Is it Better to Steam Or Boil Carrots?
When it comes to cooking carrots, there are many ways you can prepare them. Some of the more common methods include raw, caramelized, roasted, sautéed, juiced or steamed.
Steaming is a great option for many reasons, not the least of which is that it helps to preserve nutrients while retaining the natural sweetness and flavor of carrots.
Steamed Carrots are a great way to add more fiber and vitamin A to your diet. It also prevents the loss of water-soluble vitamins, making it easier for your body to absorb those nutrients.
They can also help to increase the amount of beta-carotene that you consume, which is a powerful antioxidant that can be converted to vitamin A. This can improve your overall health, as well as boost eye, bone and heart health.
However, it’s important to remember that boiling a carrot removes a lot of the nutrients that are found in raw carrots, such as vitamin C and B vitamins. If you’re going to boil carrots, you should only do it for a short period of time and only cook them until they are tender.
The boiled method of cooking carrots removes most of the water-soluble vitamins, but it’s not an essential step when you’re making baby food or blending soups. Having said that, it can be helpful to cook vegetables like carrots for a shorter amount of time when you’re preparing them for the freezer.
Par-boiling your carrots for a few minutes before roasting is another great technique that can soften them and make them more palatable. This can be done before a stir-fry, a side dish or a recipe that calls for a raw vegetable.
This is especially useful for raw or cooked carrots that are too tough to break down. It also makes them a bit more pliable, which can be handy for recipes that call for mashed or pureed carrots.
Microwave Carrots
This method is another great alternative to steaming, and it works really well with frozen carrots as well. Just place the carrots in a microwave-safe dish and heat for two minutes on full power. Continue heating them in 20 second intervals until they are tender.
They will still be a little crunchy, but they’ll have a much softer texture than the fresh variety. They’re perfect for adding to a stir-fry, soup or a casserole.
The roasted method is another good choice for cooking a vegetable, especially carrots, as it softens them and gives them a chewy texture that’s easy to bite into. It also adds extra nutrient value to the dish as it increases the amounts of vitamins A, K and E.
It’s also great for using up leftovers that you may have in the fridge. Simply toss with some melted butter or oil, a pinch of salt and pepper, and fresh herbs such as basil or thyme for an extra punch of flavor.
A steamed carrot is a delicious and healthy addition to any meal, whether it’s a simple side dish or a full-blown main course. They’re low in calories, fat and sodium and are full of natural sweetness. They’re also an excellent source of fiber and vitamins A, K and E.
