Are beets fruits or vegetables?

Beets are commonly considered to be vegetables, and are usually used as such in culinary applications. However, botanically speaking, beets are actually a type of root vegetable that is classified as a fruit.

In botany, fruits are defined as the mature ovary of a flowering plant, usually containing seeds. By this definition, beets are considered a fruit because they develop from the flower of the beet plant and contain seeds.

Despite being classified as a fruit, beets are generally treated as a vegetable in culinary contexts. They are often roasted, boiled, or pickled, and used in dishes like salads, soups, and stews.