Are you tired of chewing a single baby carrot for 10 minutes? Do you ever wonder how baby carrots last so long peeled? Or why they are perfectly shaped? I nearly gave up on carrots because of the “baby” variety. Convenience aside, their texture and flavor is not my jam. If you’re in the same boat, buy whole carrots. Save money, peel, and eat. For a snackable size, cut into strips and store in a container with a bit of water for up to 5 days in the fridge.
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As I understand it, the baby carrots that we see so much of in the markets are big, tough old carrots that have been cut into “cute, little, tasteless delights.” Not worth the price of admission unless you are just using it as a vehicle to scoop up a delish dip & then the dip is compromised. Big loose carrots seem to be the way to go unless you live in carrott farming country where hopefully you can get those little guys that are such a treat. Why does the food industry do this to us?
So there are “baby carrots” and “baby cut carrots”. Baby carrots are usually just carrots pulled from the field at a very small size for thinning, and they are tender and super-sweet.
Most of what we see in the store are baby cut carrots, which is what you are referring to, and they are the result of the presumed market intolerance for irregular-shaped carrots. Anything that comes out of the ground slightly crooked gets chopped and packaged as baby cut carrots.
I’m of two minds about this. Personally, I would rather buy crooked carrots (adorable!) for cheaper and cut them up at home. However, I’m not going to criticize anyone for buying a convenience food that is a raw vegetable instead of a cracker or chip. If cutting them up, overpackaging them, and selling them at a premium is what it takes to get Americans to eat more carrots, then alright, I can live with that. 😉
Totally agree with you! Plus, if the “ugly” carrots aren’t “fit” to be in grocery stores, better for them to get a second chance as a baby cut carrot than become food waste (though I definitely prefer whole carrots).
I was just telling my husband about baby carrots… where can you buy them if you aren’t growing them yourself? I see them in restaurants, but not at grocery stores or farmer’s market. I think they are so cute and taste even sweeter!
That’s a good question! When I lived in Ontario (Canada), they were available in the grocery store when they were in season. I have yet to see them for sale here in Texas, so maybe you need to live near where carrots are grown on a large scale to find them? I have heard they are very rewarding to grow in your garden, if you live in a part of the country where that is practical.
Relevant: http://buzzfeed.tumblr.com/post/65526133401/this-is-the-extremely-upsetting-truth-about-baby
As I understand it, the baby carrots that we see so much of in the markets are big, tough old carrots that have been cut into
“cute, little, tasteless delights.” Not worth the price of admission unless you are just using it as a vehicle to scoop up a delish dip & then the dip is compromised. Big loose carrots seem to be the way to go unless you live in carrott farming country where hopefully you can get those little guys that are such a treat. Why does the food industry do this to us?
So there are “baby carrots” and “baby cut carrots”. Baby carrots are usually just carrots pulled from the field at a very small size for thinning, and they are tender and super-sweet.
Most of what we see in the store are baby cut carrots, which is what you are referring to, and they are the result of the presumed market intolerance for irregular-shaped carrots. Anything that comes out of the ground slightly crooked gets chopped and packaged as baby cut carrots.
I’m of two minds about this. Personally, I would rather buy crooked carrots (adorable!) for cheaper and cut them up at home. However, I’m not going to criticize anyone for buying a convenience food that is a raw vegetable instead of a cracker or chip. If cutting them up, overpackaging them, and selling them at a premium is what it takes to get Americans to eat more carrots, then alright, I can live with that. 😉
Totally agree with you! Plus, if the “ugly” carrots aren’t “fit” to be in grocery stores, better for them to get a second chance as a baby cut carrot than become food waste (though I definitely prefer whole carrots).
I was just telling my husband about baby carrots… where can you buy them if you aren’t growing them yourself? I see them in restaurants, but not at grocery stores or farmer’s market. I think they are so cute and taste even sweeter!
That’s a good question! When I lived in Ontario (Canada), they were available in the grocery store when they were in season. I have yet to see them for sale here in Texas, so maybe you need to live near where carrots are grown on a large scale to find them? I have heard they are very rewarding to grow in your garden, if you live in a part of the country where that is practical.
Agreed! My husband buys and loves baby carrots. The convenience is great. I just don’t care for the taste.