Most of us may be unaware how beneficial our scraps of food we throw away are. I shared earlier on the blog about making a pesto using the tops from radishes. Another way to resourcefully save your scraps is to dehydrate your carrot tops.
We are growing Parisian Carrots because of their spacial benefits and also great taste. Did you know the tops contain as many benefits as the actual carrot? They are rich in nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, chlorophyll, magnesium, fiber, and more. If you are purchasing carrots from the grocery store, I would recommend buying organic ones as you do not want to eat carrot tops that have been sprayed with pesticides.
How to dehydrate
There are two ways you can dehydrate. First, using a dehydrator. We use our Ninja Foodi Grill. To use the dehydrator, first wash your carrot tops. Next cut off at base of carrot root. Then lay carrot tops flat and allow to cook for 7-8 hours at 135 degrees.
If you do not have a dehydrator, then you can bundle the tops together using a cord and hang upside down to dry for a few weeks. This way is great for dehydrating a large amount at once. This should be placed in a dry, cool place.
Once dried, these can be stored in a plastic or glass container (a mason jar works great) in a pantry or storage container.
How to use dehydrated carrot tops
These tops are great for added flavor to soups, smoothies, stir frys, or stews. You can also make a pesto with these tops, as I had mentioned above with radish tops.
Hope this gives you more ideas to resourcefully use your scraps in your own kitchen! If you have more ideas, please share!