Can you freeze carrots?
Can you freeze carrots? Yes, you can freeze carrots for about 10-12 months.
If you take the time to blanch and prep your carrots before freezing them, you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between fresh and frozen carrots in most cases.
If you don’t take the time to blanch your carrots before freezing them, they may discolor slightly and lose some of their flavor.
How to freeze raw carrots?
Although this method involves rapid blanching of the carrots in boiling water, this step is essential to preserve the flavor, nutrients and color of the carrots.
One of the best ways to freeze vegetables is in ready-to-eat portions, so we strongly recommend freezing your carrots this way.
- Start by peeling and stemming your carrots before cutting them into pieces of the size of your choice. For example, you can cut them into slices, dice or sticks.
- Once that’s done, bring a large pot of water to a boil and immerse your carrots in the water for 2 minutes. Drain them and let them cool. Blanching is important for freezing most vegetables; it prevents the loss of flavor, color, nutrients and texture and helps rid your carrots of dirt and insects.
- Next, spread the carrot pieces out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure the pieces touch as little as possible. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece of carrot individually so that they don’t stick together afterwards. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the carrot pieces are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the carrots to one or more freezer bags. You can use multiple bags if you want to freeze individual portions.
- Seal the freezer bag tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag with the date and contents, then return the carrots to the freezer.
How to freeze cooked carrots?
If you prefer to freeze cooked carrots, here’s how:
- Start by peeling and stemming your carrots before cutting them into pieces of the size of your choice. For example, you can cut them into slices, dice or sticks.
- Bring some water to a boil in a medium saucepan, add the carrots, cover the pan and cook the carrots (8-9 minutes for the dice or slices and 5-6 minutes for the strips).
- Carefully drain the carrots and let them cool.
- Next, spread the carrot pieces out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure the pieces touch as little as possible. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece of carrot individually so that they don’t stick together afterwards. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the carrot pieces are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the carrots to one or more freezer bags. You can use multiple bags if you want to freeze individual portions.
- Seal the freezer bag tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag with the date and contents, then return the carrots to the freezer.
How long do carrots last in the freezer?
Raw carrots, blanched beforehand, will keep for about 10 to 12 months in the freezer . Same for cooked carrots.
How to thaw carrots?
The good news is that you don’t need to thaw your carrots in most cases. You can cook them as they are without defrosting them, for example in the microwave or in boiling water. While both of these cooking methods work well, you may end up with overcooked and soft carrots.
Instead, we recommend tossing your carrots in canola oil with a pinch of chilli and salt, spreading them out on a baking sheet and putting them in the oven for 20-30 minutes until tender. are golden brown.
If you want to thaw your carrots, take them out of the freezer, put them in the fridge in a bowl and let them thaw for several hours or overnight.
Can you refreeze carrots?
Like most vegetables, you can refreeze carrots. However, your carrots are likely to lose flavor and texture. However, they should remain perfectly fit for consumption after re-freezing.
Can you freeze carrots without blanching them?
Blanching carrots is not required, but it depends on what you plan to use them for. Blanching the carrots will allow them to retain their orange color and more of their flavor.
If you value the color and flavor of your carrots, take those extra 10 minutes to blanch them. You will notice the difference. Blanching your carrots will also extend their shelf life in the freezer.
Can you freeze whole carrots?
You can use the same methods described above to freeze whole carrots. If you freeze your carrots whole, remember that you need to give them time to thaw completely.
