What Are Carrots and How Can I Use Them?

Here's everything worth knowing about carrots and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 3,593 recipes to cook tonight.

What are carrots?

Carrots can be eaten in lots of ways. Only 3% of the β-carotene in raw carrots is released during digestion. This can be improved to 39% by pulping, cooking and adding cooking oil.

Alternatively they may be chopped and boiled, fried or steamed, and cooked in soups and stews, as well as baby and pet foods. A well known dish is carrots julienne.

carrots

Grated carrots are used in carrot cakes , as well as carrot puddings, an old English dish thought to have originated in the early 1800s. The greens are edible as a leaf vegetable, but are rarely eaten by humans. Together with onion and celery, carrots are one of the primary vegetables used in a mirepoix to make various broths.

The carrot gets its characteristic and bright orange colour from β-carotene, which is metabolized into vitamin A in humans when bile salts are present in the intestines. Massive overconsumption of carrots can cause carotenosis, a benign condition in which the skin turns orange. Carrots are also rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and minerals.

carrots

Lack of Vitamin A can cause poor vision , including night vision, and vision can be restored by adding Vitamin A back into the diet.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup chopped (128g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 52Calories from Fat 2

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.3g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 88mg 4%

Total Carbohydrate 12.3g 4%

Dietary Fiber 4g 14%

Sugars 6.1

Protein 1.2g

Vitamin A 430% Vitamin C 13%

Calcium 4% • Iron 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Where found

Carrots are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Carrots are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do carrots weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 cup chopped	128 grams
1 cup grated	110 grams
1 cup strips or slices	122 grams
1 large (7-1/4" to 8-/1/2" long)	72 grams
1 medium	61 grams
1 small (5-1/2" long)	50 grams
1 slice	3 grams
1 strip large (3" long)	7 grams
1 strip medium	4 grams