The Best Roasted Frozen Carrots Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

Why are my frozen carrots rubbery? ›

This is actually due to moisture loss that occurs in the freezer. But the rubber-like texture of your carrots can also be influenced by a few factors such as slow freezing, using old and wilted carrots for storing, improper storage/container, or over blanching.

Undercook them, and the texture is tough and dense. Overcook them, and they're dry and wrinkled. The secret is to soften the carrots slightly by boiling them briefly before roasting. The texture will be firm-tender with just the right amount of caramelization on the outside.

Cooking instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan, then add the carrots and parsnips and toss to coat in the oil. Add the thyme, cinnamon, star anise and some seasoning. Cook over a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning the vegetables frequently, until golden brown and almost cooked through.

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. Always use carrots that are at the peak of their freshness.

In most cases, it's best to skip the thawing process and go straight to cooking, according to Goldfield. There are a variety of different methods you can follow to cook frozen vegetables; it all depends on the dish you're making.

But if your carrot has gone limp, it can easily be revived by soaking it in water. Research by the University of Otago found that carrots will last 10 times longer if you store them in the fridge in an airtight container with a paper towel on the bottom.

The flavor of cooked carrots is enhanced by herbs. Use spearmint, marjoram, a small bay leaf, thyme, grated ginger root, chopped chives, dill or parsley. To sweeten carrots, use honey, maple syrup or a sprinkle of sugar.

Moving the pan closer to one of the elements can help. I find that I get lots more crispy edges when I roast vegetables on a rack in the upper third of the oven. Use the convection feature on your oven, if you have one. The fan helps better circulate hot air.

You're Using Too Much (Or Too Little) Oil

But skimp on that oil and those vegetables will be too dry. Luckily, it's easy to find Goldilocks' just right amount. The solution: Before hitting the sheet pan, place the vegetables in a large bowl and add a tablespoon of oil.

For the same reason, one shouldn't mix orange with carrot as when taken together, they may cause heartburn and excess bile reflux. Only a few fruits are starchy in nature. These include green bananas and plantains.

How does Jamie Oliver make roasted carrots? ›

Method. Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Toss your carrots with a good lug of olive oil, a splash of vinegar, salt and pepper, the thyme sprigs and the garlic cloves. Place in a roasting tray or earthenware dish, cover tightly with tinfoil and cook for 30 to 40 minutes until just tender.

Blanch the carrots for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on their size. Plunge the carrots into the ice water to stop the cooking process then move them to a clean towel and pat dry. 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.

Frozen carrots are best used in soups, stews, casseroles, or other hot dishes. You don't even need to thaw them, or shorten the cooking time, when using them in these kinds of recipes. If you want to thaw frozen carrots and eat them in cold dishes, they won't be as good as fresh ones.

Frozen carrots will not retain the crisp texture of their fresh counterparts. Best to use frozen carrots in cooked dishes, such as muffins, hot dishes, stir-fries, soups, or where their texture doesn't matter as much, such as smoothies. Frozen carrots are NOT going to be great for a lunch box or crudité platter.

Mushy/soft texture: Carrots taste best when they're firm and crunchy, but they're still safe to eat when they have a more rubbery texture. It's soft and mushy carrots that you want to be on the look-out for—these carrots are spoiled and not safe to eat.

If you find that your carrots are soft and floppy, but show no other signs that they have gone bad, such as mold or a slimy surface, then they can be saved! Hallelujah. The floppiness is a result of the carrot being dehydrated. They're around 80-95% water after all!

The trick to turn your zombie carrot into a pert, healthy, delicious one is to just pop it in a glass of water for five minutes to rehydrate it. Unfortunately, it's too late for some carrots, in particular if they're mouldy or bad.

A rubbery soft carrot isn't bad for you, it just isn't very pleasant. A slimy carrot is bad for you, don't eat it. And you can typically resuscitate softening carrots by wrapping them in damp paper towels and allowing them to rehydrate.