Keep carrots fresh until the spring

Carrots are a great and if you store them correctly, they will stay fresh until spring but there are a few basic rules. A fun fact. Carrots are one of the first foods babies can actually eat and digest (in the form of carrot puree, of course). Meat broth or vegetable soup cannot do without carrots, right? So, carrots are important in the kitchen and here is how to store them properly.

Harvest

Carrots are harvested from August through November. A good sign that you should pull carrots out of the ground is when the weather forecast predicts heavy rain or temperatures around freezing. If the soil is slightly damp you will have easier time to remove carrots from the ground.

Photo: Pixabay

Storing in a cellar

A cellar where the temperature remains around 4 °C (and there is no risk of fluctuations) and the humidity is around 70 to 80% is best. Higher temperatures may force carrots to “wake up” and grow, which is bad for the taste. High humidity can cause rot and mould, but too low humidity can dry out carrots too much.

Storing carrots in a greenhouse

If you do not have a suitable basement, you can also store your carrots in a greenhouse. Simply stick carrots in soil or in sand and cover with a thick non-woven fabric. The layer should be quite durable, but in case of severe and persistent frosts, you may want to add additional insulation layer (an old blanket, bubble wrap, etc.).

Storage in water?

Yes. It is possible. Do not peel or wash carrots, just remove the greens. Put them in a container with water and place the container in your fridge This will keep carrots in perfect condition for at least three weeks. Change the water when it becomes cloudy. This happens every five days or so.

Saving old carrots

When carrots lose moisture, they become soft. Old carrots are safe to use as long as they do not feel slimy. Soft and older carrots are actually full of flavour and take less time to cook. If you want to bring soft carrots back to life, put them in a pot with ice water and they will come back to “life” and become crunchy again.

Source:

https://www.ireceptar.cz/zahrada/mrkev-sklizen-30001019.html

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-store-carrots

Preview photo: Pixabay