Baby carrots are just pieces of a fully-grown, regular adult carrot, cut into two-inch fragments by a machine.
Once cut up, another machine rounds off the edges, so that the carrots end up looking like the ones you buy at the grocery store. The shredded leftovers usually end up in cattle feed.
Why not just use actual baby carrots? Real baby carrots arent very tasty, and are often too thin and flimsy to pack a real crunch.
Marcelissen, a company that makes the machines that turn grown carrots into baby carrots, shows us how its done. Advertisement
The carrots are now the right size, but they haven’t been peeled yet, and the edges are still blunt.
Those are then individually dropped down a moving staircase, where they slip to the side and have their tops sliced off. This is called “plugging.”
How baby carrots are made
FAQ
Are baby carrots just shaved carrots?
What’s the difference between carrots and baby carrots?
Why do mini carrots taste different?
Are mini carrots healthy?
What kind of carrots are sweet?
‘Little Finger’ is a small core carrot with an extra sweet taste. Chantenay-type carrots are the main summer crop carrots that are shaped like a child’s top—plump and slightly tapered. ‘Red-Cored’ is an 1829 heirloom Chantenay with a small core and excellent flavor. ‘Sweetness’ is an orange-gold carrot that is especially good fresh.
What are baby carrots?
Baby carrots are just pieces of a fully-grown, regular adult carrot, cut into two-inch fragments by a machine. Once cut up, another machine rounds off the edges, so that the carrots end up looking like the ones you buy at the grocery store. The shredded leftovers usually end up in cattle feed. Why not just use actual baby carrots?
What is a little finger carrot?
Little Finger Carrot, also known as baby carrot or Paris Market carrot, is a petite variety of carrot that is prized for its small size and sweet flavor. This carrot variety is typically harvested when it is only a few inches long, making it perfect for snacking, salads, and gourmet dishes.
What are the 4 types of carrots?
The four main categories of carrots are Chantenay, Imperator, Nantes, and Baby. Chantenay is the most popular type and is typically found in heavy soil. Imperator-type carrots are the second most popular and are characterized by their long, slender shape. Nantes is the third most popular and is known for its sweet flavor.