Learn how to steam carrots for an easy, healthy side dish. Enjoy tender (not mushy!) steamed carrots that retain their nutrients and bright color.
Knowing how to steam carrots is an important skill to have you in your back pocket in order to get healthy dinners on the table quickly.
Steamed carrots are like versatile blank canvases. They can complement a plethora of dishes! Whether you’re pairing them with a succulent roasted chicken, a hearty baked pasta dish or a light salad, their natural sweetness and vibrant color will enhance any plate.
This method maintains the integrity of vitamins and minerals within the carrots, ensuring that you reap the maximum health benefits from each bite.
In this tutorial, I’ll take you through the step-by-step process of steaming carrots, both on the stovetop and in the microwave. Perfectly cooked, nutrient-dense vegetable side dish in minutes!
For other vegetable steaming tips, check out How to Steam Broccoli, How to Steam Cauliflower, How to Steam Green Beans and How to Steam Asparagus.
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Tips for Steaming Carrots
Before you dive into the steaming process, let’s cover some carrot-steaming wisdom.
- First off, make sure your carrots are uniform in size. This ensures they cook evenly, giving you a perfectly tender bite every time.
- Keep an eye on the steaming time. Over-steamed carrots can turn mushy, so set a timer to achieve that tender-crisp texture.
Tips for Choosing Carrots
Opt for fresh, firm carrots with a bright orange color. If the tops are still attached, they should be green and vibrant, indicating freshness. And remember, the more vibrant the color, the richer the carrot’s nutritional content.
How to Cut Carrots for Steaming
Now that you’ve got your carrots, it’s time to prep them for their steamy transformation. Start by washing and peeling the carrots. Then, depending on your preference, you can slice them into rounds, sticks, or even elegant diagonal cuts. Just remember, the thickness of your cuts can impact the steaming time, so choose accordingly.
▪️ STEAMER BASKET: There are a couple of options for steamer baskets. The most common steamer is an adjustable metal basket that fits into the bottom of a saucepan (left-side photo). The other choice is a steamer insert, double boiler-style, but with holes in the bottom. It rest on top of the saucepan (right-side photo)
▪️ SAUCEPAN: Use a medium saucepan with a tightly fitting lid.
▪️ CONTAINER: For the microwave method, use a microwave-safe glass dish, along with a microwave-safe lid or plate to set on top.
See recipe card below for full ingredients list & recipe directions.
How to Steam Carrots
Steaming carrots is an easy and efficient way to get a healthy side dish on the table. Here’s how to do it:
PREPARE THE CARROTS: Peel and wash the carrots. Cut them either into sticks, coins or into an oblique (diagonal) cut. I prefer sticks, but use whichever cut you prefer.
PREPARE THE BASKET: Start by setting up the steamer basket. Don’t worry if you don’t have you – microwave directions are covered below. Fill a pot with an inch or two of water. The water should not touch the steamer basket once it comes to a boil.
BOIL THE WATER: Set the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the water to a boil. Place the steamer basket into the pot, making sure the bottom of the basket sits above the boiling water.
STEAM: Add the cut carrots to the steamer basket. Cover the saucepan with a lid, then steam the carrots for approximately 3 minutes. The cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the carrots. Check for doneness by inserting a fork or small sharp knife into one of the carrots. It should be tender-crisp. Take care not to overcook them!
SEASON: Season the carrots by tossing with olive oil, butter, a sprinkle of salt and fresh herbs.
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Cook Carrots in the Microwave
Don’t have a steaming basket? No worries! The microwave is a good stand-in.
- Place the cut carrots in a microwave-safe dish, with a few tablespoons of water in the bottom of the dish.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plate. Cook for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp when pierced with a fork. Cooking time will vary depending on the wattage of your microwave and the size of the carrot pieces.
Season the Carrots
Steaming carrots creates a wonderful canvas for adding flavor. You can season them with a pinch of salt, a sprinkle of herbs like thyme or rosemary, a drizzle of olive oil, a little butter or even a dash of honey for a touch of sweetness. Just be mindful not to over-season, as the natural flavor of carrots shines through when steamed.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Steamed carrots can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for a few days. They’re a fantastic addition to meal prepping, ensuring you have a healthy side ready to go for various meals.
If you find yourself with leftover steamed carrots, let them cool down to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The best way to check for doneness is to poke the carrots with a fork or a paring knife. They should be tender but still have a slight firmness. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
Certainly! Baby carrots can be steamed using the same method. Adjust the cooking time as necessary, depending on their thickness.
Absolutely! Steaming isn’t limited to just carrots. You can create a delightful medley of vegetables by combining carrots with asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans or any other veggies you enjoy. Keep in mind that different vegetables might have varying steaming times, so add them to the steamer basket in stages accordingly.
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Printable Recipe
How to Steam Carrots
Learn how to steam carrots for an easy, healthy side dish. Enjoy tender (not mushy!) steamed carrots that retain their nutrients and bright color.
Calories: 46kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium carrots (about 6 to 8 carrots)
- Water
Optional:
- Olive oil or butter
- Fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
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Instructions
On the stovetop:
-
Peel and wash the carrots.Cut them either into sticks, coins or into an oblique (diagonal) cut. I prefer sticks, but use whichever cut you prefer.
-
Start by setting up the steamer basket. Fill a pot with an inch or two of water. The water should not touch the steamer basket once it comes to a boil.
-
Set the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the water to a boil. Place the steamer basket into the pot, making sure the bottom of the basket sits above the boiling water.
-
Add the cut carrots to the steamer basket. Cover the saucepan with a lid, then steam the carrots for approximately 3 minutes. The cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the carrots. Check for doneness by inserting a fork or small sharp knife into one of the carrots. It should be tender-crisp. Take care not to overcook them!
In the microwave:
-
Place the cut carrots in a microwave-safe dish, with a few tablespoons of water in the bottom of the dish.
-
Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plate. Cook for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp when pierced with a fork. Cooking time will vary depending on the wattage of your microwave and the size of the carrot pieces.
Notes
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using the LoseIt! calculator. While I attempt to provide information that is as accurate as possible, you should calculate the nutritional information independently before relying on it.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25of the recipe | Calories: 46kcal | Carbohydrates: 10.9g | Protein: 1.1g | Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 78.2mg | Fiber: 3.2g | Sugar: 5.4g
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
