Sustainable Cooks
First Time Visiting? Start Here!

How to Freeze Carrots

Learning how to freeze carrots is a great way to preserve this essential ingredient that is a staple of so many comforting recipes. A freezer stash of frozen carrots opens the door to amazing and speedy meals.
a baking sheet lined with chopped carrots
Free Guide Get 14 Recipes You Can Make From Your Pantry

Freezing carrots is a great way to preserve this essential ingredient that is a staple of so many comforting recipes. A freezer stash of frozen carrots opens the door to amazing and speedy meals.

a baking sheet lined with chopped carrots

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you use as many carrots in cooking as our family does, freezing extras is a fantastic way to set yourself up for quick weeknight meals. 

I’m also a huge fan of canning carrots, but that requires a pressure canner and canning skills. But if you can cut and peel carrots, and own a baking sheet and a freezer, you can do this!

The magical mix of carrots, celery (how to freeze celery), onions (how to freeze onions), and garlic (how to freeze garlic) are the base of so many incredible dishes like Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings amongst others.

Can You Freeze Carrots?

You sure can! And it’s such an easy part of the meal prep process. Please note, frozen carrots are best used in soups, stews, and hot dishes. They won’t retain crispness for fresh eating or stir-fries.

Can I Freeze Carrots Without Blanching Them First?

Yes. And no. Blanching helps retain vitamins and nutrients and also preserves their color.  If you decide to NOT blanch your carrots before freezing, try to use those carrots up within two to three months. Frozen carrots that haven’t been blanched tend to discolor a bit when cooked.

How TO FLASH FREEZE Carrots

Flash freezing, or the act of freezing food individually, allows the food to be stored without clumping together. In this instance, we’re going to freeze the cut carrots on a rimmed baking sheet for 3 hours. 

Once frozen, you can transfer them to freezer storage (we love these reusable silicone bags) and scoop out whatever amount you need without having to bash the bag against the counter.

4 photos showing the process of blanching and freezing carrots

PRO TIPS/RECIPE NOTES

  • There is no need to thaw frozen carrots before adding them to dishes.
  • You do not need to reduce the overall cooking time for dishes when using frozen carrots.
  • Save clean peels and ends to make homemade stock. Related: How to Make Chicken Bone Broth
  • Save clean tops to make this carrot top pesto.
A freezer bag of frozen carrots and a blue dish with herbs and a bowl of salt.
a baking sheet lined with chopped carrots
Print Recipe
5 from 2 ratings

How to Freeze Carrots

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 minutes
Freeze Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 17 minutes
Learning how to freeze carrots is a great way to preserve this essential ingredient that is a staple of so many comforting recipes. A freezer stash of frozen carrots opens the door to amazing and speedy meals.

Ingredients

  • carrots
  • ice {optional}

Instructions

How to Blanch Carrots

  • Remove any dirt from the carrots with cool running water.
  • Remove the tops and ends, peel, and chop into 1 inch pieces.
  • Set up a bowl full of ice water. Place a clean kitchen towel unfolded and flat on the counter.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.
  • Add carrots to the boiling water and boil for 2 minutes.
  • Once the time is up, strain the carrots through a colander or scoop pieces out of the water with a slotted spoon and immediately add to the ice water for two minutes.
  • Strain again and set aside to drain.
  • Spread out on the clean towel and blot dry.

How to Freeze Carrots

  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a silpat. 
  • Add the carrots to the baking sheet without crowding the tray and place the tray in the freezer. 
  • Freeze for three hours. 
  • Break apart any clumps that have formed on the baking sheet and transfer to freezer-proof storage.

Notes

  • There is no need to thaw frozen carrots before adding them to dishes.
  • Store unblanched carrots in the freezer for up to two months
  • Store blanched carrots for up to 12 months.
Nutrition Facts
How to Freeze Carrots
Amount Per Serving (1 carrot)
Calories 25
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 comments on “How to Freeze Carrots”

  1. I definitely want to try this! Was wondering, I normally cube the carrots for soups/rice dishes, would I use the same 2 min blanch time even though the pieces would be smaller? Thank you for the information!

  2. How would I go about roasting these carrots after freezing? Need to thaw? Thanks!

  3. Can these be used for just boiled carrots as a side dish? Or only put into something?  I was wanting to freeze or can some not sure which as of yet