Blanching is the process of boiling food ingredients in boiling water for a short time and then soaking them in cold water to stop the cooking process. Blanching carrots will bring out their bright color and best taste. This method is generally used to prepare carrots for adding to salads, and is also a great way to prepare carrots for freezing. Just follow the steps below to turn an ordinary carrot into a delicious side dish!
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing Carrots for Blanching
Step 1. Wash the carrots
Rinse the carrots thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt.
Step 2. Peel the carrots
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the skin off the carrots. This will improve the taste and texture of the blanched carrots, and also make them look nicer.
Step 3. Cut the carrots
Carrots will cook faster and have a better texture if you cut them into smaller pieces before blanching. This will help them cook evenly and you won't have to overcook them. Cut both ends of the carrot and remove any bruises. Then slice the carrots into small pieces.
- Cut into thin round shapes for a delicious salad addition.
- Cut them into stick shapes for a healthy snack.
- Cut the carrots into quarters if you plan to freeze them for later use.
- Try to cut the carrots to the same size or thickness so they will cook evenly and at the same time.
Part 2 of 2: Blanching Carrots
Step 1. Prepare a bowl of ice water
You will need this water to stop the carrots from cooking further after you boil them.
Step 2. Heat a pot of water
Use a pot large enough to hold the carrots, and fill them about 3/4 full. Heat the water on the stove with the highest heat. Season the water to taste by adding salt. Wait until the water really boils.
Step 3. Add carrots to the water and start the timer for 2-5 minutes
In general, it takes more time for large carrots than for small carrots or carrots that have been chopped. Wait near the stove and remove the carrots from the boiling water as soon as the timer goes off or the timer runs out.
Step 4. Transfer the carrots to a bowl of iced water
Start a timer and allow the carrots to cool down for the same amount of time as the boiling process. If the carrots are boiled for 3 minutes, then let the carrots cool in ice water for 3 minutes.
Step 5. Remove the carrots from the water when the timer goes off
Drain carrots and pat dry with paper towels or kitchen paper. Use immediately or set aside for use in other recipes.
