How Long Does It Take To Cook Carrots

March 26, 2021

Learn How to Boil Sliced and Whole Carrots that come out perfectly soft, tender, and full of their own naturally sweet flavor!  Once boiled, you can then serve this easy side dish with fresh parsley, dill, or chives and a drizzle of oil for a quick weeknight dinner or special holiday occasion!   And with only four healthy ingredients, this recipe is completely gluten-free, vegan, Whole30 and can be ready in as little as 10 minutes!

Easy Boiled Carrots Recipe

Most people associate carrots as either being cooked in a delicious brown sugar sauce… (like these Instant Pot Glazed Carrots and Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots .)

Or found in sweet treats like these Carrot Cake Muffins .

But did you know carrots are actually loaded with their own naturally sweet flavor when they are simply boiled in a pot of water?  (Much like with boiled sweet potatoes and boiled beets !)

Yep!  They are so sweet you won't even need any additional sweetener to make this simple side dish.

Not to mention, they pair exceptionally well with a ton of different herbs and ground spices.  (Fresh parsley, dill, and cumin, just to name a few!)

You can cut carrots into smaller pieces so they boil even faster.  Or cook the entire carrot for a more impressive looking side.

Either way you slice it, you'll be able to have this simple and healthy side dish ready to serve in as little as 10 minutes!

Peeling and Slicing

Before you get to boiling you will first want to prepare your carrots.  Here are the steps to follow for slicing carrots:

1. Rinse carrots under running water.  Remove any remaining dirt and debris with a paper towel or dish towel. Carrots grow under the ground so they often have quite a bit of dirt on them.

2. Remove the outer skin from the carrots by using a vegetable peeler. Carrot skin sometimes has a bitter taste and is better if removed.  However, this step is optional and you can choose to leave the peel on the carrots if you'd prefer.

3. Cut the carrots at a bias (at an angle) to get ¼"-thick slices. Cutting at an angle gives the carrots a very pretty presentation.  Feel free to cut them exactly perpendicular to the long axis of the carrots.

   • If boiling whole carrots or baby carrots you can skip this step.  For whole carrots, cut and remove the tops from the carrots or leave them on if you'd prefer.

How to Boil Carrots

Once they are peeled and either sliced or kept whole, you will want to follow these simple steps to boil carrots:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Make sure you have enough water so the carrots are completely submerged.

2. Add sliced carrots to the pot of water and bring the water back to a boil.

3. Boil sliced carrots for 4-5 minutes, baby carrots for 6-7 minutes and whole carrots for 10-15 minutes.This time will vary slightly depending on the thickness of the carrots.

4. Carrots will be done boiling when they are fork tender. Simply place a fork into the carrots to determine if they are cooked through.

5. Remove carrots from the pot of hot water with either a slotted spoon or drain them in a colander in the sink. It's important that you remove as much of the water as you can from the surface of the carrots so they are not soggy when served.

Serving

Carrots are packed with SO much flavor and do not need much when it comes to additional seasonings before serving.

A little drizzle of oil or melted butter and a sprinkle of salt work wonders to bring out their natural flavor.

These fresh herbs pair exceptionally well with boiled carrots: dill, parsley, thyme, cilantro, chives and green onions.

You can also add any one of these sweeteners to boiled carrots just before serving: pure maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, and coconut sugar.

Many different ground spices also pair wonderfully with boiled carrots: cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, paprika, and coriander.

Make Ahead and Storage

To Prep Ahead: Slice and peel carrots and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To Store: Place boiled carrots in a food storage container store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

To Freeze: You can freeze leftovers for up to 3-4 months.  Thaw and eat as a side dish or add it to soups and stews.

To Reheat:  Add leftovers to a large skillet over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes or until heated through.

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to cook carrots?

If you're not eating them raw, boiling carrots is the healthiest way to eat them.  The only other ingredient needed to boil them is water which adds no fat, calories, or carbs.

Do I need to peel carrots before boiling?

You do not need to peel carrots before boiling, but most find the skin of the carrot to be somewhat bitter and is best if removed.

How long to boil carrots?

Boil sliced carrots for 3-4 minutes and boil whole carrots for 10-15 minutes.  The total time will vary depending on their thickness.

How do I know when carrots are done boiling?

The best way to test boiled carrots for doneness is to place a fork into the cooked carrot and see if the middle is tender.  If the fork slides easily through the middle of the carrot then it is done boiling.

Do boiled carrots loose nutrition?

As with any other vegetable, carrots will lose a very slight amount of nutrition if cooked instead of eaten raw.  However, the amount is negligible as long as you do not boil them into mush.

Pro Tips

• Peel the carrots before boiling them to remove any bitter taste.
• Cut carrots at a bias, at an angle, to make them look more elegant for a special occasion.
• Add on fresh herbs, ground spices, and even extra sweetener to up-level the flavor game!

Make it a Meal

Carrots are a very versatile side dish that also happen to be gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, Whole30 and Paleo.  Because of this they will pair well with numerous dinner recipes.

Here are some main dish ideas to go along with these boiled carrots:

• Honey Mustard Chicken
• Basil & Lemon Baked Salmon
• Lemon Chicken Piccata
• Honey Balsamic Chicken
• Lemon & Dill Salmon
• Bacon Wrapped Scallops

How to Boil Carrots

Learn How to Boil Sliced and Whole Carrots that come out perfectly soft, tender, and full of their own naturally sweet flavor!  Once boiled, you can then serve this easy side dish with fresh parsley, dill, or chives and a drizzle of oil for a quick weeknight dinner or special holiday occasion!  And with only four healthy ingredients, this recipe is completely gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, Whole30, and Paleo approved!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 79 kcal

• 1 lb. whole carrots about 3 medium-sized carrots
• 1 Tbsp. oil or butter
• ¼-½ tsp. salt to taste
• Fresh parsley or dill optional

1. Rinse carrots under running water.  Remove any remaining dirt and debris with a paper towel or dish towel.

2. Peel the outer skin from the carrots by using a vegetable peeler.

3. For sliced carrots: Cut the carrots at a bias (at an angle) to get ¼"-thick slices.

4. For whole carrots: Cut and remove the tops from the carrots or leave them on if you'd prefer.

5. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Make sure you have enough water so the carrots are completely submerged.

6. Add sliced carrots to the pot of water and bring the water back to a boil.

7. Boil sliced carrots for 4-5 minutes, baby carrots for 6-7 minutes, and whole carrots for 10-15 minutes.  This time will vary slightly depending on the thickness of the carrots.

8. Carrots will be done boiling when they are fork tender.

9. Remove carrots from the pot of hot water with either a slotted spoon or drain them in a colander in the sink.

Pro Tips:

• Peel the carrots before boiling them to remove any bitter taste.
• Cut carrots at a bias, at an angle, to make them look more elegant for a special occasion.
• Add on fresh herbs, ground spices, and even extra sweetener to up-level the flavor game!

Seasoning Options:

• Fresh herbs pair exceptionally well with boiled carrots: dill, parsley, thyme, cilantro, chives and green onions.
• You can also add any one of these sweeteners to boiled carrots just before serving: pure maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, and coconut sugar.
• Many different ground spices also pair wonderfully with boiled carrots: cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, paprika, and coriander.

Nutrition Facts

How to Boil Carrots

Amount Per Serving

Calories 79 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g 6%

Saturated Fat 1g 6%

Trans Fat 1g

Sodium 198mg 9%

Potassium 363mg 10%

Carbohydrates 11g 4%

Fiber 3g 13%

Sugar 5g 6%

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 18944IU 379%

Vitamin C 7mg 8%

Calcium 37mg 4%

Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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How Long Does It Take To Cook Carrots

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