Baby carrots and precut carrot sticks are so expensive! Learn how to cut carrots sticks from whole carrots. It's really quick and easy, and you'll save a lot of money.
Do you ever have a moment where you realize that something really obvious had just never occurred to you until then?
When it came to snacking on carrot sticks, which I have always loved, I never ever thought about cutting my own from whole carrots. If I wanted carrots sticks, I bought carrot sticks or a bag of baby carrots at the grocery store. Those were the options!
Imagine my surprise when I realized, "Hey, if I just cut up some carrots, I can save a ton of money!" It was a good moment, but also an internally embarrassing one.
So I'm sure there are some people out there who just haven't really thought about it like I hadn't. And I'm sure there are many of you thinking, "Um... yeah, of course, that's the way to do it!".
Well, I thought I'd provide a few tips on how to do it for those who haven't before. It's really simple and easy to do, and takes so little time and effort!
Grab a bag of carrots and let's get going!
Why Cut Your Own Carrot Sticks?
Cutting your own carrot sticks is the most cost-effective and healthy way to eat carrot sticks. The other options are buying precut carrot sticks or baby carrots. Both cost more than buying whole carrots and baby carrots are cleaned in a chlorine bleach solution. This soaking process is deemed safe by many, but I'd rather avoid ingesting bleach where possible!
Cutting carrots is also very quick and easy. It's really worth the small bit of time and effort!
Carrots are a delicious and versatile root vegetable! They are also high in Vitamin A, biotin and potassium and can help with the maintenance of good vision, prevent cancer, improve digestion, improve immune function and maintain healthy bones. Definitely a worthwhile veggie to get into your diet more often!
How to Julienne Carrots
A julienne cut means the carrot is cut into long thin strips. After cutting carrot sticks, you could easily create julienned carrots by cutting each carrot stick into thinner strips. Julienned carrots are also known as matchstick carrots and can be used in sandwiches, wraps, salads, stir-fries and more!
Ways to Use Carrot Sticks
- Snacking - A healthy and delicioius snack all on their own. Carrot sticks are easy to pack away and take on the go as well!
- Dipping - For an even more delicious and filling snack, dip your carrot sticks in hummus, onion dip, ranch or your favorite dip.
- Veggie tray - Probably the most common way to get veggies in at a party. Many people buy pre-made vegetable trays from the store. These are very convenient, but very costly! It's really easy to put your own together! Carrot sticks make a great addition. You can also cut up fresh broccoli, cauliflower, and add snap peas and cherry tomatoes for a well-rounded assortment!
- Stir fry - It's ideal to have thin strips of carrot for stir fry, so cut your carrot sticks in half lengthwise to use them in stir fries.
- Steaming - Steamed carrots are a delicious and easy side dish. After cutting them into sticks, steam the raw carrots for about 10 minutes, or until fork tender, and serve hot with some butter, salt and pepper.
- Baby - Carrot sticks are a great finger food for your baby to gnaw on at 6-8 months. Be sure to stay right by your baby if they are unable to chew and swallow at the time when you introduce carrot sticks.
Tools You May Need
Cutting board
How to Cut Carrot Sticks
Peel or thoroughly wash your carrots. I always peel, then rinse if they are from the store. If they are homegrown, I just give them a good scrub. It's just your preference, really.
Place your cutting board on a flat surface and cut both ends off of your carrots.
Cut your carrots into stick-length chunks. Most carrots you'll cut into 2 or 3 chunks.
Now hold the carrot chunk lengthwise in between your thumb and pointer finger down on the cutting board. This is an easy way to hold it steady. Place your knife in the middle of the carrot (lengthwise) and press down to cut the chunk in half.
Place each half carrot on the flat side on the cutting board (cut side down). You'll have to assess how many times to cut the half, depending on if you like thin or thick slices. For the size of carrots I normally have, I cut each half into 2 or 3 pieces. If they are very large carrots, sometimes I cut each half in 4 or even 5.
How to Store Cut Carrot Sticks
To prevent the fresh cut carrots from drying out, they need to be kept moist in the fridge. You can wrap them in a damp paper towel and store them in an airtight container, or submerge them in a jar of cool water (preferably filtered). Change out the water every 3-4 days to keep it fresh.
How to Revive Limp Carrots
Limp carrots haven't gone bad, they're just dehydrated! If you didn't have them soaking in water, place them in a jar of cold water in the fridge. They should absorb the water and firm up in about 8 hours.
Did you try this recipe? If so, I would really appreciate a 5-star rating and your comments below! Thanks!
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📖 Recipe
How to Cut Carrots Sticks
Baby carrots and precut carrot sticks are so expensive! Learn how to cut carrots sticks from whole carrots. It's really quick and easy, and you'll save a lot of money.
Ingredients
- Whole carrots
Instructions
- Peel or thoroughly wash your carrots. I always peel, then rinse if they are from the store. If they are homegrown, I just give them a good scrub. It's just your preference, really.
- Cut both ends off.
- Cut your carrots into stick-length chunks. Most carrots you'll cut into 2 or 3 chunks.
- Now hold the carrot chunk lengthwise in between your thumb and pointer finger down on the cutting board. This is an easy way to hold it steady. Place your knife in the middle of the carrot (lengthwise) and press down to cut the chunk in half.
- Place each half carrot on the flat side on the cutting board (cut side down). You'll have to assess how many times to cut the half, depending on if you like thin or thick slices. For the size of carrots I normally have, I cut each half into 2 or 3 pieces. If they are very large carrots, sometimes I cut each half in 4 or even 5.
Notes
To prevent the fresh cut carrots from drying out, they need to be kept moist in the fridge. You can wrap them in a damp paper towel and store them in an airtight container, or submerge them in a jar of cool water (preferably filtered). Change out the water every 3-4 days to keep it fresh.
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