September is now here and many people are looking forward to autumn so they can cook their favourite cosy meals such as hearty stews, flavourful soups or even a quick casserole.
One essential ingredient for these seasonal recipes is carrots, and there is nothing worse than being in the middle of cooking only to discover vegetables become spoiled because they are not been stored correctly.
Amanda Rocchio, a nutritionist, has shared that most people are storing their carrots in the wrong place which is causing them to become slimy, wilted or even rotten before their expiry date.
She said: “You’ve probably been storing your carrots the wrong way, let me show you the right thing to do.
“Whether you prefer to buy whole carrots or you like to grab a bag of baby carrots, you’re probably tossing them in a fridge drawer.”
It may seem obvious that carrots should go in the bottom drawer in your fridge, but what causes them to spoil quickly is fluctuations in temperature.
Carrots need a cool consistent temperature to stay fresh and constantly opening or closing of the fridge the drawer could cause them to expire before their time.
Certain vegetables also produce ethylene gas, a growth hormone which can speed up ripening and eventual spoilage if too much produce is packed inside a small space.
What is the best way to store carrots to keep them fresh?
Instead, you can keep carrots fresh for much longer by taking them out of the crispier drawer, chopping them up and storing them in a jar filled with water.
Amanda said: “The key is to store [carrots] in a container and fill it up with water. They can last up to four weeks this way.”
Carrots can quickly dry out and become limp if stored in the wrong spot in the fridge so keeping them in water stops them losing moisture so they stay crisp and firm.
It also keeps the temperature steady and protects them from being exposed which will slow spoilage and keep them fresh for a month longer.
How to store carrots in a jar
All you have to do is remove the carrots from their original plastic packaging, cut off the green tops if they are attached, and then wash the carrots to remove any dirt.
Place the carrots in a jar or container and submerge them in cold water, then cover the container with a lid or with clingfilm.
You can cut the carrots or leave them whole depending on your preference. Put the container on the middle shelf of your fridge and your carrots should last much longer than they normally would.
Make sure to change the water in the container every few days to keep it fresh and stop bacteria from being able to develop.
Using this food method will keep carrots fresh and crunch for much longer than if they were simply stored in the fridge crisper drawer.
