Do Carrots Go Bad?

Carrot is a type of vegetable that grows underground, so it’s referred to as root vegetable. Carrots are full of nutrition. Consuming fresh carrots can save you from astigmatism, which is characterized by blurry vision. It is because they contain a high amount of vitamin A which is effective for eyesight weakness.

Apart from health benefits, they are used in a variety of cuisines. Like other vegetables, carrots don’t come with the best before date. Carrots stay fresh for 3-4 days.

The carrots don’t have an extended shelf life. Carrots turn bad due to mold formation. In the case of carrots, white molds are formed on their surface.

Carrots are also susceptible to bacterial and fungal growth as they have a high quantity of water in them. The reason behind vegetables getting spoiled more rapidly than other food items is their high-water content.

How to store carrots?

Carrots have a short life, but their shelf life can be increased if they are stored properly. Carrots can easily be spoiled by fungi whose spores leads to the formation of white mold on them. There are some ways enlist below that can help you making carrots last longer.

Remove carrot’s fronds

Fronds are the green part of carrots. Being a root vegetable, they have fronds, and you need to remove them ultimately before storing carrots.

The fronds feed on the roots and will continue to extract nutrients and moisture from carrots. So the first to do is remove the greens from carrots. You can use the fronds as they are edible.

Place carrots in a dry and cool place

Carrots already have a high content of water in them. That’s why you need to store them in a dry and cool place. Moisture can cause bacterial and fungal growth on carrots making carrots slimy and mushy, completely imperfect.

Put carrots in an airtight container

To stretch their life, you need to store them in a ziplock or airtight container. Air contains spores and well humidity in it. These two factors contribute the most to the rotting of carrots.

Refrigerate them

You can store carrots in the refrigerator, but there are really important carrots sensitive to ethylene gas released by fruits and vegetables ripening. So, while keeping carrots in the refrigerator, put them away from fruits producing ethylene gas like bananas and avocados as they can make carrots ripen faster.

Can you freeze carrots?

Freezing carrots is recommended if you want to use them for a longer period. The phenomenon of freezing carrots is based on blanching. To freeze carrots wash them properly and cut off the green part.

After that, peel off the carrot’s skin and slice them into pieces. Put carrots in a pot of boiling water, blanch them for 2-3 minutes, and then put them in ice water to stop the cooking process.

Drain them to remove all the extra water and let the carrots dry completely. After that, you need to bag them up in a zip lock bag, and they are ready to freeze.

How long do carrots last?

Carrots don’t last long as they are prone to microbial growth. Carrots usually don’t come with an expiration date, and they stay fresh for 2-3 days. If stored properly in the refrigerator by removing all the fronds, they can last for weeks.

In the freezer, carrots can stay good somewhere around six months. If you want carrots to remain fresh and snappy, you need to store them accurately. Keep them away from moisture, which leads to spoilage. Providing proper storing methods can increase the shelf life of carrots. Keeping them in a dry and cool place prevents rotting and mold formation.

Another factor that contributes to turning your carrots bad is ethylene gas. It is a fruit ripening gas. Fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, bananas, apricot release ethylene gas the most, so avoid placing carrots near them as carrots absorb ethylene gas, which causes their ripening.

How to tell if carrots are bad?

Carrots are very good for you. They have numerous health benefits, but unfortunately, they can go bad. Sometimes, that can have very serious health consequences to know if carrots are still worth eating and good to go.  Following are ways that can help you identify whether carrots are bad or not.

• The presence of white mold indicates that carrots can no longer be used, and you have to throw them in the garbage. Ingesting rotten carrots can trigger allergic reactions in the human body as rotten carrots have a mold made of tiny fungi.
• Examine carrots carefully before consuming them. If their texture appears slimy and mushy, don’t use them as it’s a sign that carrots are turning bad. Garden fresh carrots are crispy and firm.
• Notice the color of carrots and smell them. If they smell bad, they are no longer good as fresh carrots have no smell at all.

Sources

• Brooklyn farm girl
• Foods guy
• Eat by day