Have you ever come across a situation where you accidentally buy more groceries than you need?

At the shop, it seems like a smart decision to buy vegetables like carrots in bulk so they would be cheaper. However, once you’re home, you realize you can’t possibly consume all of it within a few days and they’ll go bad.

This is why we’ve come to you with the perfect post on how to freeze carrots.

Freezing vegetables, or perhaps any item of food, can help you prolong its life. Whether you intend to use it a month later or a few months later, it’ll be as if you bought it the previous day.

Who wouldn’t want to freeze carrots and have to option to take them out and eat them at any time of the year?

If you like vegetables, there is a high chance you have already scrolled the internet looking for ways to freeze carrots. However, the internet is a free medium and a lot of stuff available online might not always be very accurate.

You might be able to find tips for freezing carrots raw.

However, this might not be a very good decision as vegetables naturally have enzymes that cause them to mature and these enzymes do not die even in the fridge. To avoid this, you’ll have to blanch them before putting them in the freezer. Luckily for you, it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

Directions to Freeze Carrots:

Ingredients:

  • Carrots – the quantity depends on how much you want to freeze

Equipment:

  • One large pot of boiling water
  • An ice-water bath
  • A food processor or a sharp knife for cutting (whichever you are most comfortable with)
  • Vacuum sealed bags or ziplock bag for storing in freezer (make sure these bags are completely sealed as even the slightest gap might cause serious problems)

Instructions:

  • Step 1:

The first thing you’ll have to do to freeze carrots is to remove the green stems from the carrots and wash them. Make sure no dirt is left behind. You might have to wash some carrots twice to completely remove dirt. Peeling it isn’t necessary but you can do it if you want to.

  • Step 2:

Next, cut carrots according to your choice. It doesn’t matter at all whether you cut them in quarters or circles. Just try to keep their size consistent as this will help you later on with the cooking process. You can use a food processor to do so but a knife will be just as good.

  • Step 3:

Take a pot and fill it with 2/3rd of water. Bring the water to boil and then add the carrots. Make sure that for every 4 cups of carrots, you have 16 cups of water. Once the water and the carrots start boiling, use a timer and boil sliced carrots for about 3 minutes and the whole baby carrots for about 5 minutes.

  • Step 4:

Once you have boiled them for the specified amount of time take them out and immediately place them in a cold water bath. The water bath will ensure that the carrots will no longer continue to cook from their own heat.

  • Step 5:

Drain the carrots and then place them in vacuum-sealed bags. Make sure there is no air in the bags as this might cause serious problems for you later on. To ensure this, you can place a straw on one side of the bag and suck the air out of the bag. This will create a vacuum inside the bag.

  • Step 6:

The last step in the guide to freezing carrots is the labeling and dating of the bag. If you have followed all these steps accurately and made no mistakes, then these frozen carrots will be good for a whole year.

On the other hand, one thing that we must point out over here is that despite this being one of the best ways to store carrots, frozen carrots are not the same as fresh ones.

Normally, freezing carrots to store them might preserve the taste and nutritional value of the carrots; however, they do cause a certain change in the texture. They no longer remain as crisp and hard as they used to.

If you ask us, all of this depends on what you plan on using them for. We recommend you to use them for meals and dishes rather than for salads. Salads require freshly cut vegetables while it doesn’t really matter when it comes to dishes and meals.

This post listed 6 easy steps for you to freeze carrots whenever you feel like you’ve bought more than needed. You can stay worry-free and make delicious meals even with those that were stuck in your freezer for a month or two. Was this article helpful? We look forward to your response.

Is it better to freeze carrots raw or cooked?

Freezing carrots is such a great way to avoid waste. It will also make cooking them a little quicker from frozen. Like most vegetables, if frozen raw, the texture, taste, colour and nutritional value of carrots deteriorates. Make sure you blanch the veg to preserve these elements.

Do carrots freeze well?

Yes, you can freeze carrots – good news for those of you running out of room in your fridge. To freeze carrots, you must first trim them down. It is also important to blanch them to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria before = placing them in the freezer.

Can I freeze carrots without blanching them first?

Yes, you can freeze raw carrots without going through the blanching process. However, they will lose their texture and quality more quickly if you skip blanching, compared to if you blanch them before freezing.

Can I shred and freeze carrots?

Yes, you can freeze shredded carrots. Shredded frozen carrots thaw quickly and can be tossed right into baking (like these carrot and applesauce muffins), soups, stews, spaghetti sauce, casseroles, stir fries, pasta and salads.

Why are frozen carrots rubbery?

If your frozen carrots go rubbery after being cooked, generally it’s because the carrots were either old to begin with, or they were overcooked. It only takes 2 to 5 minutes to blanch the carrots, then plunge them immediately into ice water.

Why do you blanch carrots?

All fruits and vegetables contain enzymes and bacteria that, over time, break down the destroy nutrients and change the color, flavor, and texture of food during frozen storage. carrots requires a brief heat treatment, called blanching, in boiling water or steam, to destroy the enzymes before freezing.

Why do carrots turn black after freezing?

3 Answers. When carrots turn black, it is almost always caused by rot. I would definitely not eat them. The carrots are rotten.

Are frozen carrots ruined?

When raw vegetables get frozen, either accidentally or on purpose, they will never be as they originally were. Cucumbers will become soggy, lettuce will become wilty, and carrots will become soft.

Can you cook carrots straight from frozen?

This recipe is intended to cook the carrots from frozen, so thawing them first will result in a mushy texture. Roast the frozen carrots at 425 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes, checking to stir/flip every 10ish minutes. You can cook them even longer for more caramelized crispy edges!

How do you freeze carrots without blanching?

Lay the carrots on a cookie sheet, and put the cookie sheet in the freezer. Freeze the carrots for 24 hours. Remove the carrots from the freezer and put them in freezer bags. Seal, label and return to the freezer.

What vegetables can you freeze raw?

You can freeze almost anything.

The best vegetables to consider are corn, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, squash and winter greens such as spinach, kale, chard and collards. Onions, peppers, celery and herbs can also be frozen.

Can you freeze raw carrots and parsnips?

Wash the carrots and parsnips. Cut off the ends and anything that might not look edible and then peel them. Cut them into bite size pieces. Put the carrot and parsnips pieces in the boiling water and let them blanch for 3-4 minutes, depending on how much you‘re freezing and how big the pieces are.

How do you preserve raw carrots?

Place carrots in the coolest place in your refrigerator. Remove the tops, which can be also used for salads or as an herb component to other dishes, but only last up to a week similar to arugula. Once you have cleaned the carrots, wrap them in damp paper towels. Storing fresh carrots this way can last for a month.

How do you store carrots for a long time?

How long do carrots last in the freezer?

How long do carrots last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for about 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only – carrots that have been kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely.

What is the best way to store carrots for winter?

Store carrots in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. That will keep carrots cold and moist (32°-40°F/0°-4°C and 95 percent relative humidity). A refrigerator provides the cold, but will also have dry air.

Should you keep carrots in the fridge?

Raw carrots, when properly stored will usually stay fresh for around 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge. If your carrots are sliced or chopped, you can store them in the fridge and they‘ll last for about 2 to 3 weeks.