Because these pigments are water soluble, when they come in contact with water, the color will leach out of the beet and into the water. If they weren’t water soluble, borscht would be colorless. But ...

Red Flannel Hash is a tasty mixture of beef, potatoes and beets. It’s a New England specialty and takes its name and color from the red beets. This is a great recipe for leftover meat and potatoes.