Carrots are a root vegetable, typically orange in color, though black, purple, red, white and yellow varieties exist as well. All of these varieties are domesticated forms of the wild carrot.
The wild carrot, native to Europe and southwest Asia, was bred into various colors by farmers. The carrots were cultivated for their narcotic properties as early as 1100 BC though it is unclear whether they were used as a medication or for other purposes.
The carrot is usually shaped like a long cylinder. Some people like to peel the carrots before they eat them while some people don’t peel them.
It is speculated that the wild ancestors of this plant might have been purple or white. Purple carrots may be more nutritious than orange ones because anthocyanins (a type of antioxidant) in purple carrots can help prevent cancer.
However, there has not yet been any scientific evidence supporting this claim.
How Much Do Carrots Weigh?
Baby carrots are the smallest, weighing under 50g/1.76oz on average. Medium carrot sizes weigh about 50-72g/1.76oz-2.5oz, and large carrots weigh over 72g/2.5oz on average, but can be a few pounds in weight.
How Much Does a Baby Carrot Weigh in Grams?
A baby carrot is small but mighty. 1 large baby carrot, which is defined as weighing 15 grams, has 5.25 calories. A medium baby carrot, which weighs 10 grams, has 3.5 calories. That’s only half the calories of a regular sized carrot! But don’t be fooled by its size; baby carrots are still packed with nutritional benefits like vitamin C and beta carotene.
How Much Does a Carrot Cost?
The organic carrots in the store cost more per pound due to their healthier content. A bag of organic carrots from the grocery store will cost you around $2.50 a pound, whereas a bag of conventionally grown and pesticide-sprayed carrots costs about $1.00 for a pound. All of these prices can fluctuate depending on your location and season, so it’s best to call around and see what’s the best deal before making an investment in some fresh produce.
The Four Main Categories of Carrots:
The four main categories of carrots are Imperator, Danvers, Nantes, and Chantenay. Carrots come from the family of Apiaceae in the order of Asparagales. This family consists of herbs and flowering plants which have a white or pink color. The edible part is the root which is a tap root that may be orange, red, white, purple or strongly striped.
- Imperator
One of the most popular carrots in the world, Imperator is a sweet, crisp, flavourful carrot with an eye-catching deep orange colour. Nicely formed roots average 18-20 cm (7-8″).
This amazing variety produces large amounts of high quality carrots which are perfect for cooking or eating raw. The flesh of this root vegetable is crisp and sweet with a rich taste unmatched by any other.
The Imperator carrot is a sweet and flavorful, bright yellow carrot that serves as a wonderful centerpiece for side dishes or salads. In order to eat the carrots raw, make sure they are peeled prior.
After peeling, thinly slice the carrots and add them to salads before serving. Roasted carrots can be easily made by tossing them in a little olive oil, salt and pepper before roasting under a broiler until they begin to crisp up around the edges.
- Danvers
Danvers carrots are a popular choice in the United States and Canada because of their taste and hardiness. Danvers carrots can be grown year round but are best grown during the fall months. They are also available in different varieties such as organic, heirloom, and purple.
Danvers carrots are a popular choice for both consumers and farmers because of their taste (popular across the US and Canada) and ability to grow year-round (best grown during fall months).
There are many different carrots, but the Danvers carrot is the most common variety. They grow up to about 10” long and can be as deep as 8”. The carrots are usually a dark orange color and can be about six to eight incheslong. The roots of the Danvers carrot are broad at the top.
- Nantes
Nantes carrots may not be the first variety of carrot that comes to mind when cooking, but they are just as nutritious as any other type of carrot. Nantes carrots are thin and have a green hue with a white core. The flavor itself is sweet, but can vary greatly depending on how it is grown. Sometimes they are grown so close to the ground that they have more earthy taste.
- Chantenay
One of the most popular types of carrot is the Chantenay carrot. It is a larger, heirloom variety that is often used for making pickles. The history of the Chantenay carrot is not well known, but it can be traced back to France in the late 1800s. They are an orange vegetable, with concentric rings and furrows on their surface.
