Do not rinse or wash carrots. Rinsing carrots before storage can actually cause mold growth, if you'll be storing them in a root cellar or plastic bag. Wait to wash your carrots until you're ready to cook.
Store in an airtight container
Keep them in an airtight container submerged in water, and you'll be a happy snacker. You can prep the carrots however you'd like, but the best way is to hold off on peeling the skin for the longest storage time.
To store the carrots, wrap them in damp paper towels and place them in the coolest place in your refrigerator. They can last for a month stored this way. You can cut the carrots so they'll be prepped when it time to use them, however, you'll be shortening their life expectancy down to a week or two.
Seal the roots in zip top bags and store in the vegetable crisper, or higher up, where cold air is circulated. Wash them (and peel, if you like) just before use. Using this method will keep almost any carrot variety fresh and crisp, with minimal nutrient loss, for 10 days or longer.
Procedure for Sand Storage
Remove the leafy tops of vegetables before storing them, but don't clean or wash the root vegetables prior to storage. Let them sit in the air for a couple of days prior to storage to let the skins “cure.”
After harvesting carrots, rinse them in cool running water. Lightly scrub the carrots with a vegetable scrubbing brush or just using your hands to remove any loose dirt. Set the carrots on a clean, dry towel on the counter or table to dry.
To store carrots in the refrigerator for a long period of time (say, more than three days), I've found that keeping them in an airtight and zip-top or vacuum-sealed bag is the most efficient. The bag's seal helps control the humidity (refrigerators tend to create dry conditions, which causes food to dehydrate).
Step 1: Place similarly sized carrots into zip-close plastic storage bags. Step 2: Squeeze the air out of the bags and seal them. Step 3: Store them in the refrigerator on a shelf or in the crisper. Step 4: Use the smallest roots first.
You'll have to store your carrots in the refrigerator, but how you store them can actually make a difference. Raw carrots, when properly stored will usually stay fresh for around 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge. If your carrots are sliced or chopped, you can store them in the fridge and they'll last for about 2 to 3 weeks.
In boxes: To prevent shrivelling in vegetables which lose moisture such as carrots, celeriac, swedes and beetroot, store the roots in layers of moist sand or peat-substitute in boxes, in a frost-free, dark place such as a shed or cellar.
First of all, trim any green tops off the carrots. While they can be saved and eaten, you want to store them separately from the actual carrots, since the greens will suck up the moisture from the carrots, leaving them limp and dry.
Wash peeled carrots thoroughly. In a container, submerge carrots in cool water, and place in the refrigerator. Change the water every few days to inhibit bacterial growth. Rinse peeled carrots once more before eating them.
The floppiness is a result of the carrot being dehydrated. They're around 80-95% water after all! To regain their stiffness, simple place flaccid carrots in cold water for up to 5 hours before using. Afterward, you'll find that they're nice and firm again.
Carrots can be left in the ground all winter long, but you'll want to harvest all of them before early spring. Once spring arrives, the carrots will flower and will become inedible. Now that you know how to store carrots in the ground, you can enjoy your fresh and crunchy homegrown carrots nearly all year-round.
For carrots and beets, remove the tops {the green parts} because they will pull moisture from the actual carrot, making them dry and cracked. For smaller amounts, place unwashed carrots/beets in ziploc bags, seal tightly to ensure no air is coming in, and store them in the coldest part of your fridge.
Fizz and scum: When to worry
Fizz and scum are a normal part of fermentation as both bacteria and yeast are hard at work preserving your vegetables. After just 24 hours you'll notice that the water has turned cloudy and you may even see some tiny bubbles rising to the surface.
There are two main risks of eating unwashed fruits and vegetables: bacterial contamination and pesticides. In recent years, many outbreaks of foodborne illness have come from contaminated cantaloupe, spinach, tomatoes, and lettuce.
03/6Never wash after peeling or cutting
Be it their OCD or habit, washing vegetables after cutting or peeling them is always a bad idea. Rinsing vegetables under running water after chopping them up gets rid of the essential vitamins present in them. This is why make sure you wash the veggies properly before cutting.
The good news is, you can harvest carrots as soon as they're large enough to eat, and you don't have to wait for them to finish growing. In fact, if you leave carrots to grow too large, they can turn woody and lose their sweetness.
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant. Mix equal parts white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and water. Spritz onto hard or soft-skinned fruits and vegetables, rub in, rinse and dry. It is also effective to put in a bowl and soak the veggies and fruits for a couple of minutes before rinsing and drying.
Bagged or ready-to-eat, fresh-cut produce
If the product is not labeled "washed," "triple washed," or "ready-to-eat," it must be washed before eating.
Washing fruit and vegetables in vinegar is a good way to remove potential bacteria. Use a solution of three parts water and one part vinegar. Plain water is also effective at removing most bacteria. Vinegar will not make produce last longer.