Hi everyone! I've noticed that the carrots I buy from the store stay nice and crunchy for over a week when I keep them in a dark cupboard. However, the carrots I grow at my allotment go soft within just 24 hours after harvesting. Does anyone have any ideas why this happens and how I can prevent it? Thanks a lot!
2 Answers
It's worth noting that store-bought fruits and veggies often have longer shelf lives because they're treated with preservatives and kept in optimal conditions. For your homegrown carrots, soaking them in a bowl of water for a bit can help them firm up nicely!
Just to clarify, it’s not all about treatments. Stores typically sell varieties bred for longer shelf life. If your fridge is uneven in temperature, carrots can actually get soft if they freeze, so just be mindful of that. You could also leave them in the ground as long as the ground isn't frozen; they'll actually store better that way!
One thing you should definitely do is remove the leaves from your carrots after harvesting them. If you leave the leaves on, they'll lose moisture quickly and become soft. Taking them off can help keep your carrots firmer for longer.
Thanks for the tip, that sounds simple enough!