How Long Does Celery Last In The Fridge?

Do you buy the biggest bags of celery but are now confused about how long does celery last? Celery is a delicious yet nutritious vegetable; its shelf life can be extended by adopting proper storage methods. Here is a whole blog post that guides you about the shelf life, signs of spoilage, and how to store celery properly! Let’s dive in!

Whole celery can stay in the fridge for about 1 to 2 weeks, whereas cut-up celery can last up to 4 to 7 days. But if you bought the prepackaged celery sticks, they can last till the expiration date.

When we talk about cooked celery, it can stay just for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. You can extend the shelf life of the celery by storing it properly.

Celery is quite a versatile ingredient and is used in various recipes. You can use it in soups, stews, sauces, juices, and other recipes. The best part is you can enjoy celery in both cooked or raw form. It is resourceful and a great source to load your body with the goodness of nutrients and minerals. 

If you are looking for signs of spoilage with the best storage tips, this article will provide you with the best. In addition, you also learn how long celery lasts in the fridge and a few necessary tips to extend the shelf life of celery. Let’s zone in and get all the answers!

How Long Does Celery Last In The Fridge?

Here is a table to give you an idea about the shelf life of the celery in the fridge. 

The whole celery can stay in the fridge for about 1 to 2 weeks, whereas the cut-up celery can last up to 4 to 7 days. But if we bought the prepackaged celery sticks, they can last till the expiration date. 

You can extend the shelf life of the celery by storing it properly. When we talk about cooked celery, it can stay just for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. 

How Long Does Celery Last In The Freezer?

Freezing is the best way to extend the shelf life of any veggie. You can freeze both raw and blanched celery. When it comes to the shelf life of frozen raw celery, it won’t last very long. 

It starts to turn mushy just after one or two months. You won’t be able to get that crunchy texture and lose its fresh green color. 

Let’s now talk about the frozen blanched celery. It lasts for a much longer period than raw celery. Blanched celery stays in use for about a year. 

In addition to this, freezing the blanched celery helps to retain the texture but may lack crispiness. You can use it to prepare soups, stews, and dishes in which crunch is unnecessary. 

Can We Freeze Celery? 

Yes, you can surely freeze celery. It is quite a simple yet effective way to extend the shelf life of celery. Although you won’t be able to find a similar crunch, it is still good to use. 

Frozen celery can stay in us for a few months. You can use it in soups and stews. In addition to it, frozen celery works well in juices and other liquid-based food items. 

How to freeze celery? 

Celery can stay used for about a year in the freezer, but only if stored properly. Just remember that you are not going to get a similar fresh crunch from frozen celery. You can freeze raw as well as blanched celery. 

Let’s move forward and learn how to freeze celery to maintain its quality for longer. 

• The first step is to make sure that all the dirt is removed properly. Just wash the celery properly with water. 
• Cut the stalks into desired pieces and boil them in hot water for 3 to 4 minutes. 
• Now drain the celery and place it into the bowl of ice-cold water. Placing it in ice-cold water will stop the cooking process. 
• After this, spread the celery on a baking sheet and freeze it for 1 to 2 hours until it gets firm.
• Place the frozen celery in the freezer bags. Don’t forget to remove the air from the bag.
• So, whenever you want to use it, just keep it in the fridge to thaw. 
• Use the celery immediately after thawing; you cannot refreeze the thawed celery. 

Does celery go bad?

Every green leafy vegetable goes bad after some time, and celery is not an exception. Yes, celery does go bad when it is not stored properly. 

If you witness any kind of bacterial growth, such as molds, dark spots, changes in taste, appearance, or unpleasant smell, you must discard it. These are the clear signs that show the spoilage of the celery. 

But you can save it from getting spoiled by using proper storage ways. Just keep it in the fridge to avoid spoilage. 

If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it, too. Remember to keep it away from moisture, as it will lead to fungal infections. 

How to tell if celery goes bad or spoiled? 

You must be wondering how to determine whether your celery gets spoiled. Don’t worry; here are some signs of spoilage. Moreover, if you notice any of them, just discard the celery as quickly as possible. 

1. Unpleasant smell

One of the best ways to spot the spoilage of celery is to check how it smells. Usually, the celery has earthy freshness, but if it has an off or sour smell, then you must toss it as soon as possible. 

2. Change in texture

The green leafy veggies have nice crispy leaves with firm stems, and celery is no exception to this. So if you find that your celery is mushy, slimy, or soft, it is high time to discard it. 

3. Taste alteration

If the smell and texture of celery are quite fine, but you are still in doubt, then just take a bite of it. 

If you are getting a pleasantly earthy, a bit salty, and bitter aftertaste, then you must not be worried about its spoilage, and it can be used for further use. But if it has a sour and bitter taste, discarding it is better. 

4. Change in its color

Well, what else is better to judge spoilage than its appearance? Fresh celery has beautiful lustrous green leaves, but when they get spoiled, they turn pale and white in color. 

The change of color is a clear indication of spoilage, and you must throw it away whenever it turns yellow or white. 

5. Cooked and stored for a long time

It is better to throw away the cooked celery kept or stored for a long time. It might not have molds or spots, but you never know. So, consuming it is not a good idea. 

6. Presence of molds

This is the most obvious sign of spoilage. The presence of molds or any dark spots shows a bacterial attack, and you must toss the celery away. 

The black spots are a clear sign of rotting, and you must check whether the celery stem has turned brown. If the stem changes its color, that clearly indicates the fungal attack and, thus, not a safe thing to consume. 

How to store celery to extend its shelf life? 

Storage plays quite a crucial role in extending the shelf life of celery. Just by adopting easy yet effective ways of storage, you can save celery from getting spoiled. In this section, I will discuss simple ways to store celery. Let’s get started. 

1. Employ a paper towel

The best way to keep the celery last longer is to use a paper towel to remove excess water. Using this will ensure that no moisture is present and will protect it from bacterial attack. Consider this an important way, and obviously, you don’t want it to get spoiled. 

Use paper towels as gently as possible, as applying force may damage their stems and leaves. This might result in damage to the texture and may ruin its taste. 

2. Use an airtight container

Once you are done with removing the moisture from the celery, the next step is to place it in an airtight container. This will prevent the celery from coming in contact with air and moisture. 

3. Use of aluminum foil

Don’t have an airtight container? Then try aluminum foil to store celery. This is also an effective way to prevent celery from getting spoiled. The usage of soil is quite a great option and is still better than plastic bags. The foil will help retain its quality for longer and save it from getting limp. 

4. Storage of celery in water

Storing celery in the water is good, but moisture is bad! I know it sounds strange. It is quite an odd situation but an effective way to maintain the crisp and crunch of celery. Just a bowl filled with cold water and place the celery in it. 

After this, just cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Remember to use clean and fresh water for storing celery. If it is possible, you can also use filtered water. This will help maintain celery’s quality and its freshness and crunch. 

You can call it a day after putting celery in water. You need to remember a few things about it, and then you are good to go! Cut the stalk’s base off and take apart the celery. 

After this, just cut the stalks in half but tear apart all the leaves from it. Fill the bowl until the whole celery is submerged. In addition to this, you can change the water every other day to maintain the freshness. 

5. Freezing the celery

The best way to store the celery is to freeze it. Freezing the celery can result in an extension of its shelf life for a longer period. 

It can last for a few months. But frozen celery may result in loss of its crispiness. Frozen celery is ideal for soups, stews, and other water-based dishes. 

Moreover, you can also use frozen celery for preparing celery juice. Just use a good-quality frozen bag, and you are good to go!

6. Refrigerate the celery

The refrigeration of celery can also help to increase the shelf life of celery for a few days. Make sure you use foil or a paper towel to store it. This will prevent the contact of celery with air and moisture. After placing it in the foil, just keep it in the airtight container. 

7. Place celery in the crisper drawer

If you want to extend the shelf life of the celery, you can also store it in the fridge’s crisper drawer. Placing celery in this section can help it to maintain its quality for a few more days. 

How can you restore limp celery?

If your celery seems fine but has a soft texture and can easily blend able, don’t worry; you can restore the limp celery again. You can still enjoy the crispy celery. 

Just follow a few steps, and you are good to go!

• Cut the slices of limp stocks into sticks.
• Put the sliced celery into the ice-cold water.
• Just store the jar of ice water with celery in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. You will surely find the crunchy celery again in the morning. 
• Remember that you can place the celery in ice-cold water for 3 days. Otherwise, the celery will get soggy. 

Tips to extend the shelf life of celery

Since you get a whole idea about the signs of spoilage and storage methods. Just for an extra idea about celery, here are some tips to extend its shelf life. 

• Use a paper towel to remove excess moisture from the celery.
• You can also use foil as it helps to retain its shelf life for a few days.
• Freezing celery is also a great way to extend its shelf life. Make sure you use freezer bags. 
• Use cold water if you are storing celery in a bowl. 
• Cut the stalks when you are dipping them in cold water.
• Keep celery in the crisper drawer of the fridge. 
• Keep it away from direct sunlight and heat. 

Conclusion

This was all about the shelf life of the celery. We have delved deep into the world of celery and uncovered some interesting facts about celery. The shelf life of the celery can be extended when you store it properly. 

As I mentioned, freezing celery is the best way to extend its shelf life. For storage, you can use airtight containers, a fridge, freezer bags, and aluminum foil. 

I hope you get all your answers. If you want to know more about the shelf life of any food ingredient, feel free to check our website. See you next time, till then, take care!

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