You make carrot oil by infusing fresh carrots into a carrier oil, and it’s one of the easiest DIY projects you can tackle at home.
If you’ve ever wondered how do you make carrot oil, the short answer is that you gently heat carrots and oil together so the carrots release their color, nutrients, and subtle earthy aroma.
The result is a beautiful orange oil you can use for cooking, skin care, and hair care.
There are a few different methods for making carrot oil, and each one has its own perks depending on how much time you have.
In this post, we’ll walk through how you make carrot oil step by step, plus tips for storing it so it stays fresh.
Let’s get into it.
How Do You Make Carrot Oil? Here’s the Simple Answer
You make carrot oil by combining carrots with a carrier oil and letting the carrots’ natural compounds infuse into that oil.
Carrots contain fat-soluble nutrients like beta-carotene, which is exactly why oil works so well as an extractor.
When you make carrot oil, the oil pulls those nutrients out of the carrot, and the color tells you it’s working.
A good batch of carrot oil turns a rich, warm orange, almost like liquid sunshine.
You can make carrot oil with fresh carrots, dehydrated carrots, or even carrot powder, though fresh carrots give you the most control over the final product.
The next sections break down exactly how you make carrot oil using the three most popular methods.
Method 1: How You Make Carrot Oil with the Stovetop Infusion
This is the classic way to make carrot oil, and it’s the method most people picture when they ask how do you make carrot oil.
Here’s how you make carrot oil on the stove:
1. Grate or Chop Your Carrots
Start with about one cup of washed, peeled carrots.
Grate them or chop them into small pieces because more surface area means faster infusion when you make carrot oil.
2. Combine Carrots and Carrier Oil
Add your carrots to a clean, dry pan, then pour in about one cup of carrier oil.
Good options include olive oil, sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil, and each one changes the feel of the carrot oil you make.
3. Warm Gently, Never Fry
Turn the heat to the lowest setting and let the mixture warm slowly for 30 to 60 minutes.
You want a gentle simmer, not a sizzle, because high heat can burn the carrots and ruin the carrot oil you’re trying to make.
4. Strain and Store
Once the oil has taken on a deep orange color, remove it from the heat, let it cool, and strain out the carrots through cheesecloth.
Pour your finished carrot oil into a clean glass jar and store it in a cool, dark place.
Method 2: How You Make Carrot Oil with the Slow Cooker
If you’d rather set it and forget it, this is the easiest way to make carrot oil.
1. Load Up the Slow Cooker
Place your grated carrots and carrier oil into a slow cooker on the lowest setting.
2. Let It Infuse for Hours
Let everything sit for 4 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally, and you’ll notice the oil darkening as you make carrot oil this way.
3. Strain and Bottle
Strain the mixture and bottle your carrot oil just like you would with the stovetop method.
Method 3: How You Make Carrot Oil the Cold Infusion Way
The cold infusion method takes longer, but it preserves the most nutrients when you make carrot oil.
1. Fill a Jar with Carrots and Oil
Pack a clean glass jar with grated carrots, then cover them completely with your chosen oil.
2. Seal and Shake Daily
Close the lid and shake the jar once a day, and this is how you make carrot oil without any heat at all.
3. Wait Two to Four Weeks
Let the jar sit in a cool, dark spot for 2 to 4 weeks, then strain and store your carrot oil.
Tips for Making Carrot Oil That Lasts
No matter which method you choose, a few habits keep your carrot oil fresh and safe.
1. Use Fully Dry Equipment
Any water in your jar or tools can cause your carrot oil to spoil, so dry everything thoroughly before you make carrot oil.
2. Store It Away from Light
Amber glass bottles protect carrot oil from light, which slows down oxidation and keeps the color vibrant.
3. Refrigerate for Longer Shelf Life
Homemade carrot oil typically lasts 6 to 12 months, but refrigerating it can stretch that even further.
4. Do a Patch Test for Skin Use
If you plan to use your carrot oil on your skin, test a small area first to rule out any reaction.
So, How Do You Make Carrot Oil?
You make carrot oil by infusing carrots into a carrier oil, whether on the stove, in a slow cooker, or through a slow cold infusion.
Each method answers the question of how do you make carrot oil in its own way, and all of them give you a gorgeous, nutrient-rich oil.
So grab some carrots and your favorite carrier oil, and make carrot oil at home this week.
Once you make carrot oil yourself, you’ll never want to buy the store-bought version again.