Everyone likes their celery garden-fresh, and I am sure you must too. The secret behind keeping your celery fresh and crisp for a longer period of time is properly storing it! We will give you a few effective tips and methods that will assist in keeping your celery fresh for longer periods and will give you astonishing results by the end.
If you are still wondering how one can store celery properly, quickly swipe down!
How to store celery?
To store celery properly, it’s best not to chop the celery head and wrap the whole celery tightly in aluminum foil. Then, keep it in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer for 2 to 4 weeks.
We have listed the 3 best methods to store celery below. Let’s dive in!
Method 1: Storing the celery in water
Step 1: Gather all required materials
Get a glass bowl or a sealed plastic container. If the container lacks a lid, use plastic wrap to seal it.
Slice down the base from the stalks using a sharp knife. Then, strip off all the leaves from the celery stalk. Next, cut the stalk in half to easily fit it inside the container.
Then, place the cut celery in the container, leaving about a 1-inch gap between the celery and the container top.
Step 3: Fill the container with water
Now, fill the celery container with fresh filtered water up to the brim and seal it.
Tip: Make sure to replace the water in the container with fresh water every other day. This will keep the celery fresh for longer.
Step 3: Using a glass of water (Alternative)
An alternate method is to store celery in a glass instead of a container. When storing celery in this way, it can last up to 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Simply take the cut celery and put it inside a glass. Fill the glass up to the brim with water and place it in the refrigerator. Change the water every other day to keep the celery fresh.
Tip: In the refrigerator, keep the glass in an area that isn’t too cold; otherwise, the celery might freeze.
You can employ the same method to store other root vegetables, for example, beets, parsnips, and radishes.
Method 2: Wrapping up the celery
For wrapping, you can either use aluminum foil or damp paper towels.
Storing the celery by wrapping it in aluminum foil
Most people have aluminum foils present in their kitchens. Storing the celery by wrapping it in aluminum foil will keep it fresh and prevent it from wilting for weeks.
Step 1: Wrap the celery in aluminum foil
You simply have to wrap the celery in aluminum foil. You can either slice the celery or wrap it completely intact. Make sure to wrap it tightly.
Tip: You might want to place the celery on a damp paper towel before wrapping it in order to get rid of any smell.
Step 2: Refrigerate it
Place the wrapped celery in the refrigerator. The foil around the celery will let a hormone called ethylene diffuse out. This hormone is a ripening hormone, and its escape will keep the celery fresh. You can reuse the same foil for multiple bunches of celery.
Tip: Make sure not to use a plastic bag for this purpose as it will not allow the gas to escape, and the celery will end up getting stale.
Storing the celery by wrapping it in paper towels
In case you do not have aluminum foil, you can always switch to paper towels. Paper towels can also keep the celery fresh.
Step 1: Slice the celery
Make sure to slice the ends of the celery bunch, so each stalk is separated. You can cut them in half; however, it is not mandatory.
Step 2: Dampen the paper towels
Grab paper towels and dampen them. Dampen paper towels will work to lock the moisture resulting in fresh celery.
Step 3: Wrap and secure the celery
Wrap the celery stalks in a dampened paper towel and put it all in a large zip lock bag. Seal these bags.
Step 4: Refrigerate it
Now, place the zip lock bag in the refrigerator.
Tip: You can save the top, bottom, and even celery leaves and refrigerate them separately. These can come in handy when making stock.
Method 3: Freezing the celery
Cut the celery up and immerse it in boiling hot water for 3 minutes prior to freezing.
Step 2: Place it in ice-cold water then drain
After the 3 minutes are over, take the celery out and place it in ice-cold water to complete the blanching process. Drain off the excess water.
Step 3: Place in an airtight bag and freeze
Place the celery in an airtight bag, and place the bag in the freezer.
Tip: It is ideal to use frozen celery in cooked meals after you have defrosted it.
Important tips regarding storing celery
Should celery be washed before storing it?
Yes, you should wash celery before storing it to get rid of any dirt or germs on it. You can use fresh water to rinse off the celery in the sink.
Can celery be frozen for later use?
Yes, you can freeze the celery for later use; however, it will lose its crispness and some flavor.
If you freeze celery without blanching, it will last you about 2 months. However, if frozen after blanching, the celery will last you 12 to 18 months.
Does celery require refrigeration?
Celery does not require refrigeration, but you can store it in the fridge to keep it fresh for longer.
As long as the celery smells and looks fresh without any visible signs of wilting, you can eat it without needing to place it in the refrigerator.
How do you keep celery fresh in the fridge?
To keep celery fresh in the fridge, wrap the whole celery (including the head) tightly in aluminum foil or paper towel, and place it inside the fridge. This way, it’ll last you 2 to 4 weeks.
How long does cut celery last in the fridge?
Finely chopped and properly stored celery can last up to 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge.
How long does celery last in water in the fridge?
Celery that has been stored in the fridge, in water, can last up to 2 weeks.
Related FAQs to celery storing!
Is it OK to eat limp celery?
Yes! It is safe to eat limp celery as long as it does not show any signs of decomposition, such as a whitened color, which means fungi or a foul smell.
Although limp celery loses its crispiness, it is completely safe to consume.
How do you fix wilted celery?
To fix wilted celery, cut the head and the leaves, and soak the rest of the celery in water for up to half an hour.
If this method doesn’t work, you can still use the celery in dishes that do not require crisp celery.
Wrapping up our thoughts on how to store celery!
Storing celery to keep it fresh for a week or two is something that should not worry you. There are various methods that you can go to store celery. The best one is to tightly wrap the celery in aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator. You can even freeze the celery by finely chopping it.
Both methods will help preserve the celery and its flavor for you to enjoy anytime you wish.