How Do I Soften Carrots?

Carrots' hardness depends on the variety, their ripeness and the time of year. In general, however, average, everyday carrots -- the type used for mirepoix in soups and stocks, not for snacks and salads -- give you the most trouble when you try to chop them. Blanching, or partially boiling a vegetable for a few minutes in unsalted water, softens carrots just enough to run a knife through them, but doesn't heat the centers, so it doesn't alter their flavor.