Can You Eat Sprouted Carrots?
Here's what you need to know.
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You are not the first (and most definitely won’t be the last) person to forget about the carrots you bought at the grocery store. Maybe you intended to snack on them throughout the week and didn’t get to it, so the root vegetable has been sitting in the refrigerator drawer slightly longer than you intended. And now, they seem to have sprouted. What do you do? Can you still use them in a recipe? Are they safe to eat?
Why Do Carrots Sprout?
Carrots sprout in the refrigerator because their stored energy results in sprouts (or ‘shoots’) due to the absence of light. Basically, the carrots grow shoots in order to reach sunlight. Keep in mind that carrots are always seeking moisture, so in or outside of the refrigerator, it’s not out of the ordinary for carrots to continue to grow white "hairs" (or strings) and small roots, similar to a sprouted potato.
Are Sprouted Carrots Bad for You?
In general, sprouted carrots are not toxic. If the carrots are sprouting from the root, you can cut off the tip and use as you regularly would. They only become unsafe once they show signs of expiration.
Can You Eat Sprouted Carrots?
Sprouted carrots are generally safe to eat as long as the sprouts are forming at the actual root and they still feel firm. If you have stored carrots for a long enough time, they will not only sprout, but also become bendable, mushy, slimy, and/or take on a rubbery feel. Avoid eating them if that’s the case. If the sprouted carrot is additionally showing signs of rot—white spots, black spots, any form of decay or mold, etc.—throw it away immediately.
This Is the Reason Your Baby Carrots Are Always Wet
What Can You Do With Sprouted Carrots?
If you are not using the sprouted carrots for consumption, you can actually place the carrots in soil and grow your own in your garden. You may want to put them in a pot first, in order to acclimatize the carrots to the outside weather.
How to Prevent Sprouted Carrots
If the carrots you purchased have greens at the top, simply remove them before storing to deprive them of any excess moisture. For that same reason, wash your carrots only when you are ready to use them. For storing, wrap unwashed carrots in a dry paper towel, place them in an airtight plastic bag (squeeze the air out of it!) and then put them in the coolest area of your refrigerator.
How Long Do Carrots Last?
Unpeeled, raw carrots stored in the refrigerator typically last between three and four weeks. Peeled or cut carrots may last between two and three weeks in the refrigerator (baby carrots only for about a week and a half). Outside of the refrigerator, unpeeled carrots will last approximately three to five days.
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