Are you thinking of making a tasty carrot cake or spring rolls for the high tea on the weekend? This refrigerator staple of yours could be used in a variety of food such as soup, salad, sandwiches, and much more. No matter what you cook most of the recipes will call for shredded or grated carrots.
In this article, we will discuss how to shred carrots in a food processor. How to achieve perfect shredding for your favorite recipe and a few other tips that will help you select appropriate tools and methods for the best results.
WHAT ARE SHREDDED CARROTS?
Shredded carrots are carrots that are cut into thin small pieces by using a grater, slicer, or food processor. When added to a recipe and cooked finely, they blend into it enhancing its flavor and texture. Just like whole carrots, they are the same in nutritious values and hence rich in vitamin A, potassium, calcium, fibers, and nutrients highly beneficial for health and vision.
SHREDDING CARROTS: THE PERFECT RECIPE USING A FOOD PROCESSOR
There are multiple ways of shredding carrots e.g. ( grater, knife, and slicer). For precise and quick results it’s recommended to use a food processor. Follow the steps mentioned below to achieve the perfect shredding for your favorite recipes.
1) PREPARE THE CARROTS
After you purchase the carrots from a grocery store, wash and rinse them thoroughly. Remove the topmost leafy part and the upper textured skin with the help of a peeler or a knife and cut the carrots into small manageable pieces. Although it’s not necessary to remove the upper skin, doing so can make shredding slightly easier.
2) SET UP THE FOOD PROCESSOR
Before you start shredding, assemble your food processor properly. Attach the shredding disc with the processor and lock it with the lid.
3) SHREDDING
After all, it has been set up to turn on the food processor. Place a carrot inside the food tube and push it to the grating disc with the help of a food pusher (which usually comes with food processors), keep doing so until all of your carrots are shredded.
USES OF SHREDDED CARROTS
Now you are done with shredding carrots and they are ready to toss in your favorite food. Here is how you can use them in some mouth-watering delights.
1) SPRING ROLL
Hot and crispy spring rolls are something everyone loves to chow down no matter kids or adults. As they are prepared with fresh seasonal vegetables, there is nothing more appropriate to add a wholesome texture and moist flavor than shredded carrots.
2) CARROT CAKE
Small portions of shredded carrots combined with cinnamon add sweetness to the cake and give it a soft moist and dense texture. A perfect treat for Christmas, picnics, and family dinners.
3)SALAD AND PASTA
Sweet, savory, and salty, carrots add color, depth, and flavor to everyday meals. Either mix them with lettuce, cabbage, and tomato to enjoy a bowl of crunchy salad or prepare a creamy carrot sauce for mouthwatering plates of pasta.
These may be the most common food you make with shredded carrots but there is a lot of room for experimenting e.g. you can try your hands on sandwiches, omelets, pancakes, pizza, mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, and much more to incorporate this highly nutritious veggie tastefully into your meals.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FOOD PROCESSOR FOR SHREDDING CARROTS?
Using a good quality food processor is a great way to complete your cooking tasks quickly and cut down wasted hours in the kitchen. There are plenty of brands available in the market producing food processors for chopping and shredding. Here we have listed down some of the best models and products for you to choose from.
1)NINJA BN601 PROFESSIONAL PLUS FOOD PROCESSOR
Specifications : Power: 1000 watts
Dimensions: 7.76″ x 9.88″x 16.02″
A powerful kitchen tool that can process the toughest ingredients with ease. Comes with a 9-cup precision processor, quad chopping blade, dough blade, reversible slicing, and shredding disc, and a recipe inspiration guide. Ideal for chopping, mincing, and slicing all kinds of vegetables. It’s completely dishwasher-safe to mix one or two drops of dishwashing liquid in warm water to quickly clean blades and bowls.
2) SHARDOR 3.5 CUP FOOD PROCESSOR
Specifications : Power: 350 watts
Dimensions: 5.5″ x 5.5″x 14.2″
This small 350-watt processor does all the functions a large processor would do. Ideal for chopping garlic, and shredding carrots, tomatoes, and onions all with the same small processor. It comes with an extra feed chute that accommodates whole fruits and vegetables for perfect slicing and shredding. Comes with easy replacement and a two-year warranty.
3) CUISINART ELEMENTAL SMALL FOOD PROCESSOR, 13-CUP
specifications : power: 550 watts
Dimensions : 11.25″ x 21.5″ x 17.5″
With a strong medium-size 550-watt motor and a 13-cup food processor, Cuisinart Elemental is a great tool for food preparation. It comes with extra sharp adjustable stainless steel blades and shredding discs which are excellent for dicing, shredding, chopping, and kneading dough.
IS SHREDDING AND GRATING A SIMILAR THING?
Shredding and grating both involve slicing food. The difference in result is that shredded carrots are long and thin strips and grated carrots are tiny pieces that look a bit powdery. Also, grated food may take a little less time to cook than shredded one.
ALTERNATE WAYS OF SHREDDING CARROTS
Can we shred carrots without a food processor? Yes, you can shred them using different techniques including a box grater, a peeler, or a simple knife to achieve similar results. These methods will take a lot more time and physical effort as compared to a food processor.
SHREDDING AT HOME VS STORE BOUGHT
There are plenty of supermarkets and online stores that offer packs of pre-shredded carrots in bulk both for domestic and commercial use. From a nutritious point of view, it is highly advisable to shred your carrots at home as nothing could provide the freshness you need to prepare a fantastic dish especially if you are making a salad, soup, or something for which fresh carrot is a must.