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Have you purchased more carrots than you can eat before they rot? Before sending them to the landfill or compost pile, take the time to prepare and freeze them for use in the future. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to freeze carrots.
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Freezing Carrots Tips
- Remove the tops of the carrots.
- Wash, peel, and cut the carrots.
- Water blanch carrots.
- Store in zip-closure freezer bags
- Store for 9-12 months for best quality.
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Candied Baby Carrots
While this Food Network recipe by Tyler Florence or candied baby carrots is demonstrated with fresh carrots, you can also make it easily with frozen carrots. Just increase the roasting time from 15 to 25 minutes. The glaze is made with brown butter, brown sugar, cumin, orange zest and orange juice.
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Introduction
- If you grow your own carrots or frequent farmers' markets, you may end up with a surplus of fresh carrots. Freezing your carrots can help to alleviate this problem. Read on to learn the simple procedure for freezing carrots.
Step 1: Preparing the Carrots
- The first step in properly freezing carrots is to prepare the carrots by cleaning and peeling.
What To Do
- Remove the tops of the carrots.University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots
- Wash in cold water and gently scrub with a vegetable brush.The Ohio State University Extension: Freezing Vegetables The World's Healthiest Foods: How to Select and Store Carrots
- If organically grown, you do not have to peel the carrots. However, peel them if they are not organically grown.The World's Healthiest Foods: How to Select and Store Carrots
- Small carrots should be left whole. Medium and large carrots should be either cubed, diced or cut lengthwise.University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots
Step 2: Blanching the Carrots
- Prior to freezing carrots, they will need to be water blanched.University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots Blanching means to scald in boiling water and helps carrots to retain their flavor, color and texture when frozen.University of Minnesota Extension: Blanching Vegetables - Why and How
What You'll Need
- Large pot with a lid and wire basket OR vegetable blancher
- Prepared carrots
- One gallon of water for every pound of carrotsRunning Creek Farm Greenhouses: Blanching Vegetables
- Ice water (60 degrees F or lower) to cool carrots in after blanchingNational Center for Home Food Preservation: Blanching
What to Do
- In a large pot with a wire basket, or a vegetable blancher, bring water to a rolling boil.National Center for Home Food Preservation: Blanching University of Minnesota Extension: Blanching Vegetables - Why and How
- Add carrots to the water and cover.University of Minnesota Extension: Blanching Vegetables - Why and How National Center for Home Food Preservation: Blanching
- Allow water to return to a boil.University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots Water should return to a boil within 1 minute.University of Minnesota Extension: Blanching Vegetables - Why and How
- Continue blanching according to the size of the carrots:
- -Whole carrots: five minutes.University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots
- -Diced or sliced carrots: two minutes.University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots
- -Carrots sliced lengthwise: two minutes.University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots
- Immediately transfer blanched carrots to ice water to stop the cooking process.Running Creek Farm Greenhouses: Blanching Vegetables
- Cool in the ice water for five minutesUniversity of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots
- Drain completely to avoid extra moisture that can cause carrots to lose their quality when frozen.National Center for Home Food Preservation: Blanching
Step 3: Storing the Carrots
- Once you have prepared and blanched the carrots, storing them is easy!
What You'll Need
- Blanched carrots
- Zip-closure freezer bags
- Rigid containers (optional)
What to Do
- Pack carrots tightly in zip-closure freezer bags.The Ohio State University Extension Freezing Vegetables University of Illinois Extension Service: Home Preservation of Carrots
- Squeeze air from the bag and seal.The Ohio State University Extension Freezing Vegetables
- Bagged carrots can be stored in rigid containers for easy stacking.The Ohio State University Extension Freezing Vegetables
- Carrots can last indefinitely in the freezer, however foods tend to begin losing their quality after 9-12 months.United States Department of Agriculture: Length of Time to Freeze Foods Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Storing Vegetables in the Freezer
Conclusion
- Freezing carrots will allow you to store them for long periods of time. When you are ready to use your carrots, cook them frozen for 5-10 minutes in boiling water.Michigan State University Extension: Using Frozen Vegetables Enjoy!
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