Can You Freeze Carrot Tops?
There’s something satisfying about buying carrots with the leafy tops still attached. Whether they’ve come straight from your garden, a farmers’ market or even the supermarket, they always seem a little fresher than trimmed carrots.
Known as carrot tops in the UK and carrot greens in the US, these leafy tops are often thrown away even though they’re completely edible. If you’re trying to reduce food waste, you might be wondering whether they can be frozen instead.
The good news is yes, you can freeze carrot tops. While they won’t stay crisp enough for salads after thawing, they’re brilliant for soups, smoothies, pesto, homemade stock and other cooked dishes.
Can You Freeze Carrot Tops?
Yes, you can freeze carrot tops.
They freeze surprisingly well (although I’d probably remove “surprisingly” if we’re sticking to our new style!) and are a great way to make sure part of the vegetable doesn’t end up in the bin.
You can freeze carrot tops:
- Whole
- Chopped
- Frozen in oil or butter in ice cube trays
- Made into pesto
- Added to soup before freezing
- As part of homemade vegetable stock
Like many leafy vegetables, they’ll soften after freezing, so they’re best used in cooked recipes rather than fresh salads or as a garnish.
Are Carrot Tops Safe To Eat?
Yes. Despite an old myth that carrot tops are poisonous, they’re completely edible.
They have a fresh, slightly earthy flavour that’s often compared to parsley, although they can be a little more bitter.
Just give them a good wash before using, especially if they’re homegrown or have come straight from a farmers’ market.
Should You Freeze Carrot Tops?
Not necessarily.
If you’ll use them within the next couple of days, they’ll keep perfectly well in the fridge.
Simply remove the tops from the carrots (this also helps keep the carrots themselves fresher for longer), wrap them loosely in damp kitchen paper and store them in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days.
If you know you won’t use them in time, freezing is an excellent way to prevent food waste.
How To Freeze Carrot Tops
There are several ways to freeze carrot tops depending on how you plan to use them later.
Freeze Whole Carrot Tops
Wash the carrot tops thoroughly and pat them dry.
Place them into a freezer bag or airtight container, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
This method works well if you’ll be adding them to soups, smoothies or homemade stock.
Freeze Chopped Carrot Tops
Finely chop the carrot tops, just as you would parsley or coriander (cilantro).
Freeze them in small freezer bags or containers so you can easily remove just the amount you need.
Freeze In Ice Cube Trays
This is my favourite method if you cook regularly.
- Finely chop the carrot tops.
- Fill a silicone ice cube tray with the chopped leaves.
- Top up each compartment with olive oil, melted butter or water.
- Cover with cling film (plastic wrap/Saran Wrap).
- Freeze until solid.
- Transfer the cubes to a labelled freezer bag or container.
The cubes can be dropped straight into soups, sauces and casseroles.
Freeze Cooked Carrot Tops
If you’ve already made carrot top pesto, soup or sautéed carrot tops, allow the dish to cool completely before freezing in suitable portions.
How Long Do Carrot Tops Last In The Freezer?
For the best flavour and colour, use frozen carrot tops within 2 to 3 months.
They’ll usually remain safe to eat after this, but the quality may gradually decline.
How To Defrost Carrot Tops
In many cases, there’s no need to defrost carrot tops first.
You can add them straight from frozen to:
- Soups
- Smoothies
- Pasta sauces
- Casseroles
- Homemade stock
- Stews
If you do need to thaw them, leave them in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
Ways To Use Frozen Carrot Tops
Frozen carrot tops are ideal for:
- Carrot top pesto
- Homemade vegetable stock
- Soups
- Smoothies
- Chimichurri
- Herb butter
- Stirring into pasta sauces
- Blending into green sauces
They’re less suitable for fresh salads because freezing softens the leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze carrot tops for smoothies?
Yes. Frozen carrot tops blend beautifully into smoothies and don’t even need defrosting first.
Can you freeze carrot tops for stock?
Absolutely. In fact, this is one of my favourite ways to use them. Freeze carrot tops alongside other vegetable scraps until you’ve collected enough to make homemade stock.
Can you freeze cooked carrot tops?
Yes. Cooked carrot tops, soups and pesto all freeze very well once completely cooled.
Can you eat raw carrot tops?
Yes. They’re completely edible raw, although they have a slightly stronger flavour than parsley. They work particularly well in pesto, salads and homemade dressings.
Looking For More Freezing Advice?
If you’re trying to reduce food waste and save money, take a look at my Freezing Food Hub, where you’ll find hundreds of guides covering vegetables, fruit, dairy products, leftovers, batch cooking, takeaways and much more.
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