Storing Carrots and Beets Without a Root Cellar
Carrots and beets want cold and moist. Here is how to get close to that in an ordinary Canadian house.
Storing carrots and beets without a root cellar works if you can keep them cold and moist. The University of Massachusetts gives the ideal for carrots as 0°C (32°F) at 98–100% humidity, and for beets 0°C at 95% humidity with the greens removed.
The University of Minnesota is candid that 0°C is hard to reach in most homes, and that storage life shortens as temperatures rise, by up to about a quarter for every 5°C (10°F) warmer.
Storing carrots and beets at a glance: Cut off the tops, store only sound roots, and keep them cold and moist. In the fridge, use perforated plastic bags, not sealed ones. Keep carrots away from apples and pears. A cold room or unheated space that stays just above freezing also works; never let them freeze.
Still harvesting? See When to Harvest Carrots for when carrots are ready.
What They Need
| Crop | Ideal Storage | Expected Life |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | 0°C, 98–100% humidity, tops off | 5–9 months (UMass); about 8 months (Minnesota) |
| Beets | 0°C, 95% humidity, tops off | 4–6 months (UMass); about 5 months (Minnesota) |
From the University of Massachusetts and the University of Minnesota. Home conditions are rarely ideal, so expect less.
The Fridge
The University of Minnesota says a home fridge is cold but dry, which is fine for onions and garlic but not much else. Perforated plastic bags give carrots and beets the cold, moist conditions they need for a moderate time. Sealed bags trap too much moisture, leading to condensation and mould.
A Cold Room, Garage or Porch
Any space that stays just above freezing and does not dry the roots out can stand in for a cellar. The University of Minnesota says stored vegetables need some ventilation and protection from rodents, and that clean straw or wood shavings can be used as insulation. Watch the temperature through cold snaps; the roots must not freeze.
What to Keep Apart
The University of Massachusetts says carrots stored with ethylene producers, such as apples and pears, turn bitter. Keep fruit and root crops in separate places. Before storing, cut off the tops, discard damaged or diseased roots, and handle gently; the University of Minnesota notes the less you handle vegetables, the longer they keep. For a full cold store, see root cellaring in Canada.
A Fridge Method From the University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan gives the same target for carrots, beets and parsnips: near 0°C with high humidity. A fridge runs a few degrees warmer, which it says is fine.
The roots give off moisture as they age, so the bag needs to hold some humidity without getting wet. It ranks three ways: a bag with a few holes poked in it (ok), a plastic bag made for vegetables (better), or a bag with a few sheets of paper towel inside, swapped for dry ones when they get damp (best).
Before storing, trim the tops to about 2 cm, brush off loose soil, and let the roots dry for a day or two in a single layer in a cool, dark spot. It warns that kept this way they can last longer than a couple of months, but spoilage gets more likely with time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I store carrots without a root cellar?
Cut off the tops and keep them cold and moist, for example in perforated plastic bags in the fridge, away from apples and pears.
Should carrots be stored in sealed bags?
No. The University of Minnesota warns that unperforated bags hold too much moisture, causing condensation and mould. Use perforated bags.
Why did my stored carrots turn bitter?
Often from being stored near apples or pears, which give off ethylene. The University of Massachusetts says this causes bitterness.
Can I store beets in the fridge?
Yes, with the tops removed, in a perforated bag. Expect less time than in ideal cold storage.
Can I keep carrots in the garage?
If it stays just above freezing and the roots do not dry out or freeze. Watch the temperature through cold snaps.
Do I wash carrots before storing?
The University of Massachusetts says carrots may be stored washed or unwashed. Store only sound, undamaged roots.
Sources
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension — Optimal Storage Conditions and Ethylene Sensitivity of Fall Storage Crops
- University of Minnesota Extension — Harvesting and storing home garden vegetables
- University of Saskatchewan, Gardening at USask — Carrots
- University of Saskatchewan, Gardening at USask — Beets