals? You might enjoy our take on calories in popular drinks.