Friends? You need to sit down.
We’re about to lay some heavy truth on you that might just destroy your being. A truth so intense, so mind-boggling, that you may question everything you’ve ever known. Are you ready? Here goes:
Baby carrots aren’t actually babies at all. They are regular big carrots, whittled down to nubby perfection.
Is your whole life a lie?!
But wait, it gets worse.
Not only are “baby” carrots (lies!) manually scaled-down versions of the larger variety, they are made from discarded or misshapen garden carrots that no one else will eat. They are the leftovers, the carrots no one else wants, the rejects. And they are given makeovers and packaged to the public as a cute miniature pieces of produce.
We’ve been deluded, folks. And we’re eating it up.
Oh, the humanity!
There is more behind the BCC (“Baby Carrot Conspiracy”) than you might know. EatLocalGrown shares that part of the carrot miniaturizing process includes washing them in a chemical solution and removing the peel, which is otherwise a great source of nutrients.
Epicurious also makes a few solid points on the case against baby carrots, not the least of which is that they get slimy when left in their bag too long.
The verdict is still out for us, although the evidence is overwhelmingly against baby carrots. We’ll give you this, though, baby carrots: you are cuter than your “adult” counterparts and are a good on-the-go snack. In the meantime, we have our eyes on you.
Chime in: are you a fan of baby carrots? Or are you a Baby Carrot Conspiracy Theorist?
- Photo credit: Amy Strauss
