How to Shred Carrots Quickly and Easily: Two Methods

Ah shredded carrot. Some recipes, like carrot cake, require you to shred or grate A LOT of carrots. After going through many popular methods of making this challenging task easier, here are the two best methods to shred carrots quickly and effectively, so you can get it done and keep baking!

When you’re trying to make something like these carrot cake donuts, it’s not fun to reach a step that slows you down, like having to grate a bunch of carrots. This is where two easy carrot shredding methods come in handy so that you’re not stuck trying to finely chop up carrots with just a knife. Both of these methods are great to learn: one will give you finely grated pieces for baked goods, and one will give you nice strips for other dishes!

Looking for more baking tips? Learn how to make a gluten free cake light and fluffy, how to measure gluten free flour, how to bake anything with egg substitutes, or how to bring eggs to room temperature.

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How to grate carrots without a grater

If you don’t have a grater, you can use the food processor method! This is the best method for getting finely grated carrots that are needed for baking things like muffins or cakes. Simply pulse peeled, sliced carrots for several seconds until you get the desired size. Processing longer will give you smaller, finer pieces of carrot.

How to shred carrots for a cake

Carrot cake requires finely grated carrot to fold into the batter nicely and achieve the right texture. I definitely recommend using the food processor method for this. The long slivers of carrot that the vegetable peeler method produces are better for something like a salad.

How to store carrots

It’s usually best to use the freshly grated carrot right away, but it can be very convenient to save time and grate them ahead of time. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, or longer in the freezer.

Keep in mind that since carrots contain beta-carotene, they can stain a white container.

Can you freeze carrots?

Yes, actually! If you want to keep your carrots for several months, store them in an airtight container in the freezer.

Ingredients for shredding carrots

Carrots – Surprise surprise, you really only need carrots for this!

Instructions for grating the carrots are in the recipe card below.

Note about carrot types

I’m using whole, full-size carrots for this. If you decide to use baby carrots, don’t worry about peeling them.

How to shred carrots: Food processor method

Step 1: Use a vegetable peeler to peel the outer layer off the carrots, and slice them into ½-inch pieces.

Step 2: Place slices into a food processor.

Step 3: Pulse for 3-5 seconds until the carrots are fully grated.

Step 4: They should be in mostly very small pieces.

How to shred carrots: Peeler method

Step 1: Use a vegetable peeler to peel the outer layer off the carrots.

Step 2: Working with half of the carrot at a time, use the peeler to shred each carrot. Shred the lower half first, then move to the upper half.

💭Pro tips for shredding carrots

1. When to use the food processor method

Use the food processor when you are baking something that calls for very small pieces of carrot. The finely grated carrots easily mix into batter and get tender much sooner when baked since they are so small.

2. When to use the vegetable peeler method

Use the peeler method when you need long, uniform shreds of carrot. This is the best method for making anything that you want to see nice shreds of carrot in, like a salad.

3. Helpful tools

Here are a few tools that will help you shred carrots:

How to shred carrots FAQs

Can you freeze carrots?

Yes! Just put them in an airtight container (like a sealed plastic bag) and keep them in the freezer for a few months. What about grated carrots? Yep, those will be great stored the same way!

How do you grate carrots without a grater?

If you don’t have a grater, use a food processor! Pulse peeled and sliced carrots for a few seconds until they reached the size you need.

How should carrots be stored?

If you’re keeping them around for a week or less, keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container (preferably not white as they can stain). Then you can just grab them whenever you need them!

How do you shred carrots for a cake?

I recommend using the food processor method when you need finely grated carrot for a cake recipe. This method will make them the right size to easily combine with the batter and bake well.

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