To Peel or Not to Peel Carrots? – Pros & Cons

Every time I have carrots in my kitchen I instinctively take out the peeler and peel the skins.

Why peel carrots?

Because it is what my mom and grandma did when they were in the kitchen.  Do your parents and/or grandparents do the same?

Is this a necessary step? Why do some people peel them before cooking? It seems that peeling carrots takes away their goodness.

Let’s find out more.

Do you have to peel carrots?

I would say no if they’re organic, but this is a personal opinion. You don’t have to follow me. It also depends on what you are going to do with them.

But let’s first look at some carrot peeling facts …

PROS to Peeling

• Removes dirt, pesticides, and possible wax coating.
• It gives the carrot a “fancier” appearance.
• You can use the peels to feed pet rodents, make a broth, or use them in your compost pile.
• Some winter carrots have a tougher skin, which is removed when peeling.

CONS to Peeling

• Reduces the intake in Vitamin A, C and niacin.
• Removes some of the phytonutrients which are stored in the skin.
• The more you peel, the less food you have to eat.
• It takes valuable time away from dinner prep.
• Peeling purple skin carrots causes it to look like every other orange carrot.
• The skin makes for a rustic look and is lost when peeled.

Discover more about carrots

Whether you are going to eat your carrots peeled and/or unpeeled, you’ll most likely get the daily recommended vitamins but also a good amount in fibre.

Try to eat them raw, cooked or steamed, and why not use the edible veg in smoothies, morning or afternoon homemade juices.

Carrots also are very tasty in cakes, soup or snacks, dipped in some hummus.

Overall, I don’t see any real evidence as to why you should peel your carrots. In the future, I will not be peeling mine, but instead, I will give them a good scrub to remove excess dirt. Be sure to also remove the green leaves before storing as they will suck all the moisture out of the carrots and make them wilt faster.

Decision time

The winner? 

I’d pick: Organic carrots = Not Peeled.
Some people don’t really care about it and just buy/pick the conventional carrots (maybe cheaper) and peel them.

Decide which method (of the above) is better for you.

Enjoy your carrots! 🙂