How long do carrots last?

Checked 25 Oct 20265 official publishers, 7 sources

Fresh: 2-3 weeks in the fridge, 10-12 months in the freezer for best quality and keeping it in the pantry is not recommended.

Storage times for carrots by state and place
StatePantryFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Fresh Not recommended Extension 2-3 weeks FoodKeeper Extension Extension 10-12 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension Extension
Baby carrots 4 days FoodKeeper 4 weeks FoodKeeper 3 months best quality FoodKeeper
Carrot juice, fresh squeezed Not stated 6 days FoodKeeper 12 months best quality FoodKeeper
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStatePantryFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Fresh-2-3 weeks10-12 months
NDSU ExtensionFreshNot recommended2-3 weeks10-12 months
Nebraska ExtensionFresh-2-3 weeks10-12 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Baby carrots4 days4 weeks3 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Carrot juice, fresh squeezed-6 days12 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • below 75 °F FoodKeeper
  • Blanch before freezing. FoodKeeper
  • “Select young, tender, coreless, medium length carrots. Remove tops, wash and peel. Leave small carrots whole.” Extension
  • “Water blanch small whole carrots 5 minutes, diced or sliced 2 minutes and lengthwise strips 2 minutes.” Extension
  • “Carrots fresh ventilated boxes or bags 32°F moist pit or cellar 6 months” Extension

What the sources say

FoodKeeper groups carrots with parsnips and gives them 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator from the date of purchase and 10 to 12 months in the freezer.1

The Nebraska Extension chart and the NDSU Extension food storage guide list the same 2 to 3 weeks and 10 to 12 months for carrots.32

NDSU marks the pantry as not recommended for carrots, and Nebraska leaves that column empty.23

Baby carrots have a separate FoodKeeper entry: 4 days in the pantry and 4 weeks in the refrigerator from purchase, and 3 months in the freezer.4

Its tips for baby carrots say below 75 °F for the pantry and to blanch them before freezing.4

Fresh squeezed carrot juice gets an entry of its own as well, with 6 days in the refrigerator and 12 months in the freezer.5

For freezing, the National Center for Home Food Preservation starts with young, tender, coreless carrots of medium length, with the tops removed, washed and peeled.6

Small carrots can stay whole and get a 5 minute water blanch, while diced or sliced carrots and lengthwise strips get 2 minutes.6

The rest are cut into thin slices, 1/4-inch cubes or lengthwise strips, and after blanching the carrots are cooled promptly, drained and packaged with 1/2-inch headspace.6

Utah State University Extension lists fresh carrots in ventilated boxes or bags in a moist pit or cellar at 32 °F for 6 months.7

Rules that apply here

Fridge and freezer temperatureFreezing and refreezing
CeleryPotatoesOnions

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 279: Carrots, parsnips. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Carrots, parsnips. DOP_Refrigerate: 2-3 Weeks; DOP_Freeze: 10-12 Months
  2. 1 • FN579 • Food Storage GuideNDSU Extension. NDSU Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. Carrots * 2 to 3 weeks 10 to 12 months ... * Not recommendedCarrots * 2 to 3 weeks 10 to 12 months
  3. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Carrots - 2 to 3 weeks 10 to 12 months (freezing carrots)
  4. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 491: Baby carrots. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Baby carrots. Pantry: - (below 75 °F); DOP_Pantry: 4 Days; DOP_Refrigerate: 4 Weeks; Freeze: 3 Months (Blanch before freezing.)
  5. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 538: Carrot juice, fresh squeezed. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Carrot juice, fresh squeezed. Refrigerate: 6 Days; Freeze: 12 Months
  6. Freezing Carrots - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. Select young, tender, coreless, medium length carrots. Remove tops, wash and peel. Leave small carrots whole.Water blanch small whole carrots 5 minutes, diced or sliced 2 minutes and lengthwise strips 2 minutes.
  7. Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Carrots fresh ventilated boxes or bags 32°F moist pit or cellar 6 months
  8. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.