FROM your turkey to your pudding, Christmas dinner involves a lot of preparation.
A simple step can help ensure your carrots stay as fresh as ever while you juggle all your dishes.
If you’re someone who buys their Christmas dinner ingredients in advance to avoid the crowds on the 24th, this hack is for you.
Often carrots can go mouldy while they’re being stored in your crisper drawer.
To prevent this from happening, all you need is a one kitchen essential.
Using a sheet of £1 Magnum Super Kitchen Towel, you can help prolong the life of the veg.
All you need to do is wrap your carrots in dry paper towel and place them inside an airtight container.
The experts at Real Life reported on this hack, revealing an extra step you should take if your carrots still have the greens attached.
“If you leave the greens on the carrots, they will draw moisture and cause the roots to rot more quickly,” they explained.
They also recommended avoiding washing the carrots until right before you plan to cook them.
“When stored properly, whole carrots can last for about three to four weeks in the fridge,” they said.
You should store carrots in the coldest part of your fridge.
Try to keep them away from foods such as avocados, apples, and tomatoes.
These items generate a gas which can cause your carrots to decay prematurely and taste bitter.
If you’re someone who preps their Christmas veg in advance, there is also a recommend way to store your peeled carrots.
Since carrot peels act as protective layer, once they are removed your carrot will dry out at a quicker rate.
To prevent this, you should wash your carrots thoroughly before submerging them in cool water.
Foods must be stored correctly to keep them fresh and prevent the spread of bacteria.
Nutrition expert Birgit Brendel said bread will last longer when stored in the fridge or freezer.
However, this can compromise the flavour.
Storing in ceramic or pottery containers is an alternative that allows for air to flow easily and slow the growth of mould.
Robert Morris, managing director of food safety consultants, Complete Food Safety, revealed the best place to store fresh fruit and vegetables.
He said salad foods should be stored in the fridge drawer, but away from anything grown in the soil such as carrots, parsnips and beetroot.
Tomatoes are an exception to the rule as fridges can alter the natural ripening process and diminish their taste.
He also advised against putting avocados and bananas in the fridge as this will cause them to blacken quicker.
If you’ve prepped your veg days in advance, then you should ensure the water is changed regularly.
This will prevent any bacterial growth on the carrots.
You should also ensure that the carrots are carefully rinsed before cooking.
And if you find yourself with a lot of leftover carrots after your dinner is done and dusted, don’t worry.
You can simply allow them time to cool down before placing them in an airtight container and storing in your fridge.
