How To Store Celery In Fridge

Store Celery In Fridge

Celery is a popular vegetable and it can be used in a number of ways. However, the problem with celery is that it is a hard vegetable to store since it easily loses its texture. Luckily you can prevent this from happening. In order to get a better understanding simply check out the article below on how to store celery in fridge.

Contents

What is celery?

Celery is a vegetable that belongs to the Apiaceae family just like carrots. It is commonly taken as a snack by many because of its crunchiness. Celery is very low in calories and it contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients that are needed by the body.

How to store celery in the fridge

Step 1

When storing celery in the fridge you need to remove it from the plastic bag the cut the ends of the celery using a knife.

Step 2

After you have cut the ends take the celery and wrap it using aluminium foil. This will prevent moisture from getting inside. You should not wrap celery using plastic wrap. This is because celery produces a gas known as ethylene and if you wrap it with plastic the gas will get trapped inside causing the celery to turn mushy. Aluminium foil on the other hand enables the ethylene gas to escape thus, helping to retain the texture of the celery.

Step 3

After wrapping your celery place it in the vegetable drawer of your fridge. The celery will stay fresh for about 2 to 3 weeks.

 How to store small pieces of celery in the fridge

If you had cut your celery into small pieces, hoping to use it all at one go then you can still store it. To do this place the celery in an airtight container. You can store these small pieces for a few days in the fridge and then they will start to deteriorate their texture. You will find a lot of methods that tell you that the small pieces of celery should be submerged in water. This is a good thing but, the water adds no value to the celery. Whether you place water or you do not. The celery will wilt at the same time.

Other methods for storing celery

Store celery in the freezer

NB: this method does not preserve the texture of the celery but it only preserves the taste.

Step 1

When using the freezer to store celery you need to start by blanching the celery. This will help to stop enzyme actions that cause loss of colour and flavour in celery. To blanch the vegetable simply place water in a pot then bring it to a boil. Add the celery into the water and let it sit for about 3 minutes in the hot water.

Step 2

After the 3 minute time mark remove the celery from the hot water and place it in cold water. This will help to stop the cooking process. When the celery has cooled down take it out and pat it dry with a cloth or paper towels.

Step 3

Take the celery and line it in a baking tray, but make sure that it is not overcrowded. Place the baking tray into the freeze and let the celery freeze for about 1 to 2 hours.

Step 4

When the celery has completely frozen take it out and transfer it into freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag and store the celery in the freezer. Celery that is stored in the freezer using this method can last for about a year.

How to store celery root

When storing celery the root is often removed but it is worth noting that the root is actually edible. It can be added to soups and salads. The celery root is often referred to as the celeriac. To store the celeriac do not wash it as this can compromise its shelf life while in the fridge. Take the celery root and place it inside a Ziploc plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible then place the celery root in the fridge. The celery root can last for about 10 to 14 days in the fridge so you need to use it within that time frame.

Signs that your celery is not safe to eat

There are a few signs that you can use to tell if your celery is turning bad. The first sign is that the texture of the celery changes. The celery stalks become too soft and it will be somehow mushy and slimy. When you notice this just throw the celery away. The other sign you’re your celery is not safe to eat is the colour. The celery will have a whitish colour. Furthermore, the smell of the celery changes, it will attain a bad odour. Celery that has all these traits is not safe to eat and should be thrown away with immediate effect.

How to choose fresh celery

If you are getting celery from the grocery store and not your garden then you need to know how to select fresh celery. In order to choose the best fresh celery look for the one that has bright green leaves and a crispy stalk. You should also choose celery that has green perky stalks.

How to use celery

Use celery to make a salad

When making your salads at home you can chop a few sticks of celery and add them inside. They will add a lot of flavour to your salad. Furthermore, celery has a distinct aroma so it will really blend well with the other ingredients in your salad.

Use celery when making soup

Celery can be added to soups. It will really add nice flavour to your soup. Although raw celery tends to have a distinct sour taste, when cooked it becomes sweet. This is mainly because the sour taste will be neutralised by the other ingredients in your soup.

Use celery to make juice

Celery can be used to make a healthy juice. This is because it contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients that are needed by the body. You can also add the celery juice to your smoothies.

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