How to Eat Carrots

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 23, 2020 References

Carrots are healthy , delicious, versatile vegetables. Their nutrients can improve hair, skin, nail, and eye health, and they are a rich source of vitamin A and fiber. You can eat them plain as a tasty, nutritious snack, or you can use them to make things like smoothies, muffins, and fried rice. Use carrots in your favorite recipe for a boost of vitamins. Remember to wash and peel them before you eat them!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Eating Raw Carrots

1
Eat plain chopped carrots for a nutritious snack. Before you eat the carrots, use a sharp knife to chop off their tops, and use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer skin. Wash the carrots with cool water to remove any superficial dirt. Then, chop the carrots in half longways. Then, cut the halves into quarters horizontally.^{[1]
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- If you'd like, you can chop them into smaller pieces, though this works well for a snack-size portion.
- Try baby carrots for a bite-sized option. They are already the perfect snacking size!
2
Dunk your plain carrots in vegetable dips or hummus for extra flavor. To take your plain carrots to the next level, serve them with a dip of your choice. Plain or flavored hummus pairs great, as does spinach or vegetable dip. Put the dip in a small dish, and place it in the center of a plate. Then, place your carrots around the center.^{[2]
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3
Dip baby carrots in peanut butter for a rich flavor. Instead of dunking your celery stalks, eat peanut butter and carrots! Simply scoop a heaping spoonful of peanut butter on a plate, and arrange carrots around the spoon. Then, scoop some peanut butter up with your carrot and take a bite.^{[3]
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- This is a great idea for a lunchtime snack.
4
Top your salad with raw shredded carrots for a healthy lunch. Wash your carrot in cool water, and cut off the top with a sharp knife. Then, hold the end of your carrot up to the wide side of a grater at a 45-degree angle. Move the carrot up and down quickly until you reach the end. Then, put your carrot shreds on top of a freshly made salad.^{[4]
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Add shredded carrots to your favorite coleslaw recipe. Mix shredded carrots with shredded cabbage, and add a spoonful of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar. Mix everything up thoroughly for a tasty side dish!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cooking Carrots by Themselves

1
Serve steamed carrots as a side dish. Cut the tops of the carrot off with a sharp knife, and peel away the skin with a vegetable peeler. Then, chop your carrots into small pieces, starting at the thicker end. If you'd like, you can cut any large piece into smaller sections.^{[5]
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- Steamed carrots go great with steak and mashed potatoes, for example.
- You can also pair steamed carrots with broccoli and BBQ tofu.
2
Roast your carrots in the oven to enhance their flavor. Preheat your oven on 450 °F (232 °C), peel the skin off your carrots, and chop them into 3 in (7.6 cm) pieces. Cut your carrots in halves lengthwise. If they are large, quarter them instead. Then, toss the carrots into a baking dish, and mix in 1/4 cup (59.1 mL) of olive oil, 2 tsp (29.6 g) of kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of pepper. Bake your carrots for 35-45 minutes until they are browned.^{[6]
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- You can mix your carrots around every 10-20 minutes to evenly cook them.
3
Season your steamed or roasted carrots with orange juice and brown sugar. To take your carrots up a notch, combine 1 cup (236.6 mL) orange juice, 2-3 tbsp (29.6-44.4 g) brown sugar, and 2-3 tbsp (29.6-44.4 g) butter in a frying pan. Then, mix in your carrots.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Adding Carrots to Recipes

1
Throw carrots in a smoothie with pineapple juice, yogurt, and honey. Put your carrots in the blender, pour in 1/2 cup (118.3 mL) of pineapple juice, and use a high grating setting. Once the carrots are smooth, pour in 1 cup (236.6 g) of pineapple juice and 2 tsp (9.9 mL) of honey. Blend this all together until it's smooth, and add 3-4 ice cubes and 1/2 cup (118.3 mL) of yogurt. Blend this again until it is completely smooth, and pour into glasses.
- Chop or grate about 2 1/4 (532.3 g) of cleaned carrots before you put them in your blender.
2
Use carrots to make delicious soups and stews. For an easy soup, mix 4 c (946.4 g) of carrots, 3 c (709.8 mL) of chicken broth, and 1/2 sliced onion in a large pot. Cover your ingredients in water, and sprinkle in 4 cloves of smashed garlic, 1 tsp (5 g) of thyme, and 1/2 (2.5 g) tsp of tarragon. Bring this to a boil, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 40-50 minutes, and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.^{[8]
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- To finish your soup, use a blender or food processor to puree your mix, and reheat the mixture in the pot for 5 minutes.
- If you'd like, you can add 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to make your soup creamy.
- There are countless soup recipes including carrots. Search online for other suggestions.
3
Make veggie fried rice with carrots, egg, soy sauce, and vegetables. First, make 1 cup (236.6 grams) of white rice. Then, mix together 1 chopped carrot, 1 egg, and your favorite vegetables in a medium saucepan. Pour in 2-3 tbsp (29.6-44.4 mL) of soy sauce, heat this for 5-10 minutes or so.^{[9]
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- Use vegetables including broccoli, snap peas, and edamame.
- If you'd like, you can add cooked chicken, pork, or steak to your rice.
4
Use carrots and flaxseed to make delicious, healthy muffins. To make your mix, puree 2 carrots and 1 apple in a food processor. Mix 1 1/2 cup (354.9 g) of flour, 1 1/2 cup (354.9 g) of flaxseed meal, 1 cup (236.6 grams) of brown sugar, 2 tsp (10 g) of baking soda, 2 tsp (10 g) of cinnamon, and 1 tsp (5 g) of kosher salt. Then, add in 3/4 cup (177.4 mL) of milk, 2 eggs, and 1 tsp (5 g) of vanilla extract. Mix all of this together thoroughly.^{[10]
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- To finish your muffins, pour the mixture about halfway into each cell of a lined 6-muffin tin. Bake your muffins uncovered for 20-30 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C).
- Use paper cups to line your muffin tin.
- If you'd like, top your muffins with flaxseed before you put them in the oven.

Community Q&A

Question

Is it better to eat raw or cooked carrots?

Community Answer

Carrots are one of the few vegetables that have a higher nutrient content cooked than they do raw. This is because carotenoids, the pigments in carrots, are much more available for uptake by the body after they have been cooked.