CATEGORY
Fresh Packaged Baby Carrots
2010 CHEFSBEST® AWARD FOR BEST TASTE WINNER
Grimmway Farms
What Makes Great Fresh Packaged Baby Carrots?
Often overlooked in favor of chips, nuts and crackers, baby carrots can be equally addictive. Try opening a bag while reading or doing chores around the kitchen and see how quickly they vanish. Unlike those other snacks, carrots provide vitamins and minerals essential to good health.
Our chefs define high-quality baby carrots as being bright and vibrant orange in color. They should not appear cracked or dull, nor should they have a white film, an oxidized hue or a dried, rough surface. While unpeeled carrots in the vegetable aisle can resemble a gnarled root, a baby carrot should resemble a shiny orange nugget. They should be both appetizing and easily displayed on a platter.
With baby carrots, a natural sweetness should leads the taste profile, followed by a very low natural bitterness. The upfront sweetness makes them edible, while the bitterness creates that “earthy” effect you expect in a naturally grown snack.
There should be noticeable carrot flavor intensity. The baby carrots’ character should be young, moist and earthy. There should be no off notes, or inappropriate flavors distracting from the overall character.
Carrots should also have a texture that combines tenderness and crispness. A relatively soft initial bite should lead to a crunch while chewing. A fresh baby carrot can almost seem rubbery before it breaks apart and the crispy inside comes through. The baby carrot should not be woody, fibrous or dry, and it should also have a high moisture level.
Product Category Definition
The product judged was defined as fresh packaged, peeled baby or petite carrots for the consumer market, including organic carrots.
Other Leading Brands:
Bolthouse Farms, Earthbound Farms
ONE-STEP IDEAS
Simmer with orange juice, a little brown sugar, butter and a pinch of salt for easy glazed carrots.
For a quick side vegetable, put in bowl, sprinkle with water, cover and microwave for 3-5 minutes until tender.
Serve with ranch dressing as a healthy afterschool snack for kids.
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TASTING
TERMINOLOGY
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FUN FACTS
- Carrots were first grown in 7th-century Afghanistan.
- Orange carrots were developed in the 16th century. Previously, they had been red, purple and black.
- Parsnips and parsley are both close relatives of the carrot.
The ChefsBest Award for Best Taste is awarded to the brand rated highest overall among leading brands by independent professional chefs.
