How to Make Sweet and Tender Glazed Carrots in Your Microwave

I love carrots because they’re a versatile vegetable: They keep for a long time in the fridge, filling, and inexpensive. For a quick weeknight side dish, this recipe works great. If you don’t have either honey or brown sugar on hand, a packet or two of restaurant table sugar will add that bit of sweetness. This recipe provides the glaze after cooking, so they will not get too “sticky” from a dry heat like they might in the oven or stovetop.

Is it healthy to cook carrots in the microwave?

One of the most enduring myths about using the microwave is that it causes your food to absorb harmful radiation. However, this has been proven to be false; all the microwave does is to heat up food quickly by agitating the molecules in your food.

Some nutrients CAN be destroyed if you microwave carrots (or any food, really) for too long. This is why it’s important to follow the recipe exactly so that you still retain the nutrients and texture you want in your carrots and prevent them from being soggy and overcooked in the microwave.

Want a recipe to microwave carrots without the sweetness?

Are orange carrots different from purple, yellow, and red carrots?

While the most common color of carrots is orange, you might notice that there are other colors available such as yellow, red, and purple. Whenever I visit local farmer’s markets, I notice these carrots. Carrots get their color depending on the type of pigments that they contain, and these pigments contain different nutrients.

Orange carrots contain high amounts of beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for healthy eyesight. Yellow carrots contain xanthophylls, which are also good for the eyes and muscles.

Red carrots contain lycopene, which is known to fight heart disease. Purple carrots contain anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants. When it comes to carrots, the more different colors you can buy, the better, but we all know the more “rare” colors are more expensive.

Should I peel carrots before cooking in the microwave?

Peeling a carrot before cooking is a matter of personal preference. Some people love the taste of carrot skin, while others find it bitter and unappealing. There’s fiber and vitamins in the skin, but it can hold a bit of fine grit, too.

How to pick good carrots

Picking good carrots is essential to getting a great-tasting dish! If you are picking carrots, look for ones that are brightly colored and have smooth skin. The carrots should be firm and solid; avoid ones that are soft and limp. You should also avoid carrots that are discolored or black as these are not fresh.

Also, try to choose medium-sized carrots. Larger ones can be tougher and are best suited for soups and stews.

Are carrots healthy for me?

Yes, carrots are packed with nutrients and vitamins! They have high amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin K1, antioxidants, potassium, and fiber.

How to store carrots

To store fresh carrots, remove the carrot tops and place carrots in a container with a lid. Fill the container with water and place it in the fridge, changing the water every 4-5 days. Carrots stored this way will keep fresh for up to a month.

Our CookingChew Tips:

1. Experiment with different cuts

In this recipe, we cut the carrots into sticks, but you’re welcome to experiment with other types of cuts! Just remember the smaller the piece of carrot, the less time it takes to cook.

2. Scrub carrots thoroughly

Before peeling and cooking the carrots, make sure to clean them thoroughly! Remember, carrots are root vegetables and no matter how clean they look on the surface, you should always clean them before cooking with them.

Scrub the carrot surface thoroughly with a clean vegetable brush under running water to remove any dirt or dust, especially if the carrots have pockmarks or notches in the skin where dirt and dust can become lodged.

Sweet Glazed Carrots

This is a great recipe for those times when you’re really busy and you have no time to prep and cook complex recipes. It will take around 10 minutes from start to end, and you’ll end up with a nice plate of delicious, tender, and sweet carrots!

Carrots have a natural sweetness that come out when they are cooked, and you can highlight this sweetness with a quick glaze. Take note that for this glaze, it comes out as more like a “soft glaze” rather than the sticky type of glaze that you would see if you cook the carrots on your stovetop or in your oven.

Add some greens to make it pop!

If you want to add a bit of freshness, you can chop up some parsley and sprinkle on top of the carrots before serving. Fresh rosemary or thyme also works well! Get a sprig of fresh rosemary, remove the leaves, chop them finely, and sprinkle over carrots before serving

What goes well with glazed carrots?

This dish is sweet and light so you can pair it with a number of other dishes. You can pair it with pork chops, meatloaf or grilled chicken. You can also pair it with cornbread!

If you’re lucky enough to find carrots in different colors, you should definitely try making this dish with them! Not only will you end up with a gorgeous-looking dish, it will also be healthier.