Today I learned that carrots have two parts. There’s the inner core (xylem), which is the vascular tissue that conducts water and nutrients from the soil to the rest of the plant. Then there’s the outer cortex (phloem), the pulpy outer part responsible for transporting sugars produced during photosynthesis.
In this video, a guy separates the two parts in a way that looks surprisingly easy. He vigorously rolls the carrot on the counter, then essentially “de-bones” it. The way the inner part seamlessly slides out of the outer part is so satisfying to watch.
I need to go buy a carrot and try this ASAP. I feel like carrots have been keeping this secret from me my entire life. Now that I know, I’m going to want to disassemble every carrot I eat, just for fun.
See also: Why carrots braid themselves
I just made a carrot soup where you are directed to remove the core before cooking the carrots. I wish I had seen this video first!
Oh man, to think of all the time we wasted in high school trying to make pot pipes out of apples and potatoes with a pocket knife!