Bring less - than - crunchy Daucus carota sativa back to lifetime with this trick from a Whole Foods ’ produce expert .
Jake Sternquist
Whether you lionize them inCarrot CakeorAir - Fried Balsamic Carrotsor sneak them into your card viaCopycat Chicken Gnocchi SouporVeggie - Turkey Burgers , carrot are a supermarket basic for many Americans year - round . Hey , even if you just use them as a vehicle forhummusorranch ; that counts , too ! It ’s clear that most of us really moil them : the average American corrode 12 pounds of carrot per year , according toUSDAestimates .
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out front , experts give us the dirt about how to store carrots in the refrigerator and Deepfreeze . Plus , score a pourboire about how to repair limp carrots if they ’re looking a picayune shopworn .
How to Store Carrots
Just a few 10 ago , you could purchase canned and frozen carrot , but probably only had one pick in the fresh garden truck aisle : whole carrots . These days , alternative abound . you’re able to purchase carrot potato chip , babe carrots , carrot spliff , shredded carrot , whole cultivated carrot without the tops , or whole carrots with the tops .
examination Kitchen Tip : If you grow or buy carrots , opt for the meridian . It make for a flavorful plus topesto , salads , or soup .
The best method acting for how to salt away carrots varies by character , so we ’ll plunk into specific categories below . irrespective of which type of carrot you have on - bridge player , though , it ’s significant to “ store carrots forth from ethene - producing fruit and vegetables like banana , apples , avocados , pear , Prunus persica , and Brassica oleracea italica , because the ethylene will speed the aging mental process in carrot , ” read Randy Davidson , a Wenatchee , Washington - free-base produce field inspector for Whole Foods Market . ( For more about the science behind this , jibe out our guide tofruits and veg you should never stack away together . )
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Aim for about 8 to 12 inches of separation , add together Sarah Brekke , M.S.,Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen brand managing director , or keep them in a separatecrisper draftsman .
How to Store Whole Carrots
“ Whole carrot will last the longest when unpeeled with the putting green take away , ” Davidson says .
When you get fresh carrot into your kitchen , trim off any greens ( tocompostor save for alternative United States ) , then keep them whole and unpeeled . wind the carrot in a report towel to avail absorb any moisture , transfer your vulgar carrot to an airtight container or aught - top bagful , and store in your refrigerator ’s crisper drawer .
lap whole carrots just before using since “ the added moisture on the hide of the carrot can promote mold and bacterial increment and shorten the shelf - life of the veggie , ” Brekke says .
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How to Store Peeled and Cut Carrots
That being said , you’re able to certainlywash , scrub , peel ( if desired — that step is optional ! ) , and slice or chop in front of metre for relaxation ofmeal preporsnacking , Brekke says .
Once peeled , “ carrots are susceptible to moisture loss so they postulate to be stored in a different way . lieu carrots in an airtight container and fill it with cool water until the carrots are overwhelm . Transfer the container to the icebox , dumping and refreshing the water in the container every 5 days or so , ” Brekke advises .
How to Store Baby Carrots, Shredded Carrots, or Carrot Sticks
Whether you buy them pre - shredded or sliced into marijuana cigarette or DIY , the best path to store any of these character of carrots is in an airtight container line with dampish newspaper publisher towel , Brekke says . Refrigerate the container , tick off in on it every Clarence Day or two .
To slim the danger of moisture loss that can lead to dried carrots , “ slay any dried piece as soon as potential , and supersede the moist newspaper towel every few days , ” Brekke adds .
Our No. 1 Trick to Resuscitate Tired Carrots
If your Daucus carota sativa — whole , babe , or cut — do end up drying out a bit or see a little less crisp than right away post - shopping running or harvest , Davidson says that he and his Whole Foods Market produce chum swear by this pro crown : “ If carrot seem to have miss their ‘ snap ’ or crispness , submerge them in cool water system and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour , and they should firm back up . ”
Still , carrots can be past the item of saving . It ’s time to discard your carrots if they have any of the following signs of spoilage , Brekke and Davidson check :
How Long Do Carrots Last?
If you follow these proficiency for how to salt away carrot , you should look your root vegetable to last :
Can You Freeze Carrots?
Craving more fourth dimension to make the most of your haul ? Great tidings : you could absolutely freeze carrot to savour by and by . fixed carrots forge well as an addition to casseroles , soups , stews , pot Proto-Indo European , and stuff formula .
“ It ’s good to clean and strip the carrots first . For optimal texture , and to retain more nutrients , colour , and flavor , we recommendblanchingthe carrots prior to freezing , ” Davidson says .
Brekke walk us through how to pale carrots in preparation for freezing :
Credit:Jake Sternquist
Credit:Jake Sternquist
