how long to smoke carrots?

how long to smoke carrots?- Smoked carrots with honey glaze are such a tender and sweet side dish for almost any meal. They’re a whole new way to enjoy carrots, with their sweet honey flavor infused with smoke!

I enjoy cooking with carrots, and my husband, Ken, enjoys smoking almost anything. When I decided to make another batch of honey-glazed carrots, it seemed only natural to combine the two. What we created was pure magic!

We have you covered whether you have a gas grill, a Traeger or Pit Boss pellet grill, or even a Master built electric smoker!

And they are easily Keto-friendly! Let’s get started!

how long to smoke carrots?

If you’re using a grill, make sure that all of the charcoal or burners are lit on the opposite side of the carrots. Carrots grilled over direct heat are also delicious, but they won’t absorb as much smokey flavor. Your smoked carrots will still be delicious if cooked at a low temperature, especially if the meat you’re cooking with them requires a lower smoking temperature; it just takes a little longer.

Tip for Safety:

To avoid dripping and possible salmonella contamination, never place your smoked vegetables and sides UNDER any meat you are cooking.

Smoking sliced carrots at 350°F will take about 30-35 minutes total. In that amount of time, you also risk burning a sugary glaze. So we like to start by smoking our carrots low and slow at 225°F for 90-120 minutes. They will not fully cook in this time, but they will absorb a lot of smokey flavor.

Then we finish them at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes with our honey balsamic glaze.

You get perfectly cooked and smoked carrots that aren’t mushy and don’t have a burnt glaze.

If you are cooking something else on the smoker and are unable to raise the temperature to 350°F, simply finish the carrots in the oven.

Carrot Varieties:

Carrots are classified into five varieties. They’re all working on the grill. The primary distinctions are size and shape.

1. Nantes – cylindrical rather than tapered, with reddish flesh
2. Danvers – Typically orange, but available in a variety of colors. This is the most common carrot found in stores.
3. Chantenay – These are similar to Nantes, but only if they are about 5 inches long. They lose flavor and become woody in texture as they grow in size.
4. Mini or Ball – Unlike “baby carrots,” which are typically young Danvers, the mini or ball carrot is shaped more like a radish.
5. Imperator – Similar to the Danvers, but thicker in width and available in a few color options.

Seasonings to Use on Smoked Carrots

Seasoning your smoked carrots can be as elaborate or as simple as you like, just like our smoked asparagus.

• We recommend Bad Byron’s Butt Rub if you are trying to avoid sugar or are on the Ketogenic Diet. We also enjoy it on brisket and steak.
• To ensure that the rub adheres well, toss the washed and peeled carrots in a little olive oil or, better yet, a higher smoke point oil like avocado oil first.
• Another option is to simply season the carrots with salt and pepper before finishing with a sweet glaze.
• Honey and balsamic vinegar go well together, as do maple syrup and bourbon, as seen in the video below. To round out the glaze, add a couple of tabs of butter.
• Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for an extra kick!

What Is the Best Temperature to Smoke Carrots?

Consider the type of seasoning you used when deciding on the temperature at which to smoke the carrots.

If your seasoning contains no sugar, you can smoke your carroys at higher temperatures for longer periods of time.

However, because sugar begins to burn and develop a bitter flavor when cooked above 350°F, you should keep your smoker temperature below 350°F, preferably below 325°F, if you used a sugary BBQ rub or glazr.

(By the way, when using sugary rubs, this is true for ALL BBQ temperature selection.)

Why Smoked Carrots?

As we all know, vegetables like carrots are rarely served at outdoor barbecues.

A true pit master, on the other hand, knows how to take any food to the next level on the grill or smoker. And we’ve done it recently with our smoked broccoli, asparagus, and even smoked cauliflower!

We all know that roasted carrots are delicious when done correctly. So why not throw them on the smoker or grill with a pork tenderloin, chuck roast, or whole chicken for a delicious smokey side dish?

The Perfect Carrot for the Grill:

The ideal carrot for the grill meets a few criteria: it is neither too large nor too small. Don’t get carrots that are too small or they will fall through the grill grates. Avoid buying carrots that are so large that they will burn on the outside before cooking on the inside.

If you use a variety of carrots for color, try to keep them all roughly the same size. That way, they’ll all be finished around the same time.

How long should carrots be grilled?

It doesn’t take long to grill a carrot. The temperature should be between 300 and 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow them to brown slightly, but not burn or char. You want the carrots to retain some “bite,” so don’t overcook them!

Carrots Grilled Are Delicious Hot Or Cold

Grilled carrots are delicious hot or cold. If you save some for later, I recommend sprinkling it with balsamic vinegar and serving it as a grilled carrot salad.

Grilled carrots can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week. You can also freeze them, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Carrots lose their nice texture when frozen because freezing breaks down the already weakened cellulose.

Ingredients:

It only takes a few ingredients to make these delicious carrots, and chances are you already have them in your kitchen. It’s that easy!

1. Carrots
2. Butter, melted
3. The sea salt
4. pepper, coarsely ground
5. chopped fresh parsley

How To Make Smoked Carrots?

If you thought the ingredient list was straightforward, wait until you see the recipe. It’s a piece of cake. It comes together quickly and packs a sweet flavor punch with almost no effort.

STEP 1: Get The Carrots And Smoker Ready

Preheat your pellet smoker and lay parchment paper on a medium baking sheet.

While the smoker is heating up, wash and pat dry the carrots. Remove the ends from both sides of the carrots and cut them in half at a 45-degree angle.

STEP 2: Apply The Honey Mixture To The Carrots

Pour the melted butter, honey, salt, and pepper over the carrots in a large mixing bowl and toss to coat.

STEP 3: Smoke The Carrots In 

Place the carrots on a baking sheet in a single layer and cook in the smoker until fork-tender.

Serve garnished with fresh parsley.

Tip: Avoid peeling your carrots. The carrots’ nubby skin actually helps them retain all of that delicious honey coating.

Substitutions:

Do you lack the necessary ingredients? Or do you want to try something new? Here are some pointers to help you modify this smoked carrots recipe.

• If you don’t have honey, brown sugar works just as well.
• Sugar-free or low-sugar brown sugar substitutes can be found at the grocery store if you’re watching your sugar intake.
• Smoke Pellets – For this recipe, you can use any type of pellets you want. Any type of smoke flavor will complement the honey in this recipe.
• Use salted butter instead of sea salt if you only have salted butter.

Variations:

Do you want to make this smoked carrots recipe your own? Here are some tried-and-true tips for varying this recipe.

1. Spicy – For a flavorful kick of heat, add chili pepper flakes to the glaze.
2. New Potatoes – To amp up the flavor, try adding new potatoes to the mix as well.
3. Cook them Whole – You can also cook these carrots whole!

Tips And Tricks:

This is one of the most basic recipes you’ll ever try. That being said, there are a few things you should know to make the best carrots possible.

• Make use of high-quality pellets. Basement pellets have a lot of fillers and little flavor.
• It is easiest to combine the carrots and honey mixture by hand. Simply put on a rubber glove.
• Make sure your carrots are completely dry. Wet carrots will not stick to the honey mixture.
• For about a minute, mix the carrots. This causes the butter to stiffen slightly, allowing the mixture to stick to the carrots.

Can I freeze them?

The carrots should not be frozen. You can do it, but the texture of their skin will change.

What should I do to reheat them?

Place the carrots on a baking sheet and reheat in the oven at 350°F until hot.

What should I serve with these carrots?

They go well with almost anything. Because of their sweet flavor, they go well with beef, pork, chicken, and even fish.

Finish with a sweet glaze, such as the honey balsamic glaze.

However, if you prefer, you can use flavors such as maple and bourbon (as we did with our smoked pineapple) or a fresh citrus glaze.

But it all depends on the protein you’re serving with the smoked carrots and how well those flavors complement each other.

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