Imperator Carrots

Imperator carrots are a variety of carrots that came about in the 1920s as a part of American seed growers to mix two different species in a balanced way. They include several different varieties that vary in size from 8 to 11 inches at full maturity.

They have a beautiful color and smooth and easy to pill skin. Their flavor is also sweeter than the flavor of an ordinary carrot which makes them more versatile when it comes to cooking.

Imperator Carrot Trivia

• 45 of all of these carrots are made in China
• They can be stored for months in a layer of sand
• There’s a myth that they improve night vision

Imperator Carrot Buying Guide

Look for the bright color carrots that have a smooth skin. The carrots that seem to be limp or dark near the top are not fresh and you should avoid them. Early carrots are more tender and easier to prepare but they will be less sweet as well. The same goes for imperator carrots that are sweeter on their own as well.

You should clip and store grins individually as soon as you can to avoid to much moisture from coming to the carrots.

Imperator Carrot Production & Farming in Texas

There’s no difference in how these carrots are grown from all the rest of many varieties available in Texas. The key quality you’ll need to look for in a farm if you want to grow these is the soil and the ability for the carrot to grow bellow the ground.

Using raised bad is the most common way to do it. Alternatively, you could double dig the soil in order to have plenty of room for the carrot to expand as it grows. They will take 1 to 3 weeks to sprout (they germinate more slowly in cold soil than in warm). Radishes are often used to mark rows between carrots and also improve the biodiversity of the soil.

It’s best to start planting 3 weeks before the last expected frost; plant again every 2 to 3 weeks after that. Most cultivars take 70 to 80 days to mature, sow your last planting 2 to 3 months before the first expected fall frost.

The carrots should be harvested as soon as they are ready to eat. That’s how it’s done when you want to have more than one harvest. If you want to grow them all at once and sell them that, it’s an option too, but only if you have a system put in place for it in terms of infrastructure.

Pesticides

Carrots are a part of the dirty dozen vegetables. More than 50 pesticides are used on them and they stay on the plant for a long time.

Geography

The original ‘Imperator’ carrot was developed in 1928 by Associated Seed Growers as a stabilized cross between ‘Nantes’ and ‘Chantenay’ carrots. After that they’ve become common due to their size and sweetness. Now they are made around the US and the world and used in both households and the restaurants.

The carrots themselves are native to Europe and Southwest Asia and are now a vegetable grown and used across the world. They are also mostly made commercially in China and exported to most countries at least in some quantities.

Packaging

Imperator carrots are packaged the same way as the ordinary carrots, but they are smaller and that makes them easier to pack and move. They are mostly packed in cardboard boxes. Sometimes individually carrots are packed in plastic wraps and in some cases the carrot leafs are sprinkled with water to make them look fresh.

Enjoying Imperator Carrots

There’s no rule as to how you can eat imperator carrots. You can use them fresh and add them to salads but you can also add them to other more complex dishes. There is also more versatility when it comes to imperator carrots because they are sweeter and more mild in taste.

They also make for a great snack on their own because they are smaller, easier to manage and mixed with some fruits or nuts, they could be used to replace a quick but less healthy snack in the middle of the day.

Storage

If they are stored and treated properly, carrots can remain in a fridge for as much as a month. That will allow you to buy in bulk if you want to save or to meal prep for some time in advance. Cut off the greens of the carrots. Place them in a plastic container with a lid and cover them in water.

The water should be changed every four to five days and the carrots will be stored and kept fresh for a while.

Cooking

There are countless recipes with carrots, but this one takes advantage of the sweet taste of the imperator variety and mixes it with butter. It takes about ten minutes to make it and it’s a satisfying side dish or a quick snack meal.

Place the carrots in a pan add water to cover it up to ½ inch. Bring them to boil over high heat. Lower the heat after the water has boiled and simmer for about 6 minutes, until the carrots are tender. Drain the carrots and add butter. Let the butter melt for a while and stir gently to coat the carrots in it.

Serve once they are a cool enough.

Nutrition

The water content can vary from around 86-95%, and the edible portion consists of around 10% carbohydrates.

Carrots contain very little fat and protein.

Carrots are mainly composed of water and carbohydrates.  The carbs consist of starch and sugars, such as sucrose and glucose. They are also a relatively good source of fiber, with one medium sized carrot (61 grams) providing 2 grams.  Carrots often rank low on the glycemic index, which is a measure of how quickly foods raise blood sugar after a meal.

Pectin is the main form of soluble fiber in carrots .  Soluble fibers can lower blood sugar levels by slowing down the digestion of sugar and starch.  They can also feed the friendly bacteria in the gut, which may lead to improved health and decreased risk of disease.  Certain soluble fibers can also impair the absorption of cholesterol from the digestive tract, lowering blood cholesterol.

When Are Imperator Carrots in Season in Texas?