How Long to Boil Carrots?

Carrots are the one vegetable my kids refused to eat until I started boiling them! And I have to admit, I have started enjoying eat carrots more too! Sure, you do lose some of the nutritional value when boiling carrots, but it’s better than not eating vegetables at all.

Whether you like them with a little crunch or melt in your mouth soft, I have experimented with and found out the perfect boiling times for carrots, It’s easy to over or under boil carrots, But not anymore!

Today, I will share with you the method I’ve been using for years to boil carrots, to make them turn out scrumptious every time.

Read on to learn more!

So, How Long Will it Take to Boil Carrots?

Well, what kind of carrots are you boiling? As you may have guessed already, especially if you’re an avid reader of my site, it simply depends! Whole carrots will need to boil longer than baby carrots and sliced carrots.

Below is a guide you can follow with listed boiling times depending on the type of carrots you are boiling!

• Whole Carrot Slices- 5 to 6 minutes
• Baby Carrots- 7 to 8 minutes
• Whole Carrots- 10 to 15 minutes
• Matchstick Carrots– 3 to 4 minutes

If you prefer your carrots with a little crunch and bit to them, boil the minimum time listed. However, if you like a soft centered carrot that melts when you bite into it, boil for the maximum time listed!

How to Boil Carrots Step by Step

Step 1: Wash your carrots thoroughly! This step is optional if you bought baby or matchstick carrots in a bag. However, I do wash these too! It’s important to wash a whole carrot though. I would recommend not skipping this step. Carrots are root vegetables and still carry much dirt and debris on them. Rinse your carrots with running cool water to remove it.

Step 2: If you are boiling whole carrots, peel the skin off (optional). The outer layer of the carrot has a bitter taste to it. The inner flesh is where it’s at! So, feel free to peel off the skin of the whole carrot.

Step 3: Whole Carrots Only Step. Skip this step if you are not slicing carrots. After you have washed and peeled (if desired) you whole carrots, slice them. A quarter inch thickness does really well for me!

Step 4: Fill a large pot with water, enough to submerge the carrots. If you like your carrots a little more tender, place them in the water now. If you like them a little crunchier, do not put them in the water until it starts boiling.

Step 5: Add 2 tablespoon of butter to the water. You don’t have to add butter. It just add some additional flavor for those who are getting used to the taste of carrots. The butter enhances the flavor and makes the carrots sweeter.

Step 6: Time to boil! When the water starts boiling and you haven’t yet added in your carrots, now is the time to do so.

• Whole Carrot Slices- 5 to 6 minutes
• Baby Carrots- 7 to 8 minutes
• Whole Carrots- 10 to 15 minutes
• Matchstick Carrots– 3 to 4 minutes

Step 7: Reduce heat. Reduce heat to a medium and cover for the appropriate boiling time I have listed above!

Step 8: Check for tenderness. You can take a fork and use it to slide to the center. The easier it is to go through, the more tender the carrot is. But if you have followed the above times, your carrots will come out great!

Step 9: Drain and enjoy! Drain the carrots from the water and let them sit for a minute before eating! Now we can season them to perfection.

I Have Boiled Carrots, Now What?

Now that you have boiled carrots, you can season them and use them in an assortment of ways! Some of my favorite ways include:

• In a salad (tastes much better than raw carrots)
• In a vegetable soup
• As a side dish
• As a snack
• In pastas

My favorite way to season boiled carrots

If you added the butter to the boiling water, they will already be slightly seasoned. Sprinkle the carrots with an herb and garlic seasoning. I don’t know what it is, but the butter and herb and garlic complement each other so well. Your carrots will take more like a dessert than a health food. I typically don’t add salt and pepper to my boiled carrots, but that IS always an option! I just prefer to enjoy the enhanced sweet flavor rather than a salty dish.

Boiled Carrots and Nutritional Value

According to the Victoria Government Department of State Health , there are some great benefits to boiling carrots!

• Fat soluble vitamins will not be destroyed when exposed to heat, like Vitamin K
• If there is any bacteria or pesticides left on the carrots after washing, exposing them to heat will kill them!
• Plants produce phytochemicals. When vegetables are cooked, these chemicals can be absorbed better by the body!

Some nutritional value may be lost though, especially those water-soluble vitamins, like B and C. You can use the water leftover from boiling carrots to make a vegetable broth later on! Or just drink it for some added nutrition.

Wrapping Up

In this post, we have looked at how long it takes to boil carrots and how to make them taste delicious! Whether you have baby or whole carrots, it’s important to know the exact boiling time you will need. You may need to bookmark this page and use it as a reference for the next time you boil carrots.

If you have picky kids, like mine, give my method a shot. Once I started using this process, I was actually able to get my kids to not only eat carrots, but actually like them!

Leave us a comment below saying how it worked for you! Or if you have any question, we’re here to help!