Grated carrots are great for salads, slaws, and other recipes. This technique is not difficult to learn, however, you may need to practice to get the carrot length to suit your particular recipe. Whether grated by hand, in a food processor, or in matchstick shapes, you can learn how to make the perfect grated carrot in just a few steps.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Grate Carrots with a Grate
Step 1. Determine how many carrots you will need
The number of carrots will depend on how many grated carrots you need for your recipe. Keep in mind that you can always grate more if one carrot isn't enough. Common equivalent sizes include:
- One large carrot = one cup of grated carrots
- One kilo of carrots = five cups of grated carrots
Step 2. Wash the carrots
Wash the carrots under cold water and use your hands to rub the outside of the carrots. This will help remove any dirt, chemicals, or germs on the outside of the carrots.
Make sure you use large carrots. Small carrots are difficult to grate by hand and also run the risk of injuring your fingers
Step 3. Peel the carrots
Take the washed carrots and place them on a cutting board. Cut the top and bottom ends, about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm on each side. Then, using a vegetable peeler, peel the skin of each carrot in turn.
If you don't have a vegetable peeler, you can use a knife. Be careful not to peel the carrots too thickly
Step 4. Choose a grater
There are two common types of graters, the box grater and the flat grater. You may already have one, or you may have to buy one at a kitchen supply store or supermarket.
- Box grater. A larger square grater with three or four sides and a handle on top. The size of the hole on each side is different. That way you can grate vegetables of different sizes.
- Flat grater. A flat rectangular grater with a handle on one side. You'll need to use the grater you need for the size of the grated carrot you want.
Step 5. Position your grater
Use the grater on a clean surface in your kitchen, such as on the counter. You can also place the grater on a cutting board or large bowl to hold the grated carrots. Make sure whatever you use can accommodate the grated carrots when you grate them.
Step 6. Grate the carrots
Once you have the grater in position, take the carrot and hold it. Place the bottom of the carrot on the side of the grater near the top. Gently press the carrot and move your hand down the side of the grater. Once you get to the bottom of the grater, take your hands off the grater and place the carrots back in the starting position. Continue this motion until you have finished grating all the carrots.
- When the carrots are almost done, be careful with your hands as you grate. The edges of the grater are sharp and can injure you if you get hit. You can also use a sharp knife to cut the remaining small pieces into thin long strips if you don't want to hurt your fingers.
- Be careful not to press the carrots too hard. You could break the carrot in half and possibly injure your hand.
Method 2 of 3: Grate Carrots in a Food Processor
Step 1. Check your prescription or consider what you need
If you know how many carrots you should grate, you can use that amount. However, if your recipe calls for grated carrots without specifying how many carrots to use, you may need to estimate.
Keep in mind, one kilo of carrots is about the same as five cups of grated carrots and one large carrot is about the same as one cup of grated carrots
Step 2. Peel the carrots
Take the carrots you have chosen to grate, and wash them under cold water. Cut the top and bottom ends, about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm on each side. Take a vegetable peeler and peel off the skin of the carrots.
- Make sure you scrub the carrots when you wash them to remove any dirt, germs, or chemicals that may have stuck to the surface of the carrots.
- If you don't have a vegetable peeler, you can use a knife. Be careful not to cut the carrot flesh if you peel it like this.
Step 3. Cut the carrots
Take a peeled carrot and cut it into 7.5 cm long strips. This is to make sure the carrot pieces are small enough that they can easily fit into the food processor tube.
You can also put small carrots in a food processor. These types of carrots are small enough to fit in a food processor tube and will grate well
Step 4. Install the food processing knife
Every large food processor is equipped with a grating knife. Find a food processor knife to grate. The knife is in the form of a large metal disc with a grater on one side. Once you find it, put it in a food processor.
The knife will be attached to the top of the food processing machine. This will allow the grated carrots to fall into the bowl without piling under the knife
Step 5. Install the tube
Now that you've installed the food processor knife, attach the food processing cover that has the top edge. Also put the safety cap on the edge of the lid, but remove the cylinder in the lid.
The only opening left is a place to put the carrots
Step 6. Grate the carrots
After the lid and safety are installed, turn on the food processor. Insert the first 7.5 cm piece into the tube at the top of the lid. With a cylinder, press the carrot into the grating knife. Keep pushing down until all the carrots are grated. Repeat until all the carrots are grated.
- Don't press the carrots with your fingers. Your finger can be injured or even lost. Always use the plastic cylinder that is part of the food processor.
- After you grate the carrots, turn off the food processor and wait for the knife to stop moving. Then, remove the top and knife to scoop out the grated carrots.
- If your food processor is small, you can still use it to grate carrots. Put the knife in the food processor and lock the bowl and knife in the processor. Then add the peeled and chopped carrots. Secure the top, then press down on the food processor until the carrots are small enough for your recipe.
Method 3 of 3: Grate Matchstick Style Carrots
Step 1. Find out how many carrots you should use
Check the recipe to see how many carrots you should cut into matchsticks. If you're not sure, remember that you can always cut more than you think. In general, one large carrot equals one cup of grated carrots.
Step 2. Peel the carrots
Take the carrots and wash them under cold water. Cut the top and bottom ends of each carrot, about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. With a vegetable peeler, peel off the skin of each carrot.
If you don't have a vegetable peeler, you can use a knife. Make sure not to cut the carrot flesh as you peel it
Step 3. Shape the carrots
With a sharp knife, take each carrot and cut it into 2.5 to 5 cm pieces. This way, cutting the carrot matchsticks will be easier. Next, cut off a rounded end from one side of the carrot so it doesn't roll off the table.
Don't throw away the carrot pieces you just cut. You can cut two to three pieces and turn them into uneven matchstick-shaped carrot strips
Step 4. Cut the carrots into thick slices
With a sharp knife, take each square piece and slice it lengthwise. You can cut them into 1.5 to 5 mm pieces, depending on how big you want the grated carrot to be.
It doesn't have to be exactly the same, just make sure it's the same size
Step 5. Cut the carrots into matchsticks
Stack the carrot slices on top of each other so that they are evenly distributed. Then, use a sharp knife to cut the carrots into small matchsticks. When you cut, the width and thickness should be the same so that the carrot slices are even.
- Continue chopping until all the carrots are chopped.
- Make sure you do it slowly. As you cut through the pile of carrots, move your fingers back slowly, keeping the edge of the knife at a distance. This may prove more difficult as you get closer to the end of the carrot. Just do your best and keep your finger away from the edge of the knife as far as possible.
- You can also buy finger guards if you're worried about cutting your fingers. This stainless steel tool helps you grip your vegetables while protecting your fingertips from cutting them.
