You are always wondering what the best way to store celery. Well, I am here to tell you, there is the best way. Therefore, it might be very useful to read this article in order to figure out how to prolong the shelf life of celery in your house.
How to Purchase Fresh Celery?
Celery is a member of the celery family, Apiaceae. It is a biennial plant that grows well in mild climates with moderate rainfall, but it can also be found on the border of forests in the North Temperate Zone. Celery is known for its mild and sweet taste. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and the stalks are often eaten raw or cooked as well.
Celery can be purchased fresh, frozen, or canned. Before purchasing celery, it’s important to know its different varieties and what they each look like.
1. Leaf Celery
Leaf celery has long, thin stems that grow from the center of each leaf on the plant. This type of celery grows in bunches rather than stalks like root celery does because it doesn’t have any roots to support its weight. When purchasing leaf celery, choose bunches with bright green leaves that don’t look wilted or dry around the edges.
2. Root Celery
Root celery has thick stalks that are usually sold with the roots still attached so you know exactly how much you’re getting when buying it from the store or market. This type of celery should be firm and crisp with no signs of wilting or discoloration around its root area or along its stalk ends.
6 Surprising Uses For Celery That’Ll Shock You
Celery is a healthy, fiber-rich vegetable. It’s also one of the most versatile ingredients around. Celery is great to add to soups and stews, or even as a replacement for noodles in your favorite pasta dish.
Here are four health benefits when using celery:
1. Prevents Cancer
Celery contains high levels of phytochemicals called flavonoids which have been shown to have anticancer properties. These compounds help prevent cancer by causing cell death in tumors or preventing them from growing and spreading to other areas of the body.
2. Lowers Blood Pressure
The potassium in celery helps prevent high blood pressure by helping regulate fluid balance within your body. Potassium helps relax your muscles, including those found around your blood vessels which lowers blood pressure while decreasing stress on your heart muscle making it work less hard to pump blood through your body.
3. Helps With Digestion
Celery contains insoluble fiber that helps prevent constipation while also aiding digestion. When eaten raw, it cleanses the digestive tract by removing toxins from the liver, kidneys, and intestines. Those who suffer from Crohn’s disease can benefit greatly from consuming raw celery because it helps alleviate symptoms associated with this disease such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.
4. Improves Bone Health
Celery contains high amounts of vitamin K, which plays an important role in bone health by helping blood clot properly so wounds heal faster without excessive bleeding or bruising. Vitamin K also helps to prevent osteoporosis, which can lead to bone fractures and an increased risk of bone disease.
5. Helps Reduce Inflammation
The antioxidants found in celery, especially in its pale green leafy parts, help prevent free radical damage. Free radicals are harmful molecules that come from pollution, foods, and other sources that cause inflammation.
6. Helps Treat Diabetes
Celery contains a protein called diacylglycerol lipase which blocks the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestines into the bloodstream and helps prevent high blood glucose levels caused by diabetes.
The Best Way To Store Celery Keep It Fresh Longer
Celery has high water content and must be kept moist at all times. If left too dry, celery will shrivel up and become limp by the time you use it again. To keep your celery fresh, place it in a sealed plastic bag or container with plenty of moisture.
Here are some of the best ways to store celery so it stays fresh longer:
Storing Celery Stalks
Celery stalks are a great addition to any salad or soup. They can also be served as an appetizer or snack.
Here are some tips on how to store celery stalks:
1. Wash them thoroughly and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Transfer the stalks to a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator.
2. Place the celery stalks in a plastic bag
Then keep it in the refrigerator crisper drawer for up to 10 days.
3. Do not store celery stalks near apples, pears, or bananas.
Because they give off ethylene gas, which will cause your celery to wilt faster than usual.
4. Don’t put it in water.
It is important to note that celery stalks should not be stored in water because this can cause the outer leaves to rot.
5. Place them in an open container
With plenty of room for air circulation at room temperature (about 70 degrees F). The celery will keep for about five days before it begins to wilt. If you want to keep it longer, put the celery in the refrigerator where it will last for up to two weeks more.
Storing Cut Celery
Storing cut celery is easy, but it does have a fairly short shelf life. If you want to keep your celery fresh for as long as possible, there are several things you can do.
1. Refrigerating Cut Celery
Refrigeration is by far the easiest way to store cut celery. All you have to do is put it in a container or plastic bag and place it in the refrigerator. The cool temperature will keep your celery fresh for up to two weeks.
2. Freezing Cut Celery.
If you want to use all of your celery before it goes bad, freezing is another option. To freeze cut celery, clean it thoroughly first and then wrap individual stalks in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer bag before putting them in the freezer.
3. Keep It Wrapped In Plastic In The Refrigerator.
The plastic helps retain moisture, keeping the celery crisp and fresh tasting. If you don’t have enough room in your refrigerator, store the cut pieces on top of each other in a plastic baggie with holes poked through so air can circulate around them.
4. Blanch It Before Storing It.
Blanching means heating vegetables briefly in boiling water or steam to preserve their color and flavor before freezing or drying them for long-term storage
5. Place It In The Refrigerator Immediately After Cutting.
This will help prevent it from going limp and softens the leaves slightly so that they are easier to chew.
6 Fresh Celery Recipes To Enjoy
You might not know it, but celery is a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. It can be eaten raw or cooked, and it’s delicious when paired with other ingredients.
Here are some fresh celery recipes to cook:
1. Celery Stuffed with Ricotta Cheese and Pine Nuts
This recipe is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. The ricotta cheese filling adds creaminess to the dish while the pine nuts add crunchiness to it.
2. Grilled Chicken With Celery Slaw And Avocado Salsa
This easy dinner recipe is gluten-free, low carb, and paleo-friendly. It’s also dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan! You can cook your chicken on the stovetop or on the grill. If you’re using a grill, just brush it with oil and place it over medium heat until cooked through, about 10 minutes per side.
3. Celery And Carrot Salad With Yogurt Dressing
This salad is a great way to use up your leftover celery. The yogurt dressing is very simple and takes no time to make. A great salad for the spring and summer, this is really good with grilled chicken or fish.
4. Cheesy Baked Cauliflower With Celery, Garlic, And Parsley
This cheesy baked cauliflower dish is a great way to use up any leftover cooked cauliflower you may have in your refrigerator. The celery adds a nice crunchy texture, and the garlic and parsley give it a delicious flavor boost.
5. Roasted Root Vegetables With Parmesan And Celery Leaves
Celery Leaves and a dash of lemon juice give this vegetable dish a fresh kick. Here, roasted celery leaves are tossed with Parmesan and cooked until crisp. The result is a tasty vegetable dish that’s perfect as a side dish or served alongside grilled chicken or fish.
6. Turkey Meatballs In Spicy Tomato Sauce With Celery And Carrots
The combination of celery and carrots is a classic one, as they complement each other and add a fresh flavor to any dish. This recipe for Turkey Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce with Celery and Carrots is no exception. You can serve this dish as an appetizer or over pasta for dinner. And if you have leftovers, it makes for a great lunch the next day!
FAQs
1. How Long Does It Last?
Celery is a perishable vegetable and should be refrigerated immediately after purchase. Celery will last for about 10 days in the refrigerator.
2. Is It Safe To Eat Raw Celery?
It’s not recommended that you eat raw celery as it can cause stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting. However, if you do decide to eat it raw, make sure that you wash it thoroughly in cold water first. Also, make sure that you remove any leaves and outer stalks before eating.
3. Is It Okay If My Celery Has Turned Brown?
Celery that has turned brown will have a more intense flavor since it has broken down a little bit. There are many who prefer celery when it turns this color and others who don’t want to eat it at all. It really boils down to personal preference in most cases, but there are some people who insist on eating celery before the leaves start withering away!
4. Is it safe to store celery in the refrigerator?
It is safe to store your celery in the refrigerator. The cold temperatures will keep it fresh for up to four weeks. If you have a lot of celery, you may want to consider storing it in the freezer so that you have plenty on hand when you need it.
5. Do I Need To Wash Celery Before I Eat It?
You can use a damp paper towel or washcloth to wipe off dirt and grime on the outside of your celery stalks, but there’s no need to wash them otherwise. The thick outer layer of leaves contains a lot of moisture, which is why it’s so important not to wash away that protective layer when you’re washing your celery.
6. Is It Safe To Eat Celery Leaves?
Yes! In fact, many people prefer the taste of celery leaves over the stalks themselves — especially if you’re using large bunches with plenty of leaves still attached. Just be sure not to eat any leaves that have started wilting or turning brown as they may have been exposed to harmful bacteria during growing or transportation processes.
In summary
The best way to store celery is in a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator. We hope you’ve found this article informative and helpful. Thanks for reading, and Happy Cooking!
