In this tutorial, you will learn how long to boil carrots every time to perfection, for your enjoyment and body nourishment.
Carrots are high in antioxidants and beta carotene, which is great for your eye health. Enjoy this simple and healthy boiled vegetable as a side dish, snack, or baby food!
Boiled carrots recipe
Carrots are a staple side dish in many homes and a simple healthy addition to any meal. Boiling carrots is a great way to easily cook your favorite vegetable side dish.
To ensure you never overcook your carrots again, keep reading below for the best ways to boil them and how long to cook them for.
Carrots are naturally sweet and you don't need any other ingredient or spices to make a tasty vegetable. However, you can flavor it how you like but when boiling carrots, less is more. All you need is carrots and water and once it is boiled, you can season it with salt, black pepper, butter, and chopped herbs.
Why boiled carrots are great
Perfectly tender and delicious
It saves time, this method of cooking carrots is quick and easy
cost-effective.
What you will need
Carrots: you can use any size of carrots you want but I am using baby carrots for this tutorial.
Water
To season
Salt
Black pepper
Butter
Fresh thyme
Do I have to peel carrots
No, you don't have to peel carrots before you cook or eat them fresh. That said, it is important to scrub and wash the carrots in clean water to get rid of dirt and other residues.
If you are bothered by the skin and you must peel carrots, then you should know it is very easy to do, all you need is a small sharp knife or vegetable peeler.
Related posts: How long does ground beef last in the fridge and how long does tomato paste last in the fridge.
How to boil carrots
Clean the carrots: Wash the carrots with cool water and scrub it as best as you can under running water. Even though you don't have to peel carrots, it is important to wash them clean because of dirt and debris on the skin.
Peel and dice the vegetable: peel the carrots and dice them diagonally (at a bias) into about ¼ inch thick slices. If using baby potatoes, you can keep them whole depending on the thickness.
Boil: Add carrots to a saucepan, add enough water to cover it, and place a lid on it.
Bring it to a boil on medium heat for 4-7 minutes or until the carrots are fork-tender. Cook for a shorter time if you want it crisp-tender.
Drain and season the boiled carrots with pepper, a pinch of salt, fresh thyme, and toss in butter until melted. Serve immediately.
Tips
- Use the carrot boiled water as a base for soups, casserole or let it cool and drink it
- Keep the carrots of similar size and thickness to ensure that they cook evenly.
- Boiled carrots are a blank canvas and may be seasoned in a variety of ways with herbs and spices of choice. You can even add brown sugar, honey or maple syrup for additional sweetness if you desired.
How long to boil carrots
This is dependent on the size and thickness of the carrots. Thinly sliced carrots would cook faster than chunkier ones so it is best to start checking at the 4-minute mark and go from there.
If you are boiling baby carrots, they will be done in about 6 minutes. You can also test for doneness by inserting a fork into the center of a carrot. If it slides in easily, the carrot is done. If serving it to a baby, you may want to cook it a minute or two longer so it is soft.
Health benefits of carrots
Carrots are very rich in Vitamin C, K, high in antioxidants and beta-carotene (vitamin A). This vegetable is also good for skin health due to its antioxidant properties. Carrot is healthy, low in calories, and high in fibre.
How to store
Boiled vegetables are great for storing if done correctly. Make sure you drain all the water from the cooked carrots before transferring it to an airtight container. Let it cool completely and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze the boiled carrots by storing it in a freezer-safe container or bag. They will last for up to 3 months.
Now that you know how to boil carrots perfectly, you can enjoy this healthy and delicious vegetable any time of the day. It is a great side dish to serve to your family and friends.
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How Long To boil Carrots
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- ½ pound carrots I used baby carrots
To season
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- Fresh thyme
Instructions
- Scrub and wash the carrots clean under running water.
- Peel the carrots (if desired) and dice them diagonally (at a bias) into about ¼ inch thick slices. If using baby potatoes, you can keep them whole depending on the thickness. Try to keep them at similar sizes so they cook evenly.
- Add carrots to a saucepan, add enough water to cover it, and place a lid on it.
- Bring it to a boil on medium heat for 4-7 minutes or until the carrots are fork-tender. Cook for a shorter time if you want it crisp-tender.
- Drain and season the boiled carrots with pepper, a pinch of salt, fresh thyme, and toss in butter until melted. Serve immediate
Notes
- Fridge: make sure you drain all the water from the cooked carrots before transferring it to an airtight container. Let it cool completely and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze the boiled carrots by storing it in a freezer-safe container or bag. They will last for up to 3 months.
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