Loaded with vitamins and minerals like A, K, calcium, iron, and beta-carotene, carrots are notoriously good for your health. Vitamin K and calcium are essential for bone health and strength, while beta-carotene and vitamin A are great for cellular health and vision, as well as lower the risks of cancer and diabetes. Beta-carotene is the reason that carrots have such a vivid orange hue. Surprisingly though, not all carrots are orange, they can come in a variety of colors such as purple, black, red, white, and yellow.
Carrots are one of the easiest vegetables to find, as they are available at small and large grocery stores as well as farmer’s markets. But do you know the best carrot to grab for the best flavor? It’s easy! When shopping, look for the firmest ones you can find, those will be the freshest ones available; the smaller they are in size, the sweeter they’ll taste.
When cooking with carrots, you don’t need to worry about the one way to cook with them, their versatility is wide! They can be shredded and added to salads, braised alongside chicken and potatoes, sauteed with a variety of other vegetables for a delicious side dish, chopped up with onions and celery for soups and stews to make a mirepoix. Carrots may be a vegetable but this is one that can also be made into a few fabulous desserts, like a carrot loaf or even carrot cake ice cream! For more recipes to help you incorporate carrots into your meals, check out the recipes here!
If you enjoy cooking with fresh produce, you may also like our guide to lemons for another versatile ingredient to keep on hand.