Trim off beet greens, leaving about 1 inch of stem
Scrub beets clean under running water
Leave beets whole and unpeeled
Fill a pot with 1 to 2 inches of water
Place a steamer basket in the pot
Bring the water to a boil
Add beets to the steamer basket
Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid
Steam small beets for 20 to 30 minutes
Steam medium beets for 30 to 40 minutes
Steam large beets for 40 to 50 minutes
Check doneness by piercing with a fork or knife
Remove beets from the steamer
Let beets cool slightly
Slip off the skins with your fingers or a paper towel
Slice, dice, or serve as desired