How To Tell If Your Carrots Are Bad - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Tell if Your Carrots Are Bad PDF download Download Article Explore this Article Sections 1 Signs That Carrots Are Bad 2 Do carrots go bad? 3 Can I eat expired carrots? 4 Should carrots stay out at room temperature? 5 How long are carrots good for in the fridge? 6 How to Refrigerate Carrots 7 How to Freeze Carrots + Show 4 more... - Show less... Other Sections Expert Q&A VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Janice Tieperman Reviewed by Ollie George Cigliano

Last Updated: August 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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This article was reviewed by Ollie George Cigliano and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 255,703 times.

Wondering how to know if carrots are bad? No worries—we’ve got you covered with plenty of handy advice on whether your carrots are still safe to eat. We’ve even included some tips and tricks on how to safely refrigerate and freeze your carrots, so they can stay fresh and delicious for as long as possible.

Steps

Section 1 of 7:

Signs That Carrots Are Bad

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  1. Step 1 Sliminess: 1 Sliminess: If baby carrots are slimy, are they bad? Yes—sliminess means that your carrots are past their prime.[1]
    • It’s not worth peeling off the outer slimy layer and salvaging the rest of the carrot. If your baby carrots are slimy in the bag, you’re better off just getting a new, fresh package that isn’t spoiled.
  2. Step 2 Dark spots or lines: 2 Dark spots or lines: Have you noticed some dark spots or black lines on carrots? These could be signs of black root rot or Alternaria leaf blight. Thinner, dark brown lines usually signify crown rot.[2] It’s never a good idea to eat or cook with rotted vegetables. Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 3 Mushy/soft texture: Carrots taste best when they’re firm and crunchy, but they’re still safe to eat when they have a more rubbery texture. It’s soft and mushy carrots that you want to be on the look-out for—these carrots are spoiled and not safe to eat.[3]
    • Baby carrots sometimes get rubbery when they aren’t sealed and stored properly, but they aren’t dangerous to eat.
  4. Step 4 Bad smell: 4 Bad smell: A stinky, rotten smell is a classic sign that your carrots have gone bad. Before grabbing any carrots from your bag, take a quick whiff. If something doesn’t smell quite right, toss out the carrots and buy a new, fresh bag.[4]
  5. Step 5 Mold: 5 Mold: Carrots often fall victim to white mold, which can look fuzzy and patchy on the surface of the vegetable.[5] As you probably assumed, moldy carrots are not safe to eat and need to be tossed out right away.
    • Some people suggest cutting off the moldy sections and using the rest of the vegetable, but that isn’t a good idea. Moldy foods often carry a lot of bacteria, which can potentially make you really sick.[6]
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Section 2 of 7:

Do carrots go bad?

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad Yes, carrots go bad. They can last for several weeks when stored correctly, but all carrots expire eventually and become unsafe safe to eat. Thankfully, there are plenty of telltale signs that signal when your carrots need to be thrown out.[7]
Section 3 of 7:

Can I eat expired carrots?

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad Yes, but make sure they aren't spoiled first. The “Use By” label means that a food item won’t necessarily be of great quality past the date—but a slightly expired date doesn’t automatically mean your carrots are bad.[8] Feel free to crunch away on your carrots if you don’t detect any slime, mold, funky smell, dark spots, or mushy texture.
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Section 4 of 7:

Should carrots stay out at room temperature?

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad No, it’s always best to refrigerate your carrots. Whole, baby, unpeeled, and peeled carrots all stay the freshest and crunchiest when they’re stored in the refrigerator, so it’s not a good idea to leave them out on your counter.[9]
Section 5 of 7:

How long are carrots good for in the fridge?

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad Carrots stay fresh for 2-3 weeks in the fridge.[10] However, your carrot shelf life really depends on the type of carrot that you have. Here’s a general timeline of when carrots go bad:
    • Whole carrots: After 2 weeks[11]
    • Baby carrots: After 2-3 weeks[12]
    • Cut carrots: After 3 weeks
    • Peeled carrots: After 3 weeks
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Section 6 of 7:

How to Refrigerate Carrots

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 1 Slide whole carrots into a plastic bag with a moist paper towel. Slice off any stems or leaves still attached to your carrots. Then, cover up the carrots with a moist paper towel and slide them in a sealable plastic bag. Close up the bag so it’s totally secure, stick it in the refrigerator, and use the carrots within 2 weeks for maximum freshness.[13]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 2 Repackage baby carrots in a sealed bag or container. Baby carrots are usually packaged in a plastic bag that’s filled with a little bit of water—this keeps them from drying out. Once you’ve opened up the original bag, you’re better off sticking them in a sealable plastic bag to optimize the carrot’s shelf life. Enjoy your carrots within 2-3 weeks after storing them in the refrigerator.[14]
    • You can also transfer your baby carrots to a sealable container or wrap them up tightly with a piece of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. The key is making sure that they don’t dry out!
    • Baby carrots are pre-peeled, which makes them more prone to drying out than whole, unpeeled carrots.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 3 Store cut carrots with a damp paper towel in a sealable container. Cover the sliced carrots with cool, damp paper towel. Then, stick the bundle in a sealable, airtight container. For maximum freshness, keep the container tucked either in the back of your fridge or in the crisper drawer.[15]
    • Cut carrots are good for about 3 weeks when you store them properly.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 4 Refrigerate peeled carrots in a water bath to keep them fresh. Rinse off your carrots with fresh, cool water so they’re nice and clean. Then, fill up an airtight container at least halfway with cool water—you just need enough to fully submerge your carrots. Transfer your carrots into the water bath, seal the container, and then stick them in the refrigerator for no more than 3 weeks.
    • Drain and refill the container with fresh, clean water once every 4-5 days so your carrots don’t go bad.
    • Always rinse off your carrots after you take them out of the water bath.
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Section 7 of 7:

How to Freeze Carrots

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 1 Prepare the carrots and blanch them in boiling water. Rinse off the carrots, slice off the tops, and peel away the skin (if you’re working with whole carrots). Then, pour the carrots into a pot of boiling water, letting them sit for 3-5 minutes.[16]
    • Blanching helps the carrots taste fresh even after they’re in the freezer for several months.
    • Sliced carrots are good to go after 2 minutes in the boiling water, while entire carrots take 5 minutes to fully blanch.[17]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 2 Soak the carrots in ice water, drain them, and put them on a lined tray. Scoop up the blanched carrots with a slotted spoon and let them soak in the cold water for 3-5 minutes, or however long they blanched for. Then, pour out the ice water and transfer the veggies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.[18]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tell if Carrots Are Bad 3 Pat the carrots dry and slide them into a bag. Grab a clean cloth or paper towel and blot any away any leftover ice water from the carrots. Once they’re all dry, stick the blanched carrots into a sealable plastic bag.[19]
    • It may help to label the bag with the current date so you don’t forget how old the carrots are.
  4. Step 4 Freeze the bagged carrots for up to 12 months. 4 Freeze the bagged carrots for up to 12 months. Carrots can last for a while in the freezer, so it’s okay if you forget about them for a few months.[20]
    • Baby carrots can stay fresh for up to 18 months, though it’s okay if you freeze them for a little longer than that.[21]
  5. Step 5 Thaw the carrots either in a bowl of cold water or in the refrigerator. 5 Thaw the carrots either in a bowl of cold water or in the refrigerator. Move the bag to your refrigerator the night before you plan on eating or cooking the frozen carrots—they’ll be thawed and good to go by the next day. If you’re in a rush, stick the carrots in a cool water bath. Just be sure to drain and replace the water every 30 minutes so it stays cold!
    • Keep an eye on the temperature of your carrots as they thaw. Bacteria tends to rapidly form in temperatures higher than 40 °F (4 °C).
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question Are limp carrots safe to eat? Ollie George Cigliano Ollie George Cigliano Private Chef & Food Educator Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. Ollie George Cigliano Ollie George Cigliano Private Chef & Food Educator Expert Answer Yes! Limp carrots are typically just dehydrated. Submerge the carrots in ice-cold water until the crispness is reconstituted. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 5
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Tips

  • When they get dried out, baby carrots develop a dry, white outer layer that’s known as “white blush.” They’re perfectly safe to eat, but they might taste fresher if you soak them in a bowl of water for a couple of minutes. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2019/03/07/baby-carrots-myth-and-facts/
  2. ↑ https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/carrots-identifying-diseases
  3. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/food_waste_tips
  4. ↑ https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2019/03/07/baby-carrots-myth-and-facts/
  5. ↑ https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/carrots-identifying-diseases
  6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-if-you-eat-moldy-food/
  7. ↑ https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2019/03/07/baby-carrots-myth-and-facts/
  8. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/how-to-tell-whether-expired-food-is-safe-to-eat-a1083080425/
  9. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/hni15_carrots.pdf
More References (12)
  1. ↑ https://extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/food.php?food=carrot
  2. ↑ https://extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/food.php?food=carrot
  3. ↑ https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2019/03/07/baby-carrots-myth-and-facts/
  4. ↑ https://extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/food.php?food=carrot
  5. ↑ https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2019/03/07/baby-carrots-myth-and-facts/
  6. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-to-freeze-carrots
  7. ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-carrots/
  8. ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-carrots/
  9. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/vegetable-blanching-directions-and-times-home-freezer-storage
  10. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/hni15_carrots.pdf
  11. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/vegetable-blanching-directions-and-times-home-freezer-storage
  12. ↑ https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2019/03/07/baby-carrots-myth-and-facts/

About This Article

Ollie George Cigliano Reviewed by: Ollie George Cigliano Private Chef & Food Educator This article was reviewed by Ollie George Cigliano and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. This article has been viewed 255,703 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 3 Updated: August 21, 2025 Views: 255,703 Categories: Fruits and Vegetables In other languages Portuguese Dutch French Spanish Indonesian Vietnamese Hindi German Italian Czech Japanese
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