In The Kitchen Scientist, The Flavor Equation author Nik Sharma breaks down the science of good food, from rinsing rice to salting coffee. Today: the right way to store carrots.
I rarely buy a lot of carrots unless I’m making carrot cake, a large pot of soup, or gajjar ka halwa, a carrot-based Indian dessert. The refrigerator I’m stuck with is tight on space and its temperature seems irregular. Sometimes the vegetables in the crisper turn frosty. We even had a frozen carrot situation once, and the only “person” who loves that is my puppy—it helps with his teething. But carrots are one of those vegetables that can last for a good amount of time if stored properly (and if you have a proper refrigerator). From Our Shop
As the weather cools and fall approaches, gardeners start harvesting the bounty from their summer crops. Carrots are a popular vegetable to grow for their sweet flavor and high nutrient content. But what’s the best way to store freshly harvested carrots so you can enjoy their garden-fresh taste all through the winter months?
Proper storage is key to keeping carrots fresh and crisp for months. Follow this comprehensive guide to learn all the best practices for storing carrots from your fall harvest over the winter.
Why Proper Carrot Storage Matters
Fresh carrots only last for a couple weeks if left at room temperature. To enjoy crisp carrots for months, not weeks, you need to slow down their respiration rate and enzyme activity This prevents moisture loss that makes carrots shrivel up It also stops mold and rotting that quickly makes carrots unfit to eat.
With the right post-harvest storage methods you can keep carrots tasting sweet and firm just like the day you pulled them until spring arrives again. Taking the time to store carrots properly means you can crunchy nutritious carrots all winter long.
Ideal Storage Conditions for Carrots
To maintain peak eating quality carrots require these optimal storage conditions
- Temperature: 32°F to 40°F
- Humidity: 90-95%
The ideal temperature range keeps carrots dormant and slows deterioration. High humidity prevents moisture loss from the roots.
Aim to provide storage conditions for carrots that closely match these recommendations. Controlling temperature and humidity is key for long-term carrot storage.
Best Ways to Store Carrots for Winter
Here are some of the top methods for storing fresh carrots for winter use:
Leave Carrots in the Ground
In areas with mild winters, carrots can be left in the garden over winter. Heavy mulch before the ground freezes insulates the soil. Simply dig up carrots as needed once the ground thaws in spring.
Refrigerate Carrots
Crisper drawers in most fridges provide suitable short-term storage temperatures and humidity. Cut off tops, leave some stem attached. Don’t wash before storing. Place unwashed carrots in perforated plastic bags in the crisper. Carrots keep 2-3 months refrigerated.
Freeze Carrots
Blanching stops enzyme action. Wash, peel, and slice carrots. Blanch 2-5 minutes depending on size. Cool in ice bath. Pat dry, pack into airtight containers. Carrots store frozen for 8-12 months.
Bury Carrots in Moist Sand or Sawdust
This mimics root cellar conditions. Layer damp sand and carrots in a container. Maintain 90-95% humidity. Store container in a cool shed or garage, 32°F to 40°F. Replenish moisture as needed. Carrots keep 2-4 months this way.
Use a Root Cellar
Traditional root cellars provide the ideal environment for storing carrots. Cure first, then store between 32°F to 40°F, humidity 90-95%. Carrots keep 2-4 months in proper root cellar conditions.
Storing Different Carrot Types
- Good storing varieties: Bolero, Napoli, Yellowstone
- Poor storing varieties: Imperator, Amsterdam, small/early carrots
Choose varieties suited for storage. Allow roots to reach full maturity before harvesting.
Getting Carrots Ready for Storage
Follow these tips when preparing carrots for storage:
- Harvest before heavy frosts for highest quality
- Cure carrots 1-2 weeks in cool, dry place to thicken skins
- Cut tops to within 1 inch of shoulders, don’t peel
- Don’t wash before storage to prevent moisture loss
- Inspect carefully, discard any damaged carrots
- Handle carefully to avoid bruising
Check Stored Carrots Frequently
Monitor your stored carrots closely:
- Inspect monthly in cellar/fridge storage
- Watch for mold, rotting, shriveling
- Remove any problem carrots immediately
- Adjust storage conditions like temperature and humidity as needed
Frequent checks let you catch any issues early and take corrective action to keep the remaining crop in good condition.
Using Stored Carrots
Follow these guidelines when removing carrots from storage:
- Wash just before using
- Trim tops and peel if desired
- Soak shriveled carrots 30 minutes to rehydrate
- Use stored carrots within a few days of taking out of storage
- Avoid repeated freezing and thawing
Proper post-storage handling keeps carrots fresh and ready for your favorite recipes.
Common Carrot Storage Problems and Solutions
Even with proper methods, storage issues can arise:
- Shriveled carrots – Store became too warm, causing moisture loss. Move to cooler spot.
- Moldy, rotten carrots – Excess moisture caused rotting. Improve ventilation to reduce humidity.
- Bitter taste – Carrots experienced cold damage under 32°F. Avoid freezing carrots.
- Fading color – Temperatures fluctuated during storage. Maintain consistent cool temps.
Make adjustments to correct any storage problems that occur.
Enjoy Fresh Garden Carrots All Winter Long
Storing carrots properly lets you enjoy their sweet, crisp taste straight from the garden through the winter months. With the right temperature, humidity, and preparation, you can keep carrots fresh for months past harvest.
Follow these best practices for harvesting, curing, and storing your fall carrot crop. Your future self will thank you when you’ve got an abundance of delicious carrots waiting in storage as winter arrives. Here’s to garden-fresh carrots long after the growing season ends!
What’s the Best Way to Store Carrots?
Carrots can last up to two to three months in the refrigerator if stored properly.
If you grow your own carrots or buy them fresh from the farmers market, immediately place them in a bag and store them in your refrigerator. Avoid exposure to sunlight or air, which can cause carrots to worsen in quality.
To store carrots in the refrigerator for a long period of time (say, more than three days), I’ve found that keeping them in an airtight and zip-top or vacuum-sealed bag is the most efficient. The bag’s seal helps control the humidity (refrigerators tend to create dry conditions, which causes food to dehydrate).
When storing carrots, keep them away from vegetables and fruits like apples, pears, ripe bananas, etc., which produce ethylene gas. In plants, ethylene acts as a hormone and hastens ripening of fruit and, in the case of carrots, it will cause them to quickly deteriorate and make them taste bitter by producing a substance called isocoumarin.
If the green tops are still attached to the crown, that will lead to condensation inside the container or bag. The greens also draw water away from the root, so it is best to cut them from the crown as soon as they are brought home. I put a clean kitchen towel inside the bag—this wicks the water away, so the carrots don’t sit in a puddle. Then I store the greens separately like herbs, with a damp paper towel in a bag or in an herb container (those special attachments that are sometimes included in refrigerators). If you decide to leave the greens attached, this wicking method will also prevent the leaves from browning quickly.
Some folks also recommend storing carrots in a bowl (or a sealed airtight container) of clean filtered water in the refrigerator. The water must be changed daily and the carrots will last for up to a week—but beyond this time period, the carrots tend to rot easily. This can be a bit cumbersome, a waste of water, and doesn’t extend the shelf life of the carrots, so I don’t do this. From Our Shop
What’s a Carrot, Anyway?
To understand how to store carrots smartly, let’s take a closer look at the ingredient.
Carrots are roots, more specifically a taproot: a single conical-shaped root from which tinier feathery roots (called secondary lateral roots) emerge. How a carrot takes shape as it grows depends on a variety of factors, from the type of carrot strain to soil conditions and climate.
If you slice through a carrot, you will notice that the center is slightly lighter in color than the exterior. The outside of the carrot is where most of the storage sugars reside. Growing at temperatures greater than 68°F tends to produce carrots that have less sugar but a stronger flavor.
Carrots are typically considered to be a vegetable low in starch but higher in sugars like sucrose. However, this depends on the carrot variety and the growing and storage conditions, like stress. In one study, when carrots were subjected to mechanical stress, like excessive shaking during growing, they tasted bitter and “sickeningly sweet.” The cells inside the root release an enzyme called amylase (the same enzyme present in our saliva) that will cut up the starch to release sugars.
In another study, carrots stored at 35.6°F showed a decrease in the amount of starch and an increase in the sugars. In the same study, when carrots were stored at room temperature (66.2°F), the amount of starch declined while the amount of sugars rose, but it did not involve amylase. You might have noticed this too at home: If you leave a carrot on the kitchen counter for a few days, it will taste a bit sweeter than it did the day you brought it home, though it will lose some of its firmness.
Another note you might find valuable: If you’ve ever heard that smaller, younger carrots are sweeter than larger, older ones, this detailed study by Hans Platenius from 1934 might convince you otherwise. Older carrots actually contain more carotene and more sucrose, and less crude fiber, which makes them a great choice for cooking. From Our Shop
STORING CARROTS for SIX MONTHS without a root cellar!
FAQ
How do you store carrots long term?
The four choices for long-term storage of carrots are freezing, canning, drying and pickling. To freeze carrots, select young, tender, coreless, medium-length carrots. Remove tops, wash and peel. Leave small carrots whole.
How do you overwinter carrots?
There are six ways to store carrots for the winter: canning, freezing, pickling, dehydrating, cold storage in a root cellar, and refrigeration.Oct 3, 2022
How do you store carrots in the garage?
Packed two layers deep in clean sand or sawdust can work great but makes for dirty or gritty roots that will need scrubbing. Packed one layer deep bare in a clean wooden or waxed cardboard bin also works well but you’ll have to cull often and possibly add some moisture as time goes on.
How do you store carrots in a garden?
Like many root crops, carrots can be stored where grown in the garden, if you don’t have problems with rodents and can mulch deeply with 1 to 2 feet of hay or straw. To store inside, dig up at the end of the season, before the ground has frozen.
Where should carrots be stored in winter?
The simple answer to this is – any cool dark place where they won’t freeze. During winter, carrots do best in temperatures just above freezing: 32 to 39 F (0 to 4 C). This can be achieved in a root cellar, a cool basement, a crawl space, or an insulated shed.
How long can you keep carrots in the fridge?
The long slivers of carrot that the vegetable peeler method produces are better for something like a salad. It’s usually best to use the freshly grated carrot right away, but it can be very convenient to save time and grate them ahead of time. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, or longer in the freezer.