Carrots
(Scientific Name: Daucus carota)Selection Information
Usage: Eating fresh, salads, cooked, soups, stews, stir-fry, puree, carrot juice.
Selection: Good quality carrots will be firm, smooth-skinned, straight-shaped and well-colored with no blemishes. The deeper the orange coloring of the carrot, the higher the beta carotene content.
Avoid: Avoid carrots that are wilting, soft, crooked, are split or are growing thin hair-like roots. Those with large green areas at the top or that have dark blemishes or brown coloring of any kind are also undesirable.
Storage: Trim the tops off carrots before storing them. You can eat the tops, but they take moisture and nutrition from the carrot during storage and they can only be stored a few days. You can store carrots in your refrigerator's crisper drawer for a few weeks if placed in a perforated plastic bag.
Seasonal Information
Carrots are available year-round with the peak from October through April.
Carrot Nutritional Information
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Serving Size: 1 cup raw carrot, chopped (128g) Includes USDA commodity food A099
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| Amount Per Serving |
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Calories 52
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Calories from Fat 3
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% Daily Value* |
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Total Fat 0 |
0% |
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Cholesterol 0mg |
0% |
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Sodium 88mg |
4% |
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Total Carbohydrate 12g |
4% |
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Dietary Fiber 4g |
14% |
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Sugars 6g |
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Protein 1g |
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Vitamin A 428% |
Vitamin C 13% |
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Calcium 4% |
Iron 2% |
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*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. |
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Carrots have little Saturated Fat or Cholesterol. They're also a good source of Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate and Manganese, and an excellent source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Potassium.
Carrot Tips & Trivia
- Most carrots are sold without the tops because they have been shown to draw moisture from the roots. Yet many people buy carrots with tops to ensure the product is fresh. However, in order to store carrots longer, remove the tops.
- Carrots belong to the parsley family. They originated in Afghanistan, cultivated originally for medicinal purposes utilizing the seeds which are produced in the second year of this biennial plant. (Marketable roots grow in a single season.)
- The use of carrots spread westward, introduced into England from Holland in the 15th Century. At that point, carrots were coveted for their tops, and no well-dressed English gentlewoman would be seen without lacy carrot leaves decorating her hair.