Do you use baby carrots in your day-to-day life? You bought some carrots, but you don’t know how long you can keep them until they’re spoiled? How long do baby carrots last in the fridge and freezer? That’s what we are going to tell you here.
Baby carrots are great for healthy eating. They are very rich in vitamin A but are also a good source of vitamins B2, B3, K, and C. In addition, they are rich in minerals, such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and folate.
For you to have an idea, 3/4 cup serving contains 40 calories, less than 1 gram of fats, 1 gram of protein, 9 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of fiber.
If you want to enjoy all the benefits of these carrots, then look at this article as we will show you everything you need to know to keep the baby carrots for a long time.
How long do baby carrots last in the fridge and freezer?
Although baby carrots have a shorter shelf-life than regular carrots, we could store them for a long time. So here you have all the information directly and summarized. Look!
| Room Temperature | Fridge | Freezer | |
| Baby Carrots | 1-2 days | 3-4 weeks | 12-18 months |
| Fresh Carrots | 3-5 days | 4-5 weeks | 12-18 months |
| Cooked Carrots | For up to 2 hours | One week | 10-12 months |
| Sliced Carrots | For up to 24 hours | 3-5 days | For up to 12 months |
As you can see, baby carrots last a week less than regular carrots when we store them in the fridge. So place them in a covered container or resealable plastic bag to make them last longer. You can also wrap them in foil or plastic wrap.
The same procedure should be followed for fresh carrots and sliced carrots. In the case of cooked carrots, you should place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For carrots to last longer in the fridge, reseal whole carrots with water.
If you want to store the baby carrots in the freezer, they last indefinitely if the temperature is always 0°F. However, you should cook them within 12 to 18 months to have their best quality.
Cooked carrots keep their best quality only for one week in the fridge and for up to twelve months in the freezer.
How to buy and prepare Baby Carrots?
When you buy the carrots, choose those orange-colored bright. Also, check if they are firm and crispy. Do not buy bags of carrots that have moisture inside, as it favors the appearance of mold.
To prepare the baby carrots, grate or cut them according to your preference. You can use them in salads, stews, smoothies, and you can even use them for desserts and protein snacks.
See how to prepare Glazed Baby Carrots in this video.
How to Store Carrots long term in the Fridge and Pantry?
You can store the carrots in the pantry or in the fridge. However, the temperature should be constant so that the carrots last longer. If you keep them in the refrigerator, they will keep their best quality longer.
If you store them in the pantry, choose a cold and dry place with adequate ventilation. You can also keep them inside the kitchen furniture.
If stored in the refrigerator so that the carrots last longer, immerse them in water in a container. You can also sandwich them on damp paper towels. Then, change the water with some regularity.
Before storing, cut the green lids. These can be stored as well, but separately (using the method of wrapping on damp towel paper).
If you want to store cooked carrots, wait for them to stay at room temperature and place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Tip: Never store carrots next to other vegetables and fruits that produce ethylene.
How to Freeze Carrots?
Freezing the carrots will allow you to store them for long months. However, to keep them always in quality, you should follow a few steps:
- Wash the carrots (peel and cut them if you want to)
- Blanch them for 3-5 minutes and then place them in an ice-cold water container
- Drain the carrots well
- Put them in freezer bags or in airtight containers
- Label each bag
- Place them in the freezer
We do not advise freezing whole or grated carrots, as the extreme cold of the freezer damages their texture. When thawed, they become tasteless and lumpy. So, if you want to freeze them, you should cook or blanch them before.
Tip: Pre-freezing will allow you to remove one piece at a time because each piece will solidify separately.
How to Thaw Carrots?
To defrost carrots, simply leave them in the fridge until completely thawed. You can also put them in a container with cold water (it will thaw faster, but they must be used on the same day).
As we said, if you froze whole or grated carrots, they will get a softer texture. In this case, we advise you to cook these carrots and not use them raw because the taste and texture will deceit you.
How do you know when Baby Carrots go Bad?
Baby carrots smell strange when they are spoiled. If you feel they smell unpleasant, it’s best to throw them in the trash.
If the carrots have a soft or irregular texture, it does not mean that they are entirely spoiled. You can still use them on cooked dishes (for example, they’re going fine in soup).
You should also rule out moldy carrots. However, if the mold is benign, you can still use the carrot part that has no mold.
Throw away the wrinkled or viscous carrots. Besides being spoiled, they do not taste good.
How long do Baby Carrots last
Ingredients
How do you know when Baby Carrots go Bad?
- If the carrots smell bad.
- If the carrots are moldy
- If the carrots are wrinkled or slimy
Instructions
How to Thaw Carrots?
- To defrost carrots, simply leave them in the fridge until completely thawed. You can also put them in a container with cold water (it will thaw faster, but they must be used on the same day).
Conclusion
Carrots are very rich in vitamins, especially vitamin A. Therefore, to always eat quality carrots, we must ensure that they are good to eat.
Although it is a food that is easy to preserve for a long time, if we want it to last longer, we can store it in the fridge or freezer. Following all the steps and tips we’ve been giving throughout this article, you’ll be able to keep your carrots much longer.
In our post: “How long do Baby Carrots last in the Fridge?” you learned how long they keep their best quality in the fridge and freezer. Still, you also learned how to prepare your carrots to last long term. I hope you liked our article, and we are waiting for you in our outcoming posts.
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FAQ’s
Although carrots do not need to be refrigerated, we should store them in the fridge or freezer if we want them to last longer. In this way, they will maintain their quality for weeks (in the refrigerator) or months (in the freezer).
We never advise you to eat old foods. So, if you notice that baby carrots have mold or smell strange, don’t take any risk!
Although there is the idea that white film can cause cancer, it is just a myth. For sure, it is safe to eat baby carrots with a white film. This develops when carrots are exposed to air and when the environment is dry. So, it just means that the carrot has become dehydrated, and it’s safe to eat it.
If you’ve frozen your carrots, the answer is yes. However, if you keep them in the fridge or pantry, we do not advise you to eat them. Likewise, if you have carrots stored for a while and their texture has changed or mold, don’t take any risk. Eating spoiled foods can bring health complications.
One of the indicators of carrot is spoiled is when this is slimy. So, you should never eat a carrot that has this texture because you may get sick. The same goes for carrots that have mold.
Welcome to my food site, RecipesAndPanty.com. I am a man who enjoys creating recipes and researching everything about food. This blog is dedicated to my grandmother because she gave me a taste for cooking.