Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: daveypark on August 03, 2009, 19:50

Title: Storing carrots
Post by: daveypark on August 03, 2009, 19:50

After 5 years trying this is the first year that we have carrots worthy of picking and taking off the plot. they are at a decent size now and I'd rather get them out of the ground before something else eats them. However, due to lack of space in the shed they will have to be frozen.
Will they require blanching and if so, what size chunks should they be cut into and for how long should they be blanched. We have some steaming pans.
Thanks in advance.
Dave

Title: Re: Storing carrots
Post by: Ice on August 03, 2009, 19:57

Cut them into the shapes you would normally do to eat them.  Blanche in boiling water for two minutes and refresh in cold water.  Dry, put in bags and freeze. :)

Title: Re: Storing carrots
Post by: jazzbyrd on August 03, 2009, 19:58

Taken from my How to Freeze book

Peel or scrape in your usual way. Slice into rounds or into matchsticks or dice.(however you like to eat them ). Blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and plunge into iced water to cool. Drain, dry and pack into polythene bags or boxes in convenient quantities.
Storage time 12 months

Jazz :)

Title: Re: Storing carrots
Post by: Ice on August 03, 2009, 20:01

Beat ya to it. :tongue2:

Title: Re: Storing carrots
Post by: jazzbyrd on August 03, 2009, 20:03

awwwwwhhh shuduppppppp !! Ice  :tongue2:

Jazz LOL !!

Title: Re: Storing carrots
Post by: Poolfield2 on August 03, 2009, 20:23

I also freeze 3 veg mash and use it to top "cottage pie" or fish pie or just to reheat with cheese on top. I use about equal weights of potatao/carrot/celeriac. Also swede or turnip go well into the mix. It's great when you are in a hurry, defrost in microwave and spoon over the meat, top with cheese and stick in hot oven. Yummy

Title: Re: Storing carrots
Post by: daveypark on August 03, 2009, 20:37

Wow, that was quick!
Many thanks for all your kind responses, I'll dig the carrots up now and get them safe in the freezer.
Regards to all.
Dave
 :)

@ Poolfield2, good idea for the mash, freezer is gonna get stacked full.  ;)

Title: Re: Storing carrots
Post by: Poolfield2 on August 03, 2009, 22:41

We don't hang around on here you know :lol: