Do you love carrots? Do you enjoy munching on it throughout the day? Well, I do! If you are like me (and Bugs Bunny), it is most likely that you have stock of carrots in your refrigerator. That is pretty understandable– storing carrots is much more convenient than having to head to the grocery after every few days.
But the tricky part about storing vegetables and fruits is you will never know when they are going to get bad. After all, produce in grocery stores do not come with expiration labels.
If that’s the case, how would you know if your carrots are still safe for consumption? In this article, I will share with you the different ways on how to tell if carrots are bad and everything you need to know about storing carrots.
Do Carrots Go Bad? How Long Do Carrots Last?
The first thing that you have to understand is—carrots can go bad. The best way to avoid eating bad carrots is to determine how long they last. Since carrots do not come with the label “best use by”, it is recommended that you pay attention to the time when you have purchased them and take into consideration how long they last.
With that in mind, here are a few things that you should know about carrots and its shelf life:
- If carrots are stored in a warm area (and not placed in a refrigerator), it can last for up to four days only.
- When stored in a fridge, these can last for up to four weeks.
- When placed in a freezer, carrots can be able to maintain its optimum freshness for up to twelve months. It can be still safe for consumption beyond that time, considering that it has not yet shown symptoms of rotting.
- If the carrots were chopped or sliced then placed in the refrigerator, it is still safe to eat for about two to three weeks.
- If you have cooked the carrots and put it in a fridge, it can last for three to five days in the refrigerator.
- If you place cooked carrots in the freezer, it can last for up to twelve months.
| | Fridge |
|---|---|
| | Past Printed Date |
| Cooked Carrots last for | 1 Week |
| Baby Carrots last for | 3-4 Weeks |
| Fresh Carrots (Whole) last for | 4-5 Weeks |
How to Tell if Carrots Are Bad?
According to Quora –
If the carrots have begun to sprout, they’re old. Find some fresher ones.
If there are many discolored areas on the carrots, or they have numerous bruises, they’re old and likely won’t taste very good in whatever recipe you’re making. Toss them out (they make great compost material).
If they’re pale, wilting, have lots of yellow tops, they’re old. Don’t use them.
What can you do with bad carrots besides composting? Maybe feed them to rabbits? I don’t know if horses would eat them, but it might make sense if you have horses.
Otherwise, look for the freshest carrots possible. Can’t beat fresh carrots!
But what if you don’t know how long the carrots have been in your refrigerator? The easiest way on how to tell if carrots are bad is to perform the following steps:
4 important things to look for to know if carrot is bad:
White blush
Check Spots
Mushy consistency
Smell it
Step 1: Look for white blush.
Have you noticed that there are some white lines in your carrots? This is what you call white blush. It is a thin layer of dehydrated carrots. It develops when the carrots are exposed to the atmosphere, causing the outer portion of the skin to dry.
If you noticed only a few white lines on your carrots, it is still considered safe for you to consume it. But please keep in mind that white blush is a sign that your carrots are going to die out anytime soon so you must eat it right away.
If you noticed plenty of those white lines on the surface of your carrots, it is best that you throw it away.
Step 2: Check the carrots for spots.
Take a look at the carrot’s skin? Does it have white spots on the surface? If its spots feature a darker color (darker than that of white blush), it may not be safe for you to eat the carrots. Please throw it away than taking the risk and cook it.
Step 3: Evaluate its consistency.
Touch the carrot and check if any of its parts have a mushy consistency or there’s a slimy film at its surface. If it does, throw it immediately. The consumption of slimy or rotten carrots can lead to unwanted health issues.
You may also want to check if the size or thickness of the carrot. If it is already a bit thinner as compared to its original size, throw it right away.
Step 4: Smell it.
If your carrots are already rotten, it is going to give off an unwanted odor. This smell is a result of the growth of bacteria in the carrots. Smell your carrots and if it does have a weird off smell, take it out right away.
Also check expire date of the carrot package you bought from store. This is the easiest and first step you should check if they have date.
A Few Tips on How to Prolong Your Carrot’s Shelf Life
If you love eating raw carrots or cooking dishes that require carrots, there is nothing wrong in stocking up on it. But you should learn how to store carrots the right way.
More than that, you also need to know how to prolong its shelf life too, especially the cooked and sliced carrots. The best way to do that is to freeze them or at a minimum keep them in a bag inside of your frige.
3 Simple Steps to Store Your Carrots
Quick freeze cooked carrots.
For carrots that have been thoroughly cooked, you should quick freeze it so you can maintain its optimum freshness/ taste/ texture. You can do this by arranging the carrot slices evenly on a baking sheet then place it in the freezer.
Once the carrots are already frozen, place the frozen carrots in sealed containers.
Blanch sliced carrots first.
If you have already sliced the carrots, blanch it first. Once it has cooled down, drain the carrots and place it in zip-sealed bags. Remove as much air from it as possible. To ensure that the packets contain little to no air, you can use a vacuum sealing system to close it.
How to get older carrots back.
Are your carrots close but not past the point of no return? Check out this video that helps you get new life into your carrots and bring them back from being wilted. This video shares how to use water to bring back wilted carrots and get a second chance of using these carrots. Check below to view:
In Summary
There is no denying the fact that carrots are one of the healthiest vegetables that we can get our hand son today. But it can do more harm than good if it is already spoiled.
To prevent yourself from eating rotten carrots, it would be best that you perform the steps on how to tell if carrots are bad that we have mentioned. It is also a must that you learn how to store your carrots properly.