White residue on carrots: should you be worried?
You open that bag of baby carrots, ready to tuck into a healthy snack or make a delicious carrot soup, and then you see it: white residue on carrots. Is it mold? Do you have to throw the whole lot in the bin? Whoa, hold on a minute. We’ll explain what it is and what you can do about it.
Carrots with white residue are not moldy
That dusty, white layer on your carrots is no reason to panic, they’re not moldy. It means the carrots have dried out. It’s called ‘carrot blush’ – yes, really, a blush for the carrot. Carrot blush sounds like something you’d order from a vegetable jeweler in Amsterdam-Zuid, but it’s simply dehydration. The fridge is a dry sort of place, after all. Cool and dry is great for cheese, but your carrots struggle with it a little more.
Why do carrots get a white haze?
White residue on carrots appears when the outside dries out. This happens especially with peeled carrots. They’ve had their natural skin removed, which normally serves as a protective layer. Without that little jacket, they’re slightly more vulnerable. Put them in a dry fridge, and before you know it they’ll look as if they’ve spent a day at the beach without sunscreen.
What does carrot blush look like?
A little white, a little dusty, sometimes a little flaky. Not exactly appetizing, but certainly no reason to panic. Think of it as dry skin on your elbow: it doesn’t look great, but it’s no reason to visit the doctor. Give it a little attention and everything will be fine.
Can you still eat carrots with white residue?
Absolutely. White residue on carrots is purely cosmetic. Cook those carrots, or roast them in the oven. You can eat them raw too, but do that at home or somewhere else where you won’t drive anyone completely crazy with the noise. So definitely don’t throw them away – unless you’re looking for an excuse to order pizza.
What can you do about that white haze?
Put them in a bowl of water for a while. Really, give them a one-hour spa treatment and they’ll be as good as new. That carrot blush will disappear like snow in the sun. They’ll also become crunchier. Double win. Water is also a tip for preventing that haze in the first place.
Store peeled carrots in a sealed container with a little water in the fridge. Or put a piece of damp kitchen paper in the bag with the carrots. This keeps everything fresh and prevents dehydration.
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Source: Reader’s Digest
