How Long Do Carrots Last in the Fridge: 6 Storage Tips

When you're at the grocery store purchasing the week's produce, you don't intend to let your fruits or vegetables spoil, but sometimes, that's what happens. You might have forgotten about the carrots you brought home last week, only to check on them and find a weird-looking substance growing on the orange surface.

The carrots and hummus snack you planned for lunch? Out the window! Luckily, a few storage tips can help you avoid rotting carrots and allow you to enjoy your produce for longer. We'll go over these tips and then show you a few carrot recipes to use up those carrots in your fridge this week.

Why Do Carrots Go Bad?

One of the reasons most fresh fruit and veggies go bad is because of the gas they emit as they ripen. Carrots, like other vegetables, give off a gas called ethylene as they mature. In some circumstances, they might emit this gas more quickly, so knowing how to store your carrots in a way that slows this emission is essential. 

How To Tell Your Carrots Are Bad

Carrots don't typically come with an expiration date stamped onto them. Despite this, you're probably familiar with the fact that carrots can go bad when forgotten. 

If you're unsure how to spot spoilage on your carrots, there are essentially three things to keep in mind:

• Texture: Carrots that are on their way out will lose their classic crisp texture and develop a slimier consistency.
• Smell: Carrots that have passed their window of freshness will smell unpleasant. 
• Appearance: If you notice a white growth on the carrot's skin, your carrots are bound for the compost heap.

How Long Do Carrots Last in the Fridge?

How long your carrots will last when refrigerated depends on a few factors. If they’re raw, carrots will generally keep in your fridge for around three and a half weeks. If you're dealing with chopped carrots, they'll last about two and a half weeks. 

Baby carrots are the trickiest carrot to deal with. Although they may be bite-sized and lovable, these bad boys will only last in your fridge for around a week and a half. 

Can You Freeze Carrots?

There's good news! If you're nervous that you might forget about the carrots you just purchased at the grocery store, you can choose to freeze them. Whether you blanch them first or keep them raw, freezing carrots is a terrific way to help eliminate food waste. 

6 Tips To Store Carrots 

Investing in a variety of produce can help you stay nourished. However, when you stock up on multiple veggies like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, and bell peppers, it's easy to forget some of the food you purchase.

Luckily, you don't have to mourn the loss of forgotten carrots anymore. You can enjoy these orange vegetables for much longer by implementing a few storage ideas!

_{1. Freeze Them}

You can freeze your carrots for later use if you feel that you might forget about them. To freeze your carrots, follow these simple steps:

1. Peel off the skins and chop the carrots into small rounds.
2. Toss the circular carrot coins into boiling water for several minutes to blanch them.
3. Scoop them out and add them to a large bowl full of ice water.
4. Drain the water and place the carrot coins on a lined baking sheet to flash-freeze them. 
5. Then, you can transfer these separate slices into a freezer-safe bag for long-term freezer storage.

2. Keep Them in the Fridge

One way to extend the life of your carrots is to store them in jars of water. 

Alternatively, you can wrap them in a paper towel and store them in a zip-top bag in your fridge for later use. 

3. Blend Them Into Puree

Carrot puree makes excellent baby food, but don't let that limit you. Grown-ups and babies alike can enjoy a carrot puree from time to time. 

Blending your carrots can also allow you to enjoy them for longer. To blend them, you'll want to peel and chop your carrots.

Next, cook your carrots with your preferred cooking method, and put them into a food processor.

You can add water or milk to get your desired consistency. To store your carrot puree, you can freeze it into ice cubes and re-blend it in the future. 

4. Store Them in Your Pantry

Storing your carrots in your pantry isn't the best idea, but it works for a few days if it's your only option. Choose a cool, dark area if you must store carrots in your pantry. 

5. Can Your Carrots

Since carrots rely on moisture to stay good, canning them is an excellent option for keeping them fresh. If you've got a pressure canner lying around, this method can help you enjoy them for weeks into the future rather than having to throw out moldy carrots.

6. Dehydrate Them

Dehydrating your carrots is another way you can keep them tasting fresh. For this method, blanch your carrots and slice them into 1/8th inch slices. Then, spread them on a dehydrator tray and dehydrate them for ten hours at 125 degrees.

Blanching your carrots is especially good for preserving beta-carotene, a beneficial ingredient in carrots!