I’m sure you’ve noticed, but my absolute favorite way to eat vegetables (other than salads) is when they have been roasted! I love how they’re slightly crunchy, but soft at the same time, a little caramelized and usually flavored to perfection. Carrots are no different! I grew up having glazed carrots so they will always have a soft spot in my heart, but roasting is definitely my go-to way to prepare carrots these days.
When to Skip Peeling Carrots. “Juicing and roasting carrots are good times to avoid peeling,” says Hilowitz. “If you are making a rustic dish, then leaving the peel on could potentially enhance the look and experience of the dish.
Do You Need to Peel Carrots?
This is a heated question! Some say you should peel your carrots 100% of the time while others say it isn’t necessary. I’m team not necessary! If you wash them well and scrub away the dirt and debris, I don’t think it’s necessary to peel your carrots. Having said that, they do look prettier when peeled so if you’re eating raw or hosting a fancy meal, it’s worth peeling. For that reason, I peeled my carrots for this recipe. It’s also worth noting that some people think the skins of carrots have a bitter (or earthy) taste so that’s why they peel them. You’ll have to experiment to see if you can taste the difference!
There are some optional flavor additions and garnishes to consider. The easiest way to mix up the flavor of roasted carrots, though, is simply to add other vegetables, particularly root vegetables, to the mix. Carrots are extra tasty when roasted up with parsnips, turnips, and/or rutabagas, all of which have roasting times similar to carrots. A few finely chopped fresh herbs at the end also bring out the best in roasted carrots, as does a sprinkle of espelette or other mild chile powder, crunchy fleur de sel salt, or freshly ground black pepper.
Serve roasted carrots with roasted meats, as part of a vegetable-centric meal, or as a salad alongside any range of dishes.
As with many vegetables, roasting carrots brings out their sweet inner nature. Peel the carrots or dont peel the carrots—its up to you. Peeling takes a bit more time, obviously, but also leads to a more consistent final texture to the dish. If the carrots are thin like those pictured, feel free to leave them whole for an extra pretty presentation at the end.
Do You Have to Peel Carrots? | Food 101 | Well Done
FAQ
What happens if you don’t peel carrots before roasting?
Can you cook carrots with skin on?
Are unpeeled carrots healthier?
Should you peel carrots before roasting?
As with many vegetables, roasting carrots brings out their sweet inner nature. Peel the carrots or don’t peel the carrots—it’s up to you. Peeling takes a bit more time, obviously, but also leads to a more consistent final texture to the dish.
Should you wash carrots before peeling?
“However, since carrots are grown in the ground, washing/scrubbing is important if you do choose not to peel,” he adds. Of course, you should always wash your produce to reduce your risk of illness and pesticides, so hopefully, that’s nothing new. Why Peel Carrots? If we can just skip the carrot peeler, why do you have to peel carrots?
Can you eat carrots without peeling?
Because a carrot’s skin isn’t as thick as other root vegetables (like potatoes) or winter squashes, carrots are perfectly safe and delicious to eat without peeling so long as they are properly cleaned. When it comes down to it, peeling carrots or keeping the skin on is a matter of personal preference. Are All of a Carrot’s Nutrients in the Peel?
How long does it take to peel carrots?
In both cases, the skins on the unpeeled carrots became wrinkled, tough, and gritty. Their flavor was “again earthier, but not in a good way” and they weren’t particularly appealing looking. On the other hand, the peeled versions remained bright orange, tender, and sweet. In sum: It takes only an extra minute or two to peel carrots.