There’s nothing quite like the salty, tangy crunch of pickled carrots, is there? Eat them as a relish, throw them on a cheese board, add them to sandwiches…or simply inhale them right out of the jar. (Guilty, over here!) Here’s the good news: these quick pickled carrots are beyond simple to make at home. You don’t need any special canning equipment or expertise. Just mix up a brine, cut the carrots, and throw them in a jar. In 24 hours, you’ve got pickles.
Type of carrots for pickling
You can use really any type of carrots to make this pickled carrots recipe, which makes it extremely versatile. Got weird odds and ends in your refrigerator drawer? You can use those. Here are a few ideas:
Large carrots: These come in bags at the grocery, and they range in size from small and thin to very large and thick. Since you’re cutting them into sticks here, these work perfectly! Bunches: You can also find bunches of long, slender carrots sold at the grocery or your local farmer’s market. Because they’re so thin, you may not even need to chop them (you’re shooting for about 1/4-inch thick). Or, you can cut them in half, which looks lovely and makes for more organic shapes. Rainbow carrots: Beautiful hues of orange, purple and yellow! These look absolutely beautiful in the jar, and they’re perfect for pickling. These days you can find them at the grocery, or we like to buy them at the farmer’s market.
One type to stay away from? Baby carrots! The shape with rounded edges is actually cut from a larger carrot: a variety that’s bred to be sweeter and crunchier. They can fall apart when slicing them, and are generally considered more of a snacking carrot than intended for pickling.
Best jar for pickled carrots: a wide mouth pint mason jar
There’s one thing that’s specific about this pickled carrots recipe: the jar! While you can use any pint-sized jar, there’s one type that’s easier to use than others.
Best: a wide mouth pint jar! Wide mouth jars are easiest because they’re easy to pack in the carrot sticks. Or, use any pint jar. If you can’t find a wide mouth jar, any jar will do: as long as it’s pint-sized. You could also split this recipe between two smaller jars. The quantity of brine is just devised for 1 pint.
How to make pickled carrots
This pickled carrots recipe is for quick pickles, otherwise known as refrigerator pickles. This means you don’t need any canning equipment: the refrigerator will do the hard work. They last 1 month in the refrigerator, so while they’re not shelf stable, you’ll eat through the jar much sooner than that! Here’s how to pickle carrots:
Slice the carrots into 1/4-inch sticks: Peel and thinly slice the carrots into sticks. (If you prefer, you can also slice them into rounds instead.) Place them in a wide-mouth pint jar. Bring the brine ingredients to a boil: Place the white vinegar, water, sugar, salt, peppercorns, and peeled quartered garlic clove in a pot and bring to a boil (see the recipe below for the exact quantities). Add to the jar. Refrigerate 24 hours! Pour the brine in the jar and cover. The hard part is done! Allow to rest 1 hour, then refrigerate 24 hours. Then the pickles are done!
Flavor variations: dill, coriander, and more
You can also add other interesting flavors to the jar of pickled carrots! Here are a few other ideas of what to add to the jar:
2 or 3 small sprigs fresh dill 2 teaspoons dill seeds 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 3 strips peeled ginger
How long do pickled carrots last?
Got your bright orange jar of pickled carrots? Here’s where the magic happens. They’ll pickle as you let them cool down from room temperature and then store them in the refrigerator for 24 hours. How long do pickled carrots last? These quick pickled carrots last in the refrigerator for 1 month. Of course, you’ll probably eat them all well before that time (we did!).
Ways to use pickled carrots!
The best part about pickled carrots is, of course, eating them! You can snack on them right from the jar (like we do). Or, here are a few ways to add them to recipes:
Add to salads, like a Chopped Salad or Tossed Salad Throw into sandwiches, like Ultimate Hummus Sandwich or a Tuna Salad Sandwich…or a Banh Mi! Add to a Bloody Mary, like Classic Bloody Mary or any of these variations Use to garnish a cheese plate or charcuterie board, like a Caramelized Onion Dip Platter
What other ways do you like to use pickled carrots? Let us know in the comments below!
More quick pickles recipes
Looking for more quick pickles? We’re pickle obsessed around here, so we’ve got your back. Here are our top homemade pickles recipes:
Try classic Quick Refrigerator Dill Pickles or How to Make Dill Pickles Opt for bright pink Quick Pickled Onions, great for tacos and burgers! Try Pickled Cauliflower or uniquely delicious Pickled Garlic Go for a mix of Quick Pickled Vegetables, Pickled Green Beans or Dilly Beans Try unique and tangy Quick Pickled Green Tomatoes Bring the heat with Pickled Jalapeños or go mild with Pickled Peppers or Pickled Banana Peppers Top your taco or salad with Quick Pickled Radishes or Pickled Zucchini
This pickled carrots recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free. 5 from 4 reviews
