Carrots are a versatile, nutritious, and delicious vegetable that can be enjoyed all year round. Freezing carrots is an excellent way to preserve their freshness and make them last longer. Follow these 11 steps to freeze your carrots properly.

1. Choose fresh carrots: Start with fresh, firm, and blemish-free carrots. The better the quality of the carrot, the better it will taste when you thaw and use it later.

2. Wash the carrots: Rinse the carrots under cold running water to remove any dirt and debris. You can use a vegetable brush to clean them thoroughly.

3. Peel or scrape the carrots: Remove the outer skin of the carrot using a vegetable peeler or by gently scraping with a knife. This is optional; some people prefer leaving the skin on.

4. Remove the green tops: Slice off the leafy green tops of the carrots as they can be bitter when frozen.

5. Cut into desired size: Cut or slice your carrots into your desired size. Cutting your carrots into uniform pieces will help ensure they freeze evenly and thaw evenly later on.

6. Blanch the carrots: Boil a large pot of water, then plunge your cut or sliced carrots into it for 2-3 minutes (depending on size) to halt enzyme activity and preserve color, flavor, and texture. Blanche baby or grated carrots for 1-2 minutes.

7. Ice bath: After blanching, quickly drain and transfer your heated carrots into ice water for an equal amount of time to cool them down rapidly and prevent overcooking.

8. Drain well: Spread out your cooled-down blanched carrots on paper towels or clean kitchen towels to absorb excess moisture.

9. Flash freezing (optional): If you want to avoid your carrot pieces from clumping together during freezing, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour or until they are hard enough.

10. Bag them up: Place your carrots in freezer-safe bags, removing as much air as possible to reduce freezer burn. Label the bags with the date, type of carrot, and quantity.

11. Store in the freezer: Arrange your bags of carrots in your freezer in a way that allows maximum airflow around them. Properly frozen carrots can last up to 12 months, but taste best when used within 8 months.

By following these steps, you will have delicious frozen carrots ready for future use. Whether you’re including them in a stew or soup or stir-frying them with other vegetables, they’ll come out tasting fresh and flavorful.