From vegetable side dishes to soups and stews and even desserts, carrots are a staple vegetable in everyday cooking. Although they’re hearty and can usually last for two to three weeks in the refrigerator, it’s still important to keep carrots fresh. If you’ve bought a few too many, you might wonder if it’s safe to freeze them. After all, you can find diced carrots mixed with other vegetables in the freezer section at the grocery store! So, can you freeze fresh carrots? Read on to find out everything you need to know about preserving this vibrant, orange-hued veggie for all the carrot recipes to come.
Can You Freeze Carrots?
Yes, you can easily freeze fresh carrots to save for future use, but there are a couple of important things to keep in mind. First, experts at the National Center for Home Preservation recommend freezing young, tender carrots,since they tend to have better color and texture than older ones. If you have very large carrots that you want to freeze, it’s a good idea to cut them up into smaller pieces so they are easier to cook with. On the other hand, baby carrots or other petite cuts can be frozen whole. Store the carrots in freezer-safe zip-top bags or airtight containers, and be sure to label and date them so you know how long they’ve been stored.
How to Freeze Carrots
Although you can freeze raw carrots, for the best results, blanch them first! It might seem counterintuitive, but this quick cooking step helps preserve their texture, color, and flavor better than freezing them raw. While the carrots cook, create an ice bath so that as soon as they’re done, you can transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Doing so helps lock in their vibrant orange color and prevent them from becoming too soft.
Once the carrots are cool, transfer them to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spread into an even layer, and pat them completely dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Place the sheet tray in the freezer and let the carrots freeze until solid (a few hours or overnight) before transferring them to an airtight, zip-top bag for longer-term storage. Be sure to label and date the bag so you know exactly how old the carrots are before using.
How to Cook with Frozen Carrots
There are so many things you can do with carrots that have been frozen and thawed. Make Ree Drummond’s candied carrots, which are a crowd-friendly side dish made with brown sugar, butter, apple cider vinegar, and fresh parsley. This carrot mash is also a great use of frozen carrots, since their softer texture works perfectly in a smooth, creamy dish. They’re delicious stirred into soups and stews toward the end of cooking (add them too early and they can become too soft), as well as casseroles and baked goods. For the best results, use frozen carrots in cooked dishes rather than raw applications. Skip using frozen and thawed carrots for things like salads or snacking, since they won’t have that crisp, fresh bite.
