Do carrots have to be peeled to juice?

Juicing carrots is a great way to get all the nutritional benefits of carrots in a convenient, easy-to-drink form. But before you start juicing, you may be wondering – do you need to peel carrots before juicing them?

The Short Answer

The short answer is no – you do not need to peel carrots before juicing them. While peeling will remove any dirt or residue on the surface of the carrots, it is not strictly necessary for juicing purposes.

The Benefits of Juicing Carrots with Peels

Here are some of the key benefits of juicing carrots with the peels on:

• More fiber – Carrot peels contain a lot of insoluble fiber which is healthy for your digestive system.
• More nutrients – Many nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants are concentrated in carrot peels.
• Saves time – Skipping peeling saves time in carrot prep for juicing.
• Great taste – Carrot peel adds texture and a slightly earthy taste to juices.

So juicing carrots without peeling them first provides extra nutrition and fiber with minimal downsides. Many juicing enthusiasts recommend keeping peels on for these reasons.

Reasons Why You May Want to Peel Carrots First

However, here are a few reasons why you may prefer to peel carrots before juicing:

• Avoid dirt or chemicals – Peeling removes any dirt/debris and chemical residues from the surface.
• Smooth texture – The fiber from peels can make the juice slightly gritty or pulpy.
• Milder flavor – Carrot peel adds an earthy, bitter edge to the flavor profile.

So if you want a really smooth, mild carrot juice, peeling may be preferential. But you’ll miss out on some of the nutrients and fiber from the peel.

Best Practices for Prepping Carrots for Juicing

If you do opt to keep peels on, make sure to wash the carrots thoroughly before juicing. Using a vegetable scrub brush helps remove any dirt, debris, or chemical residues.

You’ll also want to trim off the stem and flower ends of the carrots, as they can be fibrous or even rotted. Cutting carrots into smaller pieces can make them easier to feed into your juicer.

Whether you peel or not, proper cleaning and prepping is key for getting the best results from juicing carrots.

How to Make Carrot Juice With or Without Peels

Making carrot juice is simple with a juicing machine. Here is a basic process:

1. Wash and prep carrots as desired – peel or don’t peel.
2. Chop carrots into pieces that will fit into your juicer’s feed tube.
3. Feed carrot pieces into the juicer one by one and collect the juice in a pitcher.
4. Pour juice into glasses and enjoy immediately for best flavor and nutrition.
5. Store any leftover juice in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

You can juice carrots on their own, or combine them with other produce like oranges, apples, ginger or leafy greens to create flavorful blends.

Nutritional Profile of Carrot Juice With or Without Peel

Here is a comparison of the nutrition in 8 ounces of carrot juice made with peeled vs. unpeeled carrots:

Nutrient	Carrot Juice – Peeled	Carrot Juice – Unpeeled
Calories	94	97
Total Carbohydrates	21.8g	22.7g
Fiber	2.4g	4.2g
Sugars	16.8g	17.1g
Protein	2.1g	2.3g
Vitamin A	1034% DV	1122% DV
Vitamin C	22% DV	28% DV
Iron	10% DV	12% DV
Calcium	8% DV	10% DV

As you can see, juice made with unpeeled carrots contains more fiber, vitamins, minerals, and overall nutrients. The difference is not huge, but leaving peels on does boost nutrition.

The Bottom Line

While peeling carrots is not strictly necessary for juicing, leaving the peels on provides more fiber and nutrients. As long as you thoroughly wash the carrots first, juicing with the peels on is recommended.

However, peeling may be preferred if you want a really smooth juice or wish to remove any dirt and chemical residues from the surface. It comes down to personal preference.

Try juicing carrots both with and without peels to see what you prefer! Either way, you’ll get a boost of beta-carotene, vitamin K, potassium and other nutrients that are great for your health.

Drink up your carrot juice and enjoy all the benefits that carrots have to offer!