How to keep carrots fresh all winter with simple storage tricks

Plump, crispy, and juicy carrots are not just the anthem of peak vegetable season. In winter, we can also enjoy the taste and crunch of this popular vegetable. You just need to know how to store them.

We start eating the first varieties of carrots in June and July, but the ones from late summer are the best to preserve for winter. Late varieties are best for storage, but how do you store them without losing pounds of prime vegetables? The best method is my uncle's tried-and-true technique.

The best place to store carrots for the winter is in the basement. My uncle places the roots in a wooden crate so that the carrots do not touch each other and covers them with sand. It's a good idea to slightly moisten the sand, perhaps by sprinkling it with water, to maintain the right humidity for the vegetables. Prepared this way, they will stay fresh for 3-4 months. If the basement is well-ventilated, this storage time can extend to even 5 months.

However, the carrots need to be prepared properly beforehand. It's a good idea to cut off the ends of the vegetables to prevent them from sprouting during storage. Also, remember not to wash the carrots but clean them of soil when they are dry. Otherwise, the vegetables will start to rot.

People living in apartment buildings have fewer options for storing carrots. Keeping them in the refrigerator works for a short period, but over time the vegetables will begin to lose water and wrinkle. The optimal conditions for storing unprocessed carrots are a cool and dark place with good ventilation. The kitchen might not be the best choice, but a balcony (sheltered, with temperatures not dropping below 32°F) could be a viable option.

You can store carrots on the balcony in a crate. In this case, it's essential to ensure good insulation from frost by lining the crates with thick Styrofoam and covering them with black foil. Then, alternate layers of moist sand and carrots, ensuring the carrots do not touch each other.