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Canning Carrots for Easy Food Storage

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Canning carrots is a great way to preserve fresh carrots from the vegetable garden or farmers’ market. Learn how to can carrots safely with this step-by-step pressure canning tutorial.

three jars of carrots on a blue towel

 

When I started gardening, I remember struggling with growing spring carrots. Getting the seeds to germinate was a big problem for me. With some research and trial and error, I was able to troubleshoot and conquer my carrot growing problems.

That year, we enjoyed fresh carrots all summer with the final late summer harvest of 25 pounds! The fall-sown carrots also did well and added another 20 pounds to the tally.

With so many carrots harvested from the garden, and the freezer full, I had to find a way to preserve them. Learning how to can green beans and carrots were my first home canning projects using a pressure canner. It was nice to fill the pantry with ready to heat food that tasted much better than supermarket cans.

Tips for Canning Carrots

Select freshly harvested small to medium sized carrots around 1-inch in diameter. Larger carrots can be too stringy and fibrous when canned. If you don’t grow your own carrots, consider purchasing in bulk at a local farmer’s market when in season and preserve to enjoy all year.

You will need about 12 pounds of carrots for a full canner load of 9 pint-sized jars. If you would rather can carrots in quarts, you’ll need about 18 pounds before trimming and slicing. Here are other tips for canning carrots.fresh harvest of carrots

Use a Pressure Canner

Carrots and other low acid foods and can only be home canned safely using a pressure canner. A pressure canner heats the contents at a high temperature necessary to eliminating the risk of food borne bacteria. You cannot can carrots in a water bath canner unless you are using vinegar to make pickled carrots.

Peel the Carrots

You will need to peel the carrots before canning. I know this can be a pain, especially with small carrots. But, there are no safe tested recipes for canning carrots with the skins on. In order to reduce as much surface bacteria as possible, first wash the carrots well under clean running water, remove the skins with a vegetable peeler, and then rinse again before cutting.

Raw Pack vs. Hot Pack

Carrots can be packed into the jars using either the raw-pack or hot-pack method. Raw pack, also known as cold pack just means to fill the jars with raw carrots, and cover with boiling water. Raw packing is quicker because there is less cooking involved, but hot pack has its advantages.

In hot packing, the carrots are partially cooked first, then packed in jars, and covered with boiling water. Pre-cooking the carrots will make them softer allowing you to squeeze more in each jar. It also removes some air from the tissue, which will improve the quality and shelf life.

Prevent Liquid Loss

One of the most frequent issues I had in the beginning with canning carrots was a loss of liquid in the jars. If properly processed, loss of some liquid is ok, and won’t cause the food to spoil, but any carrots above the liquid may get rubbery and turn dark.

Siphoning is less likely to happen if you prevent rapid changes in temperature and pressure. In my situation, I was impatiently poking the weight, and releasing pressure too quickly after the processing time was complete. Instead, allow pressure to drop to zero naturally, remove the weight, and then wait for another 10 minutes before opening the canner lid.

Steps to Canning Carrots

Before you begin, you may find it helpful to review this article on “Using Pressure Canners” at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website along with the instruction manual that came with your pressure canner. Make sure everything is clean and working properly. Double check that the steam vent is clear

This is a safe caning recipe from the USDA Complete Book of Home Canning and the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving books. Scroll down for the full, printable recipe, but here are the steps for canning carrots:

Step 1: Prepare the Canning Equipment

Gather your canning gear, prepare the jars, set up the canner, and organize your work area.

You will need the following equipment:

  • Pressure Canner with canning rack
  • 9 pint sized canning jars, or 7 quart sized jars
  • Lids and bands (new lids for each jar, bands can be reused)
  • Canning tools: jar lifter, canning ladle, funnel, and bubble popper
  • Plus basic kitchen supplies such as a large pot, large bowl, kitchen towels, vegetable brush, peeler, slotted spoon, knife, and a cutting board.

Wash the canning jars, lids, bands, and canning tools in hot soapy water, and rinse well. Set the lids and bands aside to air dry until you are ready to use them.

Place the pressure canner on the stove, and insert the canning rack. Add water per your pressure canner manufacturer’s instructions: Presto is 3 quarts, Mirro is 2 quarts, and All American is 2 to 3 inches.

Fill the clean jars halfway with hot water, and then place them on the rack in the canner. Bring the canner to a simmer for 10 minutes (180˚F). Keep hot until you are ready to fill them.

In addition, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. If you are raw packing your carrots, this will be the water you’ll use to fill the jars. If you are hot packing, you will use this water to heat the carrots and fill your jars.

Step 2: Prepare the Carrots

Scrub the carrots with a vegetable brush under running water. Use a vegetable peeler and remove the peelings. Rinse the carrots again, remove the stem end, and slice or dice into pieces. Small carrots can be left whole.

If you are hot packing, add the prepared carrots to the large pot, bring it to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat and simmer (180˚F) the carrots for 5 minutes.

close up of a bowl of sliced carrots

Step 3: Fill the Jars

Spread a kitchen towel on the counter. Use the jar lifter to remove a jar from the canner. Pour out the water (save it for washing dishes), and place the jar on the towel. Keep the remaining jars in the canner, so they stay hot.

Place the canning funnel on the jar and pack the carrots into the jar. If you are hot packing, use a slotted spoon to remove the carrots from the hot water and fill the jar. Leave a 1-inch headspace.

If you are using canning salt, add up to 1/2 teaspoon per pint jar, and up to 1 teaspoon of canning salt per quart jar. Ladle hot water into the jar over the carrots while maintaining 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with the bubble popper, and wipe the rim with a damp towel.

Center a lid on the jar, place the band over the lid, and screw it on until fingertip tight. Immediately place the jar back into the rack in the canner, and repeat with the rest of the jars.

Step 4: Process the Jars

Place the lid on the canner, and lock it. Bring the canner to a boil over medium-high heat. Follow the directions for your pressure canner and process the jars for the times indicated in the recipe below.

When the processing time is complete, turn off the heat and let the canner cool naturally, remove the jars, and let them cool completely. Date, label, and store in a cool location for 12 to 18 months.

pint jars of home canned carrots on a table

 

Ways to Use Canned Carrots

Pressure canned carrots are shelf stable, and can be prepared quickly for meals. Since the canning process cooks them, they only need 10 minutes on the stove to heat up. Canned carrots are a great addition to homemade soups and stews. Add the carrots at the end of the cooking time, and heat for about 10 minutes.

Canning Carrots

Canning carrots is a great way to preserve fresh carrots from the vegetable garden or farmers' market. Learn how to can carrots safely with this step-by-step pressure canning tutorial.
Course Canning
Cuisine American
Keyword canning carrots
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Processing Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 18 servings
Calories 45kcal
Author Grow a Good Life

Ingredients

Instructions

Prepare the Canning Equipment:

  • Wash the jars, lids, and rings in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Set the lids and rings aside until you are ready to use them.
  • Place the jar rack into the pressure canner, and fill with water per your pressure canner manufacturer's instructions: Presto is 3 quarts, Mirro is 2 quarts, and All American is 2 to 3 inches.
  • Fill the jars halfway with hot water, and then place them on the rack in the canner. Bring the canner to a simmer for 10 minutes (180˚F). Don't boil, but keep the jars hot until you are ready to fill them.
  • If you are raw packing, fill a large pot with fresh, clean water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer (180˚F), and keep hot until you are ready to use it.

Prepare the Carrots:

  • Scrub the carrots well under clean running water, peel carrots, and rinse again. Cut into slices, chunks, or large jar sized pieces.
  • If you are hot packing, add the prepared carrots to a large pot. Fill the pot with water, bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat to a simmer (180˚F). Simmer the carrots for 5 minutes.

Can the Carrots:

  • Spread a kitchen towel on the counter. Use your jar lifter to remove a jar from the canner. Pour out the water (save it for washing dishes), and place the jar on the towel. Keep the remaining jars in the canner, so they stay hot.
  • Raw Pack: Place the canning funnel on the jar and fill with raw carrots. Try to pack them in tightly while leaving a 1-inch headspace.
  • Hot Pack: If you are hot packing, place the canning funnel on the jar, use a slotted spoon to remove the carrots from the hot water, and fill the jar. Leave a 1-inch headspace at the top of the jar.
  • If you are using canning salt, add up to 1/2 teaspoon per pint jar, and up to 1 teaspoon of canning salt per quart jar.
  • Ladle hot water into the jar over the carrots while maintaining 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with the bubble popper, and wipe rim with a damp towel.
  • Center a lid on the jar, place the band over the lid, and screw it on until fingertip tight. Using the jar lifter to place the jar back on the rack in the canner, and repeat with the rest of the jars until the canner is filled, or you run out of carrots.
  • Close the pressure canner and secure the lid. Leave the vent open, adjust the heat to medium-high, and bring the canner to a boil. Allow the pressure canner to vent for 10 minutes, then place weight on the vent.
  • Once the canner has reached the correct pressure (10 pounds for weighted gauge, and 11 pounds for dial gauge canners.), set a timer, and process pints for 25 minutes, and quarts for 30 minutes at altitudes of less than 1,000 ft. Adjust for your altitude if necessary (see note below).
  • Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a steady pressure. When processing time is complete, turn off heat, and allow pressure canner to cool down to 0 pressure.
  • Once the canner is depressurized, let the canner cool 10 minutes before removing the lid.
  • When the canner is cooled down, spread a kitchen towel on the counter, unlock cover, and remove it by tilting lid away from you so that steam does not burn your face. Allow another 10 minutes for the jars to adjust to the change in pressure.
  • Use a jar lifter to lift jars carefully from canner and place on the towel. Keep the jars upright, and don't tighten bands or check the seals yet. Let the jars sit undisturbed for 12 to 24-hours to cool.
  • After 12 to 24-hours, check to be sure jar lids have sealed by pushing on the center. The lid should not pop up. If the lid flexes up and down when the center is pressed, it did not seal. Refrigerate the jar and use up within a few days.
  • Remove the ring bands, wash, label, date the jars, and store the jars in a cool, dark location (50 to 70 degrees F). Use within a year for the best quality. Yields 9 pints or 7 quarts.

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 40mg

altitude adjustment chart for canning carrots

This article was originally published on October 8, 2012. It has been updated with more detailed information.

Pressure canning carrots is a great way to preserve them for food storage. With this easy step-by-step tutorial, you can learn how to can carrots safely and enjoy them all year long.

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Grow a Good Life Guide to 40+ Meals in a Jar Pressure Canning Recipes

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27 Comments

    1. Brenda, Yes, the recipe is for canning in pint-sized jars. If you are using quart jars, you’ll need about 18 pounds of carrots for a full canner load of 7 quart jars. Process quart at 10 pounds of pressure for 30 minutes at altitudes of less than 1,000 ft.

  1. I canned about 10-12 pounds of organic carrots using this method. They came out way too soft, over cooked. What do think caused this? This was such a disappointment. Thanks.

    1. Par, I am sorry you were disappointed with your carrots. Yes, the carrots will be soft because the process of pressure canning cooks them. Another way of preserving is to blanch and freeze carrots. This gives a slightly firmer texture. As far as your canned carrots, if they are too soft for you try using them for carrot soup.

  2. Hello there! Beautiful carrots! We have been eating ours faster than we can grow them… Although we have also been juicing some. I definitely want to give canning carrots a try, thanks for the inspiration!

  3. Carrots are so sweet and delicious. They are a real favorite of mine! How delicious these canned carrots look! You’ll be set for winter!

  4. Canned carrots is a favorite around here. Carrots in general is a favorite! Between my daughter and 4 horses, we can’t grow enough carrots.
    Last year I grew white, orange, purple and red carrots. Made for some beautifully colored jars. 🙂

  5. Wow your carrots are beautiful! I chose your post as my fave for the From The Farm Blog Hop! Thanks for sharing!

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