Microwave carrots are a quick and easy side dish that can pair with nearly any meal. The carrots steam quickly and only need to rest for a minute before you can add seasonings like butter, honey, or herbs.
If you’re wondering how to cook carrots fast, look no further than these microwave carrots! Steaming vegetables in the microwave is an efficient way to soften them quickly. No pots or pans required.
Besides being incredibly easy, this recipe is very customizable. You can season your carrots any way you please. I personally like them with a melted butter and honey glaze, some fresh thyme, and a pinch of salt. If that doesn’t sound like something you would like, don’t worry, I included plenty of seasoning ideas in this post.
I seasoned my microwave carrots with honey, butter, and thyme, but you can add whatever flavors you want. You can see the full recipe and ingredients list in the recipe card at the end of the post. Here are some other seasoning ideas. Check out my Vegetable Seasoning Guide for more flavors that pair well with carrots.
Place the coins in a medium bowl (that’s microwave-safe) and add 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup water (1 tablespoon per cup of carrots).
Place a microwave-safe plate on top of the bowl. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then let stand for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plate to assess doneness. Return the bowl covered with the plate to the microwave and cook for additional time if desired.
Carrots take about 3 minutes to steam in the microwave. Since the strength of microwaves varies, you may need to cook the carrots for more time to get them as soft as you would like. Let the carrots stand for a minute before assessing doneness. Be sure to use an oven mitt or towel to remove the bowl and plate so that you don’t burn yourself. Check the carrots for doneness using a fork. Return them to the microwave in 1-minute intervals until cooked to your liking.
You can use baby carrots or whole carrots that you slice into coins for this recipe. Baby carrots will also take about 3 minutes to cook. However, they may need more time depending on the strength of your microwave and how soft you want them to be.
Use 1 tablespoon per 1 cup of carrots when steaming them in the microwave. I recommend cooking a maximum of 4 cups of carrots at a time and using a bowl that’s big enough to hold them. An over-crowded bowl will prevent the carrots from cooking evenly and quickly.
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You can use baby carrots or whole carrots that you slice into coins for this recipe. Baby carrots will also take about 3 minutes to cook. However, they may need more time depending on the strength of your microwave and how soft you want them to be.
Place a microwave-safe plate on top of the bowl. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then let stand for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plate to assess doneness. Return the bowl covered with the plate to the microwave and cook for additional time if desired.
Use 1 tablespoon per 1 cup of carrots when steaming them in the microwave. I recommend cooking a maximum of 4 cups of carrots at a time and using a bowl that’s big enough to hold them. An over-crowded bowl will prevent the carrots from cooking evenly and quickly.
Place the coins in a medium bowl (that’s microwave-safe) and add 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup water (1 tablespoon per cup of carrots).
Carrots take about 3 minutes to steam in the microwave. Since the strength of microwaves varies, you may need to cook the carrots for more time to get them as soft as you would like. Let the carrots stand for a minute before assessing doneness. Be sure to use an oven mitt or towel to remove the bowl and plate so that you don’t burn yourself. Check the carrots for doneness using a fork. Return them to the microwave in 1-minute intervals until cooked to your liking.
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Claire is Lifehackers Senior Food Editor. She has a B.S. in chemistry, a decade of food journalism experience, and a deep love for mayonnaise and MSG.
A bag of pre-shredded carrots may seem like the height of convenience, but the often dry, inexplicably rubbery vegetable shreds remind me of too many sad side salads. Even though I am fully aware that I enjoy a freshly shredded carrot far more than a bagged one, I cannot resist the siren song of laziness. (I currently have two bags of shredded carrots in my fridge.) Fortunately, the near-desiccated vegetable wisps can be transformed back into their pliable, flavorful selves; you just need a little salt.
Like any plant part you toss with sodium chloride, shredded carrots are softened by osmosis. Water (the solvent) moves out of the carrots’ cellular walls towards the salt (the solute), ultimately collapsing them, and it happens quickly. Just a 1/4 teaspoon of salt can tenderize a cup of shredded carrots in about 15 minutes. It also flavors them (with salt), which is an added bonus.
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FAQ
How to make carrots softer for salads?
How do I quickly soften carrots?
How long does it take for carrots to get soft in the microwave?
How do you soften pre shredded carrots?
How do you soften carrots?
Soften them by fully boiling them. This method is best if you want to turn them into a pureé since it’s really easy to over-boil and make them mushy. Let them boil for between 4 and 10 minutes, depending on whether you cut them into small pieces or boiled them whole. Another way to soften carrots is to put them in the microwave.
What are the benefits of eating fat with carrots?
If you eat fat with carrots you will have better absorption of beta-carotene. These are one of the main compounds of carrots, and this happens because beta-carotenes are fat-soluble pigments.
How do you soften carrots in the microwave?
Another way to soften carrots is to put them in the microwave. Put whole carrots or carrot slices into a microwave-safe container, add a few tablespoons of water, and cover the dish. Microwave for 3 or 4 minutes. Stir the carrots, and then microwave for another 3 minutes on high.
Does vinegar soften carrots?
Many people don’t realize that adding something acidic such as vinegar or lemon juice to food will alter the texture of the food. This can be a great way to soften tougher vegetables, such as large carrots. This softening method works better with smaller pieces of carrot.