What are baby carrots and how are they different from regular carrots?

Carrots are touted as a healthy vegetable, and thanks to its many nutrients and excellent health benefits, most vegetable vendors end up profiting from the sale of the vegetable. For thousands of years, carrots have been harvested as a nutritious food, and over the years, it has gone through a few modifications. For starters, carrots never appeared the way they do today. They donned hues of purple, white, and yellow, before being selectively bred into the colour we now associate carrots with - orange. Additionally, apart from the regular sized carrots, the markets now offer us with a second option, known as baby carrots. Let us take a look at what these carrots are. (Image: Instagram/hoole_food_market)

Baby carrots, as can be inferred from the name, are carrots that are smaller in size than regular carrots. Now, this can be achieved in two ways. One, where normal carrots are harvested before they reach full maturity, and two, where carrots are manufactured as smaller variants. Either way, baby carrots are gaining popularity. (Image: Instagram/yogaonabike )

Some differences in nutritional content have been noted between regular carrots and baby carrots. Regular carrots contain more vitamin C and beta-carotene, while baby carrots boast of more folate, lutein, and selenium. Either way, both types of carrots provide a high nutrition-calorie ratio, making carrot a healthy vegetable or snack regardless of the variety. (Image: Instagram/somsoda2708)

Baby carrots that are manufactured as smaller variants and are sweeter, as the sweeter variety of regular carrots are usually used to make these carrots. This is one of the reasons why baby carrots are gaining popularity, especially among kids. (Image: Instagram/sd_life86)

Baby carrots or manufactured carrots have a shorter shelf life, and they have to be stored in the refrigerator for them to last longer. The reason for a shorter life is that they are peeled before being sold, so they lose the natural protection which is provided by the peel. Regular carrots on the other hand can be stored at room temperature for upto ten days before they start getting spoilt. (Image: Instagram/lilmoney_bigfood)

Since they are sold without the peel, baby carrots are required to be rinsed with diluted chlorine before being packaged to eliminate the risk of food-borne diseases. Some food experts say that because of this cleansing, baby carrots might be safer to consume, but others argue that regular carrots don’t require cleansing since they are already protected by the peel.

There is no clear winner when it comes to choosing either of the two. Both baby carrots and regular carrots are loaded with beneficial nutrients, and regardless of which one you choose, carrots are good for the body.