How to Boil Carrots: Step-by-Step Instructions

Boiling carrots is one of the easiest and cleanest ways to cook carrots. If you want to add a great, tasty side to any meal, boiling a few carrots is an excellent solution. Follow this step-by-step guide to create the perfectly boiled carrot. If you want, you can also check out our accompanying video for some visual assistance. We’ll also answer some common questions and concerns about how to boil carrots, so you can hit the kitchen with no fear!

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Boil Carrots

Step One: Add Water

Add 2 liters of water to a large pot. For the best results, use pure, filtered water. Tap water contains many contaminants that could possibly affect the flavor of your carrots. If you don’t have a filter at home, you can buy bottled water from the store. When filling your pot, make sure you leave at least a few inches of clearance from the top of the water to the top of the pot. This will keep your water from spilling over the edges while it’s boiling.

Step Two: Add Your Carrots

Place three medium-large, unpeeled carrots into the water. It will be easier to peel your carrots after they’ve been boiled – the outer layer of skin will come off cleanly without wasting any of the carrot.

Step Three: Boil Your Water

Cover your pot, place on medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. It’s important you bring the water to boil with the carrots already in the water. This will bring up the carrots’ temperature gradually, rather than shocking them with water that is already boiling. The result is a more even tenderness throughout the carrots. Once the water has reached a steady, rolling boil, remove from heat.

Step Four: Add Your Salt

Once you’ve removed your pot from the heat, add a half teaspoon of salt to the water. You can use regular table salt, or you can opt for sea salt for added minerals. The salt will help to soften and flavor your carrots. Don’t worry about stirring the salt in – the boiling water will distribute it evenly.

Step Five: Return to Boil

Return the pot to the heat and bring the water back to a boil. When boiling again, set your timer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, check your carrots for tenderness. You should be able to pierce them easily with a knife. If you can’t, leave them boiling and check them every couple of minutes until done. Depending on their size, your carrots may need up to 30 minutes to boil completely.

Step Six: Cool Carrots

After your carrots have finished boiling, remove the pot from heat and place your carrots on a dish. Let them cool for about 10 minutes. You don’t want them cold, but you also won’t want to hold hot carrots while you try to peel them.

Step Seven: Peel Your Carrots

Using your paring knife, peel your carrots. If you don’t have a paring knife, any other sharp knife will do. Just be sure to be careful. To peel, hold your knife perpendicular to the carrot’s surface and gently scrape the blade toward yourself in short motions. This method will remove the carrot’s thin outer layer of skin without taking any extra material.

Step Eight: Serve and Enjoy

Now for everyone’s favorite part: time to eat! Sit back with friends and family and enjoy your perfectly boiled carrots. An excellent side for any meal, they’re sure to be loved by all. 

Frequently Asked Questions

While we hope we’ve covered how to boil carrots pretty well by this point, we don’t think it’ll hurt to clarify some common sticking points. Below are some frequently asked questions about the process and details of boiling carrots. If you aren’t quite feeling completely confident, check them out.

• How long should I boil my carrots for?
  • Depending on the size of your carrots, the boiling process can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes. If you’re in a rush, you can cut down the cooking time by cutting your carrots up into smaller pieces. Make sure they are completely boiled by piercing them with a knife. If the knife goes in easily, they are ready. If not, they need more time.
• How do I peel carrots?
  • There are a couple ways to peel carrots. First, you can use a peeler and remove the outer layer before boiling your carrots. This is quick and easy, but you will waste some of the carrot. The second way (and the way described above) is to peel carrots after they’ve been boiled. For this method, use a paring knife or other sharp knife. Hold the knife perpendicular to the carrot’s surface and gently scrape away the thin outer layer. While this way is a little more time consuming, it also allows you to save as much of the carrot as possible.
• Do I have to peel my carrots?
  • It is not necessary to peel carrots. As long as you thoroughly wash them to remove any dirt, unpeeled carrots are edible. However, some find the taste of carrot skin to be bitter and prefer to remove it. It’s really up to you! Try them before you peel to see if you like the taste. If not, peel away.