Celery can be used in a variety of dishes and recipes such as soups, salads, casseroles, and more. And celery can be enjoyed both raw and cooked. When you’re working with celery it’s valuable know the answer to the question of how long does celery last in the fridge? The answer is described below. Along with the best ways to store celery which ultimately determines its shelf-life.
What is Celery?
Celery is a low-calorie vegetable that grows in the ground. It grows in a head that is made up of green stalks that have green leaves on the ends. It consists mostly of water, but it also provides antioxidants as well as fiber.
Celery is part of the Apiaceae family which includes parsley, parsnips, carrots, and celeriac.
How to Choose Fresh Celery
Choosing celery that’s fresh is the first important step in selecting celery that will have the longest shelf life possible. Choose celery that has these qualities.
Dark green stalks. Choose celery that has nice dark green stalks. Stalks that are light green or almost yellow in appearance indicate they’ve probably been around for a little bit and it’s probably not as fresh as you’ve hoped for.
Dark green leaves. Check the color and the freshness of the leaves if you’re buying whole celery. The leaves are the portion of the celery that begins to turn color first when it ages. Choose celery that has dark green leaves and shows no signs of wilting or mold.
Crispy and firm. If the celery stalks seem wobbly or soft at all, chances are they’re not as fresh as they should be. Instead, select celery that’s nice and firm and will be crispy when you bite into it.
How to Tell if Celery Is Bad?
Following are the key indicators for knowing if your celery is spoiled. If you notice any of these key indicators being present, then you should throw your celery away instead of eating it.
Mushy. Fresh celery should be nice and firm. If your celery is mushy, feels soft, or flabby it’s probably headed toward going bad if it hasn’t already.
Slimy. Slime or a slimy film on the outside of your celery stalks can also indicate spoilage. Slime forms when the celery begins to break down and starts the decomposition process.
Moldy. If you notice any mold forming on your celery, you shouldn’t eat it. Instead, throw it away.
Discoloration. If your celery is yellow, brown, gray or shows discoloration in any way, chances are it’s beginning to spoil or it has spoiled.
How to Store Celery
How your store your celery is the second key to success in making it last as long as possible. Once you’ve selected a nice fresh head of celery, you’ll want to ensure that it’s stored properly.
The Best Way to Store Celery Might Surprise You
The best way to store celery is in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness for a week or two until you use it.
But there’s a trick that you’ll want to know for how to store celery in the fridge. And for how to wrap celery, if you wrap the entire head of celery in aluminum foil but don’t seal the edges, it will help to keep it fresh.
Then place it in the crisper drawer in the refrigerator. This works to help maintain freshness because wrapping the celery helps trap the released ethylene which keeps it fresh.
If you prefer not to use aluminum foil, damp paper towels can be used as an alternate solution with success.
How to Store Chopped Celery
When storing chopped celery, it wants to dry out rather quickly and then when it does dry out it doesn’t look as appetizing and is not as crispy.
The key with storing chopped celery is in a way that helps to maintain its moisture. For how to store celery in water, we recommend storing chopped or cut celery in an airtight container with a little space at the top.
Place the celery in the container and then fill it with cold water until the celery is completely covered. Place the celery covered in water in the refrigerator and store it this way for up to 3 days, changing the water out with fresh water every day.
How to Store Celery Root
The best way to store celery root is to remove any extra pieces such as leaves, root ends, or stalks and then place it unwashed in the refrigerator crisper drawer. It can be stored there for up to 3-5 days.
Food Storage – How Long Can You Keep Celery Fresh
Now that you know how to store celery and how to choose celery that’s fresh, exactly how long does celery last?
Fresh. Raw celery can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. See our recommendations above for how to store celery in the refrigerator.
Frozen. Celery can be stored in the freezer for up to 12-18 months. Celery that’s been frozen is best used in cooked dishes because the texture and consistency of the celery is somewhat altered from being frozen.
How to Keep Celery Sticks Fresh
The best way to keep celery stick fresh is to store them in water. Place your cut sticks in an airtight container, cover them with water, seal, and place them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to 5 days. Change the water daily.
How to Freeze Celery
To freeze celery, wash it and then cut it as desired. You’ll want to know that it’s easier to cut celery before it’s frozen than waiting until after it’s frozen.
Blanch your celery by placing it in boiling water for 1 minute and then placing it into an ice bath for 3 minutes.
Allow the celery to drain and then place it in an airtight container or zipped freezer bag and place it in the freezer. Celery can be frozen for up to 12-18 months.
How to Cook with Frozen Celery
Rather than eating celery that has been frozen raw, it’s best in cooked dishes such as soups, stews, casseroles, sauces, or stuffing. Because it changes in consistency after being frozen, it’s not ideal for raw dishes.
How to Revive Wilted Celery
If your celery has become slightly limp and it doesn’t show any other signs of spoilage that we’ve listed in our key indicators above, chances are you can revive it.
Soak your limp celery stalks in water for a few hours and the vegetable will absorb the water causing it to re-inflate. Then the celery is good as new and is ready to be used.
Celery Storage Supplies
Following are celery storage supplies that you might find handy to have on hand when you’re working with freezing or storing celery to maintain its freshness.
Sharp knife
Colander
Zipped freezer bags
Aluminum foil
Paper towels
Airtight container
Soup pot for blanching
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are frequently asked questions for how long does celery last in the fridge. If you have a question that’s not answered here, please drop it in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to answer it.
Do you need to wash raw celery before eating it?
Yes, you should always wash celery before eating it raw or preparing it to be cooked.
How long does raw celery last after it’s been sliced or chopped?
How long does cut celery last in the fridge? Raw celery will last about 1-2 weeks after it’s been sliced or chopped, if it’s stored properly.
How long does celery last in the fridge once it has been cooked?
Celery will last about 3-5 days in the fridge once it’s been cooked. It should be stored in an airtight container.
Can you freeze celery?
Yes, you can freeze celery. But celery that’s been frozen is best when used in cooked dishes rather than eaten raw because of the change in texture and consistency. To freeze celery, just wash, cut, blanch, drain, and store in a zipped freezer bag or airtight container.
How long does celery last in the freezer?
Celery can be stored in the freezer for about 12-18 months and is best used in cooked dishes after it’s been frozen.
Does celery go bad?
Yes, celery can go bad and should be thrown away if you suspect it has gone bad. Watch for the key indicators we’ve described above for knowing if your celery has spoiled.
Does celery last in the fridge longer when stored in water?
Cut celery loses water faster than whole heads of celery, so storing it covered in water in the refrigerator can potentially help to lengthen its shelf life and keep it from drying out.
How long does celery juice last in the fridge?
Homemade celery juice stored in the refrigerator should last up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container.
Celery juice purchased in the grocery store and prepared in a factory will potentially last longer, especially if preservatives were used to make it. Check the food packaging to know how long your store-bought celery juice will last.
How long does celery last in water?
How long does celery last in the fridge in water? It will last about 3-5 days. Storing celery in water helps to especially keep cut celery looking and feeling fresh. If you choose to store celery in water, you’re going to want to change the water out every day to keep bacteria from growing.
How to keep celery sticks fresh?
The best way to keep celery sticks fresh is to wash them, cut them, and then place them in an airtight container that has enough room to allow them to be completely covered with water. Change the water to fresh water each day and use them within 3-5 days.
How to keep celery fresh without foil?
If you prefer to store your celery in the refrigerator without wrapping it in foil, there are alternate solutions that will work. You can wrap it in a damp paper towel, wrap it in plastic wrap, or seal it in an airtight container. Check out our section above for the best storage solutions for celery.
What happens if you eat bad celery?
Just like any food item, if you eat celery after it has gone bad, it can potentially make you sick. If you’re in doubt as to whether your celery is still good, just throw it away and don’t take the risk of eating it.
How long does celery soup last in the fridge?
Celery soup should last up to 3-5 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Summary
The length of time celery lasts in the fridge is determined by how fresh the celery is when it was purchased and how it’s stored in the refrigerator after it’s purchased.
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