[header] How to roast beets [title] Wash the beets. [step] Rinse the beets under running water, scrubbing them with a vegetable brush to remove any caked-on dirt. [substeps] Beets are a root vegetable, so they naturally have a lot of dirt and debris on them. 
You can scrub the surface with your fingers if you do not have a vegetable brush, but you must get as much dirt off as possible before continuing further in the cooking process. Dry well before roasting the beets.