Are there any differences between "baby" vegetables and their "regular" counterparts
I'm referring to vegetables like baby carrots, baby spinach, baby cucumber, etc. Supermarkets sell quite a few "baby" varieties of vegetables and they seem to be priced more expensive per ounce than their "regular" counterparts.
Am I naive thinking that (for instance) baby carrots are simply carrots harvested early? Or are they a different kind of carrot, just small?
I'm looking for nutritional as well as culinary differences. For instance, if a recipe calls for a "baby" vegetable, can you substitute it for a finely chopped regular vegetable?
Best Answer
Talking about nutritional value on here can be tricky, because this site about cooking
Are baby carrots are simply carrots harvested early? Or are they a different kind of carrot, just small?
Yes they are harvested earlier, or even grown more closely. However nowadays they have developed miniature strains which are mature when small in stature. This page contains lot of information about baby carrots, an even a video, so you can try growing this in your garden.
Baby carrots are not as nutritious as full whole carrots, because a lot of the goodness in carrots is contained in the skin and just below it. This is removed in the baby carrot making process. A pack of baby carrots look more aesthetic and they are more tender/sweeter, that is a selling point.
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Is baby carrot a different species?
There are two types - true baby carrots, and manufactured baby carrots. Despite many consumers' confusion as to their origins, these carrots are now the single most popular form of the root vegetable sold in the United States.Are baby vegetables more nutritious?
There's no conclusive evidence that baby greens are better for you than their mature counterparts, but some research does suggest they outperform on certain nutrient scores. Tiny microgreens, however, seem to deliver a bigger nutritional bang.What are baby vegetables called?
The term \u201cbaby vegetable\u201d is, depending on the variety, either accurate or a misnomer. Some baby vegetables are indeed smaller or immaturely harvested versions of mature corn, bok choy, cucumbers, and onions; others are new, distinct varieties bred to be more tender and delicate than their full-size counterparts.How to Grow Microgreens | Sprouts vs Microgreens vs Baby Greens | Crops for Future
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Answer 2
Baby carrots are not young carrots, but rather small pieces of carrots that are chopped and whittled down to look like small carrots.
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