How Long Do Carrots Last?

How long do carrots last? The shelf life of carrots, like most other fresh vegetables, may not have a sell by date, use by date, or best before the date so you have to go with purchase date. The exception is the tiny baby carrot packages that should have a best by date.

Because of their relatively low cost, long shelf life (many people even ask do carrots go bad?) and concentration of vitamins - they are a great snack and an easy addition to many foods.

So, how long do carrots last? When properly stored, the shelf life of carrots past their best before date is approximately...

Carrots Expiration Date

	Fridge
	Past Printed Date
Fresh Carrots (Whole) last for	4-5 Weeks
Baby Carrots last for	3-4 Weeks
Cooked Carrots last for	1 Week

Of course, like any food, carrots last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly.

How to tell if Carrots are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Large whole carrots generally last longer because they have their protective skin (which also holds most of the nutrients). Thus, the baby carrots with skins removed will spoil first, especially if there is moisture within the bag.

You can usually tell by looking and then by feeling if your carrots have gone bad. Some common traits of carrots going bad are tiny white dots (called "white blush") on the surface, this is caused by dehydration on the cut surface of the carrots. White blush means that they are drying out, but are still OK to eat and should be eaten in the very near future.

When carrots have gone bad, they become mushy and slimy and should not be eaten.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Carrots to extend their shelf life?

To extend the shelf life of carrots it is best to store them whole and un-peeled in a plastic bag in the fridge. Baby ones are also best in a plastic bag in a refrigerator drawer.

For a longer term option, carrots may be frozen for 6-8 months, but they should be blanched first and then placed into freezer safe containers.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How to use extra before your Carrots go bad?

Freeze them to extend their shelf life, but they should be blanched first. Follow these easy directions to blanch your carrots before freezing.

To find out how to steam this and other fresh vegetables, check our post on how to steam vegetables.

Make glazed carrots: Melt a tablespoon of butter over extremely low heat and then add the washed and cut carrots. Cover and leave for about 20 minutes, gently shaking the pan around every 5-10 minutes so as not to burn the bottom. You'll never know they were about to go bad, as they taste like candy! (well... sort of).

How long are Carrots good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do carrots last? That depends. How long do bakery products last? In general, all foods last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.