When you buy a bag of whole carrots, it’s fair to assume that a few of them will end up going limp after a couple of weeks. Unless you’re a diligent meal planner, it can be difficult to use up an entire pound of carrots in a short amount of time. But justa because a carrot…
A game-changing hack can turn floppy carrots into crunchy, delicious root vegetables once again. The trick is to chop the carrots into matchsticks (also called a julienne cut) and place them in an airtight jar of cold water. (Something like a Mason jar or a canister with a clamp lid would work great.) Make sure the carrots are completely submerged and refrigerate them overnight.
If you’re short on time, adding ice to the water can help speed up the process — even just five minutes in an icy bath can make a big difference. The carrots will regain their crunch and stay that way for weeks when stored this way.
The Science Behind Reviving Wilted Vegetables
Carrots are root vegetables that contain 85% to 95% water, according to Healthline. When a carrot is immersed in fresh water, it absorbs the water through osmosis. Remember osmosis from your elementary school science class? It’s the process of water moving into an organism, like a carrot, because the carrot is saltier than the surrounding water. This causes the carrot to stiffen. If you have kids or grandkids, this could be a fun science experiment for them to participate in.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to rehydrate moldy carrots or ones that have gone bad, but fresh-looking bendy carrots are fair game. The same hack can be applied to many other vegetables, including lettuce, celery, broccoli, beets, asparagus, potatoes, and herbs.
So, the next time you find a rogue limp carrot in the bottom of your crisper drawer, try this hack and get yourself some hummus or ranch for a nutritious and crunchy snack.
