Carrots are one of the root vegetables that are not only healthy, but also taste very delicious if processed in the right way. In addition, carrots can also be cooked easily and quickly so they are commonly used as a dining menu for people who are on a diet. In general, after cleaning and chopping, carrots can be boiled directly on the stove, roasted in the oven, steamed on the stove or in the microwave, sauteed in a frying pan, or baked in the toaster. Whichever method you choose, rest assured that carrots are an excellent vegetable to eat as a side dish or as a main dish.
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Method 1 of 6: Cleaning and Chopping Fresh Carrots
Step 1. Clean the carrots thoroughly
Before cooking, wash the carrots under running tap water. Since carrots are root vegetables, there's a good chance that there's a lot of dirt stuck to their surface. That's why, you may also need to use kitchen towels or a dishwashing sponge to maximize the cleaning process.
If you want, you can also use a special soap to wash vegetables so that the dirt on the surface of the carrots can be completely removed
Step 2. Remove the carrot stems and roots
Use a very sharp knife to cut the carrot stems. Then, remove the root of the carrot which will generally look stringy and attached to one end of the carrot.
If the carrots are going to be roasted in a special oven or grill, you can leave the stems to enhance the appearance of the carrots when they are ripe
Step 3. Peel the carrots if you don't want to eat the skin
If the carrots are going to be mixed into cooking, processed into puree, or eaten without the skin, you can first peel the skin with the help of a sharp knife or vegetable peeler. However, be careful that the skin of carrots is actually quite difficult to peel, especially in the area of the skin around the roots where the texture is thinner and brittle.
If your time is limited, try buying packaged peeled carrots that are sold in major supermarkets
Step 4. Cut the carrots to shorten the cooking time
Carrots cut into small pieces will soften in less time. Also, if you do plan to serve the carrots sliced or chopped, of course doing this will shorten your cooking time later.
If you want to serve carrots whole, skip this step
Method 2 of 6: Boiling Carrots on the Stove
Step 1. Boil water that has been mixed with salt
First, fill to of the pot with water. Then, add tsp. salt for every 250 ml of water. Then, turn on the stove over high heat to bring it to a boil.
- Use enough water to cover the carrots, but not too much so the water doesn't overflow when you add the carrots.
- Salt serves to speed up the boiling process of carrots and enrich their taste when ripe. However, you can ignore salt if you're trying to reduce your sodium intake.
Step 2. Put the carrots in a pot of boiling water, then cover the pot tightly
Use your hands or metal tongs to dip the carrots into the boiling water, making sure the very hot water doesn't splash your skin. Once all the carrot pieces have been added, cover the pot and boil the carrots until cooked.
Step 3. Boil carrots for 4 to 30 minutes
The boiling time will depend on the size of the carrots and the level of tenderness you want them to take. If the carrots are cut into small pieces, you can boil them for 4 minutes to get a slightly crunchy texture on the outside and soft on the inside. If you want the carrots to be completely soft, try boiling them for 10 minutes.
If you are boiling whole carrots that are thicker in texture and haven't been peeled, try boiling them for up to 30 minutes for a really soft texture
Step 4. Cut a portion of the carrot with a fork or knife to make sure it's done to your liking
To check for doneness, remove a carrot from the pot. Then, cut the carrots into small pieces, then put the rest back into the pot. Let the carrots you cut for a while, then taste to make sure the level of doneness is to your liking.
Step 5. Drain the water and season the carrots to taste
Once the carrots are cooked, turn off the heat, then pour the carrots into a perforated basket held over the sink to drain any excess water. Then, you can immediately transfer the carrots to a bowl or serving plate and season them to your liking before serving.
- A combination of simple seasonings like salt and pepper is the perfect option for seasoning boiled carrots.
- If you want the carrots to taste sweeter, try greasing them in butter and sprinkling a little brown sugar on top.
Method 3 of 6: Baking Carrots in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 150°C
First, set the oven to 150°C. While waiting for the oven to heat up, you can prepare the carrots for cooking.
Step 2. Cut the carrots in half if they are more than 2.5 cm thick
To shorten the roasting time and give the carrots a crunchier texture when cooked, try slicing the carrots with a sharp knife before baking. If you want to make smaller pieces, you can also slice them diagonally to a length of 3.8 cm.
If the carrots you are using are thin enough, skip this step and roast them whole
Step 3. Coat the carrots with olive oil and various spices of choice
Put the carrots in a bowl or plate, then pour enough olive oil. In general, you can pour 1 tsp. olive oil for every 450 grams of carrots. Then, toss the carrots by hand to make sure they are thoroughly coated with the oil, and add a measure of oil if absolutely necessary. Then, sprinkle the carrots with salt, pepper, and as many other spices as you like, and stir again by hand to season the carrots evenly.
In addition to olive oil, you can also grease the carrots with butter or another type of oil
Step 4. Arrange the carrots on the baking sheet
If possible, or if you don't have too many carrots to roast, make sure the carrot pieces don't touch each other.
At this point, you can leave the pan open or cover it with loose aluminum foil to give the carrots a softer texture when you eat them
Step 5. Bake the carrots in the oven for 20 minutes
Place the carrot-filled baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the surface is lightly browned and feels soft when pierced with a fork.
If you want the carrots to be crunchier, you don't need to cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake the carrots open for 5 minutes
Step 6. Garnish the carrots with various spices or add your favorite spices
Once the carrots are to your liking, immediately remove them from the oven and season them with dill, parsley, or any other herbs and spices of your choice before serving.
Try sprinkling the surface of the carrots with garlic and sea salt, then pouring in a little honey for a more sumptuous and unique flavor
Method 4 of 6: Steaming Carrots
Step 1. Use a steamer basket to steam carrots in a more traditional way
To apply this method, you need to first fill 2.5 cm of the pot with water. Then, turn on the stove over high heat to bring the water to a boil. Once the water boils, arrange the carrot pieces in the steaming basket, then place the basket in the center of the pot. Cover the pot with a small gap to let the hot steam out, then steam the carrots for 5-10 minutes, depending on how soft you want the texture to be.
- Once the carrots have reached the desired level of doneness, remove the basket from the water and hold it in that position for a few seconds to remove any excess moisture from the carrots.
- Transfer the carrots to a serving bowl or plate, then season with a variety of spices of choice before eating.
Step 2. Steam the carrots in a skillet if you don't have a steamer basket
First, pour water until it fills 2.5 cm of the pan. Then, turn on the stove over high heat to bring it to a boil. After that, put the carrots into the boiling water very carefully, then cover the pan and steam the carrots for 5-10 minutes or until all the water has evaporated.
The carrots are cooked and ready to eat when all the water in the pan has evaporated. Once cooked, carrots can be seasoned with a variety of selected spices and served warm
Step 3. Use a bowl to steam the carrots in the microwave
Place the carrots in a heatproof bowl that is safe to use in the microwave. Then, add about 2 tbsp. water into the bowl, then close the bowl tightly. After that, put the bowl in the microwave and steam the carrots for 4 minutes on high. If necessary, re-steam the carrots at 2-minute intervals thereafter, until you get the texture you want.
If there is still water remaining after the carrots are cooked and soft, you can drain the carrots using a slotted basket before serving
Method 5 of 6: Sauteed Carrots in a Frying Pan
Step 1. Heat 1.5 tablespoons (20 ml) of oil in a frying pan
Put the skillet on the stove, then pour 1.5 tbsp. cooking oil of your choice. Then, gradually heat the oil on low.
Olive oil, avocado oil, and sunflower oil are perfect options for sautéing carrots
Step 2. Cook the carrots in a covered pan for 5 minutes
Add the carrot pieces to the pan, then close the pan tightly. While the carrots should be sautéed covered, you can still open the lid every 1-1.5 minutes to stir the carrots and make sure each piece cooks evenly.
Step 3. Open the pan and cook the carrots for another 8 minutes
Open the lid of the pan and place it on the kitchen counter away from the fire. Then, turn up the heat slightly, and continue to cook the carrots for another 8 minutes, stirring constantly.
Step 4. Drain the carrots and quickly season them
Once the carrots are soft and golden brown on the surface, immediately turn off the heat and transfer the carrots to a serving plate or bowl. Carrots can be eaten directly or seasoned with a variety of spices of your choice.
Try sprinkling a simple combination of salt and pepper and then adding some fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, or sage to the carrot stir-fry
Method 6 of 6: Baking Carrots with the Grill
Step 1. Heat the grill to 150°C
If you're using an electric grill, all you have to do is turn it on and adjust the temperature until it reaches that number. If you are using a charcoal grill, you will first need to burn the charcoal and check the temperature with the help of a thermostat.
If your grill doesn't have a thermostat, make sure the charcoal is heated to low to medium. Remember, the temperature of the grill should not be too high if it will be used to roast carrots
Step 2. Season the carrots with olive oil and salt
While waiting for the grill to heat up, coat the cleaned carrots with enough olive oil evenly. Then, add a pinch of salt or as many other spices as you like.
Step 3. Transfer the whole carrot pieces to the grill
Place the carrots on the grill bars and make sure the pieces don't touch each other. Then, close the grill to start the carrot cooking process.
Step 4. Bake the carrots for about 20 minutes
Every 5 minutes, flip each carrot piece so that it cooks more evenly.
While the roasting process is going on, you can apply balsamic vinegar to the surface of each carrot slice. When exposed to hot temperatures, balsamic vinegar will caramelize and make carrots taste a little sweeter when eaten
Step 5. Remove the carrots from the grill and season to taste
Once they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, use metal tongs to transfer each carrot slice onto a serving plate. Then, season the carrots with various spices of choice, then serve immediately warm.
