How to Cut Carrots for Salads and More

🔪What is the best knife for cutting carrots?

The best knife for cutting carrots is a sharp chef's knife, not a serrated knife.

Avoid using dull knives, as they may not offer the precision needed to make clean cuts and could slip off course, causing an injury.

The most stable way to hold your knife in your dominant hand. Grip the handle with your thumb and index finger on either side of the blade. Place your middle finger on the back of the handle, near the blade, to provide additional support and control.

Looking to speed up your time in the kitchen? Here are 2 tools that I actually own to make things easier:

• Mandolin - I use this inexpensive mandolin that comes with a grating attachment and julienne attachment (2 sizes!) and can make vegetable noodles. Plus it is less than $30!
• Julienne Peeler- A heck of a lot easier when making a salad for one person!

🥕How to Cut Carrots for a Salad

Start by thoroughly washing your carrots. Despite the common belief that you should peel carrots, peeling the carrot is in fact optional. If the skin is dry, peel the carrot, If it looks good, you can leave it on.

Place the carrot on your cutting board. Use your knife to trim the end of the carrot where the greens are attached. If there are greens save them for another purpose. Or chop them up and add them to your salad.

Shredded

Shredded is the most popular and easiest way to cut carrots for salads and coleslaw recipes. It is what I use in my classic house salad recipe and my raw carrot salad. It is fast, easy, and requires minimal knife skills.

Using the large holes of your box grater, hold the carrot at a 45-degree angle. Grate the carrot until just a nub remains.

A mandolin with a large grating attachment or a food processor are both great tools for shredding carrots into smaller pieces. When using a food processor, place the carrot in the container and use an attachment with small holes to grate them.

Ribbons 

Ribbons are thin strips of carrots made using a vegetable peeler or paring knife. Simply use the peeler to slice the carrot into thin strips. This method is perfect for adding texture and flavor to salads without overwhelming other ingredients.

Julienned or Matchstick

The julienne cut is the same as the matchstick cut or french cut. The carrots are cut into thin long pieces similar to a match. It is an ideal cut for hardy salads that don't have any greens like my spicy kani salad.

First, slice the carrots in half crosswise and then lengthwise into thin strips. Then take each slice and cut lengthwise into ¼ inch pieces.

Alternatively, you can use a mandoline slicer or julienne peeler. The julienne peeler will create very thin strips.

Leftover julienne carrots are great for stir-fries.

Diced 

Sometimes called a brunoise cut, the perfect size for carrots is ⅛ inch to ¼ inch. To dice carrots, start by cutting them into matchsticks (see above), then stack the slices and cut them into small cubes. You can also use a hand chopper if you don't mind the cubes being different shapes and sizes.

Carrot Slices - Rounds and Half Moons

This cut is perfect for adding for extra crunch. For the round carrot slices, use your knife or mandolin slicer to cut thin slices (i.e the rounds).

To make a half moon, cut the whole carrot lengthwise. Place the flat side down on your cutting board and cut it into thin slices.

This is a great way to use up baby carrots. Simply slice the small carrots into thin rounds (about ⅛ an inch thick).

Leftover carrot slices are great to add to soups and stews.

Can you eat carrot greens?

Yes, you can eat carrots greens. They're just as healthy and delicious as the carrots themselves. You can use greens to make all sorts of delicious things like pesto, chop them up in salads, use a garnish or add them to soups.

Can you crisp up soft carrots?

If you find that your fresh carrots have gone a little flop you can crisp them back up. This goes for both whole and cut carrots. Place them in an ice water bath for 2 to 5 hours to re-crisp.

What can you do with leftover carrots?

I like to add leftover carrot pieces to soups, stews, and salads (obviously!), or to munch on as a healthy snack. I save the top of the carrots, the peels, and carrots that are still good but not crispy for making homemade stocks and broths. Freeze in a zip-top bag until you need them.

🥕How to Select Carrots

The freshest carrots will still have their greens attached. If the leafy green tops are turning yellow the carrots will be dry.

For carrots without tops, look for firm plump carrots with a bright color (either orange or any color rainbow carrot). Avoid carrots with wrinkled skin or soft spots, as these may be a sign of age or bruising.

🌡️How to Store Carrots

While fresh whole carrots can go for several days unrefrigerated. It is best to keep them in the refrigerator's crisper drawer until you're ready to use them. Carrots can last up to 3 weeks if stored properly.

Store your cut carrots in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.