What to do with carrot tops + 12 Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can you do with the tops of carrots? ›

Greens from younger carrots are milder than those from older carrots. Carrot tops are high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. Use them as you would parsley, or in place of parsley in recipes. Strip the leaves from the tough stems, add them to stock or soup, put them in salads, or make chimichurri.

You can freeze carrot tops, cut the tops off the carrots, wash and dry them well, then place them on a baking sheet in the freezer in a single layer for 2 hours. Transfer the frozen tops to an air-tight container (with the air squeezed out) and store in the freezer for up to 1 month.

They can be eaten raw in salads, although their taste can be a little bitter. Consider softening the greens by blanching them; sautéing them with olive oil, garlic, and some of your other favorite greens; or cooking them into a soup or stock.

Carrot greens and tops are not poisonous, and they are most certainly edible. Carrot greens do contain alkaloids, but so does nearly every leafy green vegetable. Alkaloids are chemical compounds that serve as the plant's defense mechanism against pathogens.

But there are plenty of things to do with carrot tops before they hit the point of no return. Many of the recipes I share below will greatly extend the life of your carrot tops. Sauces like pesto and chimichurri freeze well, and dehydrating the tops allows them to live in the pantry for months.

Freezing carrots is such a great way to avoid waste. It will also make cooking them a little quicker from frozen. Like most vegetables, if frozen raw, the texture, taste, colour and nutritional value of carrots deteriorates. Make sure you blanch the veg to preserve these elements.

Can you freeze carrots without blanching? Blanching is optional, but helps ensure that carrots retain their nutrients, texture, color, and flavor. You may absolutely skip it, but just be aware that your frozen carrots will be best enjoyed incopproated into a recipe verse on their own.

Freeze on a baking sheet: Spread the cooled and dried carrots on a baking sheet and freeze for about 5 hours or until frozen solid. Freeze in resealable bags: Transfer the carrots to resealable plastic freezer bags or freezer-safe reusable bags, label and date the bags, and freeze for up to one year.

The greens themselves are pleasantly bitter and tart—flavors that can perfectly balance out carrots' earthy sweetness in a dish. (And if the taste alone isn't enough to convince you, think about how many #wasteless points you'll get by using those tops rather than tossing them.)

Once you've set your carrot scraps in water, it should only take a few days for the carrots to start putting out new growth. The green shoots usually appear first and grow fairly quickly. After few days, the carrot piece will also begin to grow tiny, hair-like roots.

What is the carrot top called? ›

In most the grocery stores you probably won't find carrots with their tops attached. It's a shame because, carrot greens — also known as “fronds” — aren't just a decoration on top of Bugs Bunny's favorite snack. These feathery green leaves are a table-worthy food.

In addition to skin maintenance, carrots are a great source of nutrients for your hair as well. They are packed with vitamin A and vitamin E, both of which help improve blood circulation on your scalp. This, in turn, promotes hair growth and protects you from premature greying.

Carrots are a safe and healthy treat for both puppies and adult dogs, as long as they are cut up into ¼-inch thick slices. And as with any treat, moderation is key. Carrots promote eye health in dogs and humans, and the crunchiness is great for satisfying a dog's primal urge to chew.

While keeping the leaves on root vegetables is great for natural appearances, it has major drawbacks from a freshness and durability standpoint. Besides being bulky and taking up storage space, the leaves actively draw moisture from the root, making it stay fresh for less time.

When buying carrots from a farmers' market or growing your own in a garden, removing the green tops from your carrots as soon as you bring them into your kitchen is essential. The leafy green tops of carrots draw moisture away from the root, which makes them dry out faster.

They are a good source of dietary fiber, which promotes digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar levels. In addition, carrot tops contain several vitamins and minerals essential to overall health, including vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.

Items like beets and carrots naturally grow with gorgeous green leaves on top. After harvest, a grower will sometimes leave the leaves for appearances sake. This is because many stores and some grocery shoppers really like carrots and beets have that farmer's market halo of freshness around them.