How To Cook Carrots So That They Remain Tender

How to Choose the Right Carrots

Choosing the right carrot is very essential while cooking as the size and appearance of the carrots play a crucial role in cooking. Medium-sized carrots have the right balance of tenderness and do not lose the sweetness and tenderness while cooking.

Carrots of this size are the best options for various cooking methods such as roasting, steaming, and sauteing. Besides sizes, colors also matter the most.  Choose carrots that are bright orange and have soft skin. Fresh carrots make the whole food refreshing. So, if possible avoid using the frozen carrots that have been stored for a long time.

Also, avoid carrots that are large and have a cracked surface. Large carrots or carrots that have a greenish color near the top can give a better taste. So, choose the vibrate orange colored carrots.

Preparing Carrots for Cooking

As carrots are grown in the ground, the first thing that you need to do before cooking them is to wash them properly. Mostly people peel off the outer layers of the carrots. But some may prefer not to do so. In such cases, it becomes more important to clean the raw carrots with cold water. 

Now, pat the carrots dry with a clean towel or hanky. If you are willing to peel the carrots, use a clean vegetable peeler. Peeling helps in removing the bitterness of the upper parts of carrots.

Now, trim the end of carrots and chop them into different slices with the help of a chopping board and knife. For uniform cooking, make sure that the carrots are of similar sizes.

Chopping depends upon the cooking method, whereas shredding carrots is a great option if you plan to make salads.

Best Ways to Cook Carrots

Carrots can be cooked in a variety of ways. Different method of cooking gives different tastes and flavors. Some of the common ways of cooking carrots have been highlighted here.

1. Steaming

Steaming carrots is one of the most popular stovetop cooking methods. This is the easiest and simplest way of cooking carrots. Steaming them helps retain their beneficial nutrients as they are not cooked for a long time.

Ingredients and Utensils Needed 

1. Carrot- 5 medium-sized
2. Water - 1 cup
3. Salt- 1 tablespoon
4. Measuring cup (for water)
5. Steamer basket  
6. Pot with a lid 

Steps to Steam Carrots

• The first step would be to choose the right steamer basket as per the necessity. If the carrots are to be cooked in large quantity then the large basket should be selected.
• Bring the water to boil in the right temperature.
• Add 1 pound of prepped carrots to the steamer basket.
• Cover the basket and now it is time to reduce the heat.
• Cook the carrots until they become crispy and tender.
• The time to cook depends upon the sizes of the carrots.
• It requires 5 to 7 minutes for 1/4-inch strips, 8 to 10 minutes for 1/4-inch slices, and 8 to 10 minutes for baby carrots.
• Once cooked, remove it instantly to avoid overcooking.
• If required add seasoning of your taste and preference and the steamed carrots are ready to serve.   

2. Boiling

Boiling is another simple and efficient method of cooking carrots. It is known to be time time-saving and healthy method of cooking. Boiled carrots are generally preferred for sticks or when simmering in a stew.

Ingredients and Utensils Needed

1. Carrots- 2 and 1/2 cups
2. Salt- 1 tablespoon
3. Black pepper- 1/2 tablespoon
4. Pot
5. Strainer
6. Measuring Spoon 

Steps to Boil Carrots 

• Wash the carrots and peel them nicely.
• Cut them into uniform pieces with the help of sharp knives. You can cut them in different shapes such as round, sticks, and chunks.
• Fill a pot with enough water. The water should cover the whole carrots.
• Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
• Carefully add the carrots to the boiling water.
• Boil the water for 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the carrots.
• Check for doneness and if it is cooked serve them with the seasonings of your interest. 

3. Roasting 

Roasting adds a different flavor and taste to carrots. It helps in bringing out the natural sugars in carrots. The caramelized flavor makes the roasted carrots a favorite dish of many people. It makes the carrot crunchy and tasty all at the same time. 

Ingredients and Utensils Needed 

1. Carrots- 2 medium bunches
2. Olive oil- 1 tablespoon
3. Pepper(optional)
4. Microwave oven or roasting pan
5. Parchment Papers
6. Oven mitts 

Steps to Roast Carrots 

• Firstly, bring 1 pound of packaged peeled baby carrots or even fresh carrots.
• Cut them into uniform pieces and arrange them properly.
• Arrange them in a large baking sheet or baking pan. The pan size should be selected based on the amount to be cooked.
• Toss carrot with olive oil or you can add your favorite seasonings in this step.
• Cover the pan with foil or use lids to cover. Carrots should not over cooked in one part and raw in another.
• Bake the carrots at 425°F and cook them for 25-30 minutes.
• Now, remove the foil and let the carrot as it is until it becomes tender for 5 to 10 minutes.
• When microwaved, keep carrots at the maximum heat. 

4. Sauteing 

Sauteing is derived from the French word jumping. People jump out of excitement to have sauteed carrots. It is a dry heating cooking method that gives better taste and texture to the dish. 

Ingredients and Utensils Needed

1. Carrots-about 6 medium-sized  
2. Olive oil-1 tablespoon
3. Chopping boards and knife
4. Skillet
5. Wooden spoon or spatula 

Steps to Saute Carrots 

• Chop the carrots into different pieces. Make sure they are uniform in size.
• Keep those sliced carrots in water and if needed add salt.
• Heat on high until they start simmering and cover the carrots.
• Reduce the heat to medium and simmer 6 to 7 minutes.
• After most of the water is absorbed, remove the lid.
• Add olive oil and saute the carrot.
• Stir them frequently and make sure no water is left.
• Cook until the carrots become brown and tender.
• Season and garnish according to the taste.
• Serve hot and enjoy the delicious saute. 

5. Grilling 

Grilling the carrots wasn't popular earlier but now it is famous as the perfect choice to serve carrots. The earthiness and the smokiness go perfectly well with the carrots.

Ingredients and Utensils Needed

1. Carrots (medium-sized)
2. Olive oil-1 tablespoon
3. Salt and seasonings (as per the taste)
4. Bowl 
5. Grill pan
6. Basting brush
7. Tongs 

Steps to Grill Carrots 

• Cut the end and peel the carrots if required. 
• Rub olive oil and other spices into the carrots until well coated.
• Heat a grill to medium-high and be prepared with charcoal heat as well.
• Keep the carrots in one layer and continue grilling until they are lightly charred.
• Now, keep the carrots on the cool side of the grill.
• Close the lid until the carrots are fork-tendered. Remove the carrots from the heat and serve them immediately. 

How Long to Cook Carrots

There is a variation in cooking time for different cooking methods of carrot. If you want to cook and serve instantly then the steaming and boiling method will be the better option. But, if they want to have more flavor and tenderness then the other cooking methods which take a long time are preferred. 

• Steaming: This is the fastest way of cooking carrots. It takes around 8 to 11 minutes for the carrots to be cooked under this method. They shouldn't be steamed for a long time as this reduces the natural taste of the carrots.
• Boiling: The boiling time depends upon the size and quantity of carrots as the carrots with small sizes require less time whereas the carrots larger in size take more time. The baby carrots take 8 to 10 minutes to be boiled whereas the sliced carrots take 7 to 9 minutes approximately.
• Roasting: Roasted carrots have the best texture but they require more time than the steaming and boiling method. The carrots should be roasted for 30 minutes at 430°F temperature. Over roasting will make the carrots hard and extremely crispy which may not be preferred by all.
• Sauteing: At first you need to slice the carrots diagonally which also impacts the cooking time. For sauteing carrots, you need to cook and cover and cover them for 4 minutes without stirring. Again, uncover the carrots and cook them for 3 to 4 minutes. Now you can stir the carrots.
• Grilling: Grilling takes more time than others. The preparation time for grilling chicken is 10 minutes and the cooking time is 15 minutes which makes it a total of 30 minutes for grilling carrots.

How to Store Cooked Carrots

Carrots when kept at room temperature will lose their natural sweetness and may become bitter day by day. They will absorb the high level of oxygen from the room which reduces the natural taste. So, it is always better to keep them in the refrigerator.

Cooked carrots are likely to last up to 5 days when kept in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. First, you should let the cooked carrots cool down completely and then only keep them in the refrigerator, or else they may start smelling bad in a few days.

To avoid the carrots from sticking after being frozen, take out the carrots on a baking sheet and then again put them in the freezer.

It is better to keep carrots away from other vegetables and fruits such as bananas and apples as they will make the carrots age faster and increase their bitterness.

Serving Suggestions

Carrots can be served along with other different items and in different forms. Some of the common serving suggestions for carrots are;

Honey Glazed Carrot

Honey-glazed carrots are one of the most preferred carrot items. They are deliciously tender and sweet. Kids love this recipe. The total cooking time for this dish is 40 minutes where it takes 10 minutes for preparation.

Just the combination of honey, carrot, and black pepper (optional) brings the perfect food to the table. It can also be served as dessert.     

Beetroot Carrot Halwa

Beetroot is one of the healthiest fruits and when combined with carrots, they give the perfect texture and are highly nutritious. Halwa or a pudding is a household name in many Asian countries, especially India.

This dish can be served as a side dish or can be eaten in the breakfast or sometimes it is also served as a dessert.

Creamy Carrot Pasta 

This pasta is a package full of nutrients as it is a gut-friendly dish and is full of protein. It fulfills the hunger of people which is why people consume it during the daytime which keeps them full throughout the day. It might be a heavy dish for breakfast.

People have also started to enjoy the carrot sauce with pasta which is full of veggies. This sauce makes the pasta creamy and smooth without cheese. 

Carrot Salad

Carrots are most commonly known to be the main ingredient in salad. The raw carrots are usually consumed by people as salads in their regular diet. People eat carrot salads both in the daytime and in the dinner.

 Carrot salads are also of different types. There are French salads, crunchy carrot salads, classic salads, marinated carrot salads, and so on.