Why and how should we preserve carrots?
Good colored
and textured carrots are found for a very short period of time in winters . In summer you will found stored carrots
(less in taste and orange in color) almost everywhere. So do not miss to store
them when they are in abundance and of good quality. We store it because of its
wonderful qualities.
Benefits of
carrots:
It is the
world’s no 1 healthiest food . Both adults and children like carrots because of
their crunchy texture and sweet taste. So
this is one of the valuable vegetable for parents, as children seem to enjoy
eating them ,a rare exception.
1-
It is rich in antioxidants thus helping
prevent cancer.
2-
It improves the vision because it is
an excellent source of vitamin A .
3-
Having plenty of soluble fibers ;it help to reduce cholesterol and thus prevents heart disease.
4-
The fibers present in carrots help
clean out the colon and hastened waste
movements help to detoxify our body.
5-
Its all in the crunch! Carrots clean
your teeth and mouth. They scrap off plaque and food articles just like tooth
brushes.
6-
It is rich in vitamin C, k , Iron,
potassium etc. So boosts immune system.
7-
As you know fiber is one of the most
important element in maintaining good digestive health. Fiber adds bulk to
stool which helps it to pass smoothly through the digestive tract.
8-
Carrots are good for blood sugar
regulation due to the presence of carotenoids in this delicious vegetable.
9-
It improves the memory; so good for brain health.
10-
Good in blood pressure as it is a
rich source of potassium which is a vasodilator and can relax the tension in your
blood vessels and arteries.
How to
preserve carrots in freezer:
1-
Get fresh carrots (do not use old
carrots for freezing)
2-
First remove the greens since they
draw away moisture from the root.
3-
Cut the top and bottom of carrots .
4-
Peel the carrots.
5-
Wash them thoroughly .
6-
Now cut into small pieces
7-
Put a large pan on gas ,fill it with
2/3 water let it boil.
8-
Put the carrots in boiled water just
for 2-3 minutes.
9-
Now strain the water
10-
Let it cool down by running cold water.
11-
Spread it on a trey , do not overlap
it .Now put the trey in freezer
12-
Next day take out trey and put the
pieces of carrots in zip lock bag one by one.
13-
Put it immediately in freezer
14-
Make sure no air is in the bag.
Why
we blanch carrots before freezing ?
When we store carrots without
blanching ,even in freezer some enzymes
and bacteria grow in such a low
temperature . They will not keep carrots
fresh for a long time. So to avoid bacteria and enzymes growth , we should blanch carrots to keep them fresh for a longer duration.
Why pieces of blanched carrots should
not overlap in trey?
Note – when you want to use frozen carrots
use it immediately either in vegetables or soups. After thawing do not let the carrots outside for a long time. Avoid using it in Salads or raw form.
Beware of baby carrots :
Baby carrots are not actually baby carrots at all ; but rather are less
than perfect carrots that have been shaved down to a smaller size . They are
also typically given a chlorine bath to prolong shelf life.
For this reason I always recommend purchasing whole carrots instead of baby
carrots.
Click to see : 1) Top 12 foods to relieve stress.