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+ servings
A saucepan full of canned carrots on the stovetop
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5 from 6 votes

How To Boil Carrots

READY in LESS THAN 15 MINUTES! Boiling carrots is an essential skill for many recipes.  Learn how right here PLUS, in case you didn't know, it's delicious just eaten this way too! 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: boiling carrots, how to boil carrots
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 50kcal
Cost: $3

Equipment

  • large stock pot
  • tongs
  • Stove

Ingredients

  • 8 whole carrots
  • 1 quart water or enough water to cover the carrots
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Peel and slice the carrots into the shape you desire if that is how you will be using them in the completed recipe. Whole, skin on carrots can be boiled too.
  • Place the carrots into a medium sized saucepan and cover with water.  Add more water if 1 quart doesn't cover all of the pieces. 
  • Add 1 tbsp of salt to the water.  Heat on high for 5-7 minutes until the water is simmering. 
  • Allow to simmer for 3-4 minutes, then check by piercing it with a fork for slices. If whole carrots, the simmering will take about 10 minutes.  If you plan to eat these as is, cook it until a fork goes easily through the entire piece (10 minutes or so). 
  • When cooked the way you want, pour into a colander to drain.
  • Once drained, use for your dish or add topping that is listed in the notes.  Serve hot. 

Video

Notes

  • If you plan to eat right away, then you will want more tender (so that the fork easily goes through the entire piece).
  • Are you using it in a recipe that will be cooked more?  Then only boil it until a fork can pierce but doesn't want to go completely through.
  • You will notice that it turns a slightly different color (bright orange) when cooked.  This is normal.
  • Save the water you boiled  in if you are making a sauce, it can be used to thin and flavor the sauce.
  • To make a great sauce for these carrots to eat as is, mix 2 Tbs butter with 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 Tbs Brown Sugar, 1 Tbs honey and a pinch of salt and heat over medium heat until butter is melted and all the ingredients are liquid.  Pour this over your hot carrots.  YUM!
PRO TIP: The smaller the pieces  are, the more quickly they will cook, no matter HOW you are cooking them.  Be careful so as not to over cook.  Drain it well to remove the extra water. 

Nutrition

Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1840mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 20381IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg