The small, uniformly sized and already peeled carrots that come in bags are not baby carrots. They are older, larger carrots that have been trimmed down.
What Are Baby Carrots?
Nope, it's just marketing. The small, uniformly torpedo-shaped carrots you see bagged and labeled as baby carrots are actually mature carrots that have been cut and trimmed into that size and shape. Technically they are termed "baby cut" carrots but that is often shortened to just "baby carrots." They are perfectly fine carrots, but there is nothing youthful about them.
This concept got its start when a grower saw much of his carrot crop rejected by buyers for cosmetic imperfections such as being crooked. By trimming the carrots down to a uniform small size he could sell a lot of his crop that otherwise would have to be thrown away or used as animal feed. Nowadays, baby carrots are usually not made from imperfect carrots but rather from specific carrot cultivars grown to full size specifically for this purpose. Even so they are not young carrots.
True Baby Carrots
Real baby carrots are just what the name suggests—carrots harvested before maturity, so they are naturally small, tapered, and irregular. They are usually sold with some greens still attached and more likely to be found loose or in bunches at farmers’ markets or higher‑end groceries. They don’t have the uniform “bullet” shape of bagged baby‑cut carrots.
No, Baby Cut Carrots do Not Get White From Mold or Chlorine
Many people notice that their baby cut carrots develop a whitish blush after a few days in the fridge. White blush is harmless and not a sign of spoilage or a residue of chlorine treatment. It is caused by the surface of the carrot, which is no longer protected by the skin, getting a bit dehydrated. A brief soak in cold water will usually fix this.
Some Other Vegetable-Related Myths for You!
Don't assume that frozen veggies are always less nutritious than fresh ones.
Seen those ads for gadgets to clean your produce? They are a scam.
