Ever heard of the term blanching? In fact, blanching is a technique of cooking food for a short time before storing or freezing it. Although it is able to maintain the natural color and taste of food while frozen, the blanching technique is actually quite time consuming and is not suitable for those of you who have limited free time. If you want to freeze carrots without going through the blanching technique, there are several methods you can actually do, such as chopping, grating, or mashing the carrots before freezing them. As long as they are prepared properly, frozen carrots without going through the blanching technique can last up to 10 months, you know!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Freezing Carrot Slices
Step 1. Cut the carrots into 0.5-1 cm thickness
Peel the carrots using a knife, then cut both ends to a thickness of about 1.3 cm. To make carrots easier to store and preserve, try cutting them to the recommended thickness.
- Although carrots can be frozen without cutting them, they actually increase their shelf life if they are not too large.
- If there is dust, dirt, or other residue on the surface of the carrots, remember to clean the carrots under running tap water before cutting them.
Step 2. Place the carrot pieces in a plastic clip bag or airtight container
Fill a bag or other container with carrot pieces, then place a straw in the middle. If possible, leave 2.5-5 cm of free space between the surface of the carrot and the mouth of the bag to accommodate the possibility of the carrots expanding when frozen. Then, suck on the straw to get as much air out of the bag as possible, then remove the straw and seal the bag tightly.
- The less air left in the container, the more durable the carrots will be when frozen.
- Alternatively, use a vacuum to remove air from the bag and increase the shelf life of the carrots.
Step 3. Place the carrots on a flat surface in the refrigerator
Beforehand, don't forget to label the surface of the container with the date the carrots were stored so you know the expiration date. Ideally, carrots should be placed in the back of the refrigerator to keep the temperature stable and not removed until it's time to use them.
Don't take the carrots out if you don't plan on cooking them. Remember, carrots that are repeatedly frozen can gradually lose their flavor
Step 4. Freeze carrots in freezer for 10-12 months
Although frozen carrots that have not gone through the blanching process can last for 10-12 months in the freezer, their taste and texture can change over time. Therefore, you should store carrots for a maximum of 2 months to get the best taste.
Frozen carrots, whether blanched or not, can last for 10-12 months. However, understand that the longer the carrots are frozen, the higher the risk of freezer burn (carrots are covered in ice crystals and dehydrated)
Method 2 of 3: Freezing Grated Carrots
Step 1. Wash the carrots thoroughly before cutting
Wash the carrots under running running water, then scrub the surface with your hands to remove any dirt, grime, and other adhering residue, especially if the carrots were harvested straight from your garden.
In this method, the carrots do not need to be peeled before grating
Step 2. Cut off the top and bottom ends of the carrots
Using a very sharp knife, cut both ends of the carrot to about 1.3 cm thick, then throw it in the trash. Set the rest aside for grating at a later stage.
Step 3. Grate the carrots using a food processor
First of all, cut the carrots into 0.5-1 cm thickness, then put the carrots in a food processor. Turn on the food processor and process the carrots until all the flesh is grated.
- If your blender has the same settings as a food processor, feel free to use it as an alternative.
- If you want, you can also use a manual grater by placing the surface of the carrot on the surface of the grater, then moving the carrot up and down until all the flesh is shredded.
Step 4. Put the grated carrot into a plastic clip bag
Don't forget to leave about 2.5-5 cm of free space between the surface of the carrots and the mouth of the bag to accommodate the possibility of the carrots expanding while freezing. Then, press the surface of the bag with your palm or roll it out with a rolling pin to release as much air as possible and flatten the shape, and place the bag in the freezer until it's time to use.
Label the container with the date and time the carrots were stored so you know the expiration date
Step 5. Freeze the grated carrots for a few months
Supposedly, grated carrots can last for 10-12 months in the freezer before their natural flavor is lost. However, for the best texture, it's best to use carrots within a few months of grating and freezing.
Method 3 of 3: Freezing Pure Carrots
Step 1. Steam, boil, roast or microwave carrots
Basically, carrots are easier to puree if their texture has been softened through the cooking process.
- Puree carrots before freezing can preserve the natural flavor of carrots. Plus, carrot puree is a great addition to soups, snacks, and baby foods!
- Allow the carrots to cool before turning them into a puree.
Step 2. Puree the carrots using a blender
Cut the carrots into 0.5-1 cm thickness, then put the whole carrot pieces in a blender. If have settings pure in the blender, select that setting, then turn on the blender to process the carrots into a thick paste.
Never put your fingers or other kitchen utensils in a blender in progress
Step 3. Add milk or water to thin the texture of the puree
Turn off the blender after processing the carrots, then check the texture of the puree. If it feels too thick, try adding 1-2 tbsp. milk or water periodically, then process the puree again until the consistency is according to your taste.
- If you want a thick puree, process the carrots without adding any liquid.
- To maintain the overall flavor of the carrots, add a little water that was used to steam or boil the carrots.
Step 4. Pour the puree into a freezer-safe container
Once it reaches the desired consistency, take an airtight container that can be tightly closed. Then, pour the puree into the container leaving 2.5-5 cm of free space between the puree's surface and the lid of the container to accommodate any possible expansion. After that, close the container tightly and immediately put it in the freezer.
- Label the surface of the container with the date of storage pure so you can know the expiration date.
- If the puree is stored in a glass container, make sure the container is suitable for storing in the freezer. Be careful, ordinary glass containers can crack or even explode if left in extreme temperatures!
Step 5. Store the carrot puree in the freezer for a maximum of 3 months
The taste and consistency of carrot puree can last up to 3 months in the freezer. Therefore, make sure the puree is finished before the puree enters its expiration date to ensure that it remains of good quality when consumed.
Once softened, carrot puree can last in the refrigerator for 2-3 days without the risk of going stale
Tips
- So that carrots do not crystallize due to exposure to temperatures that are too cold in the freezer, do not forget to pack them in an airtight container that is proven safe to store in the freezer.
- Carrots that are still slightly raw tend to be better frozen without needing to be cooked first.
- Turn frozen carrots into texture-less foods, such as soup or casserole.
