Keeping celery fresh allows you to add a crunchy side to soups, snacks, and salads. By storing it correctly you can keep it crunchy even for a long time. Choose the method you prefer: wrap it in aluminum foil, put it in water or use kitchen paper. Celery can last up to 3 or 4 weeks, after which it will spoil and you will have to throw it away.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Tinfoil
Step 1. Wrap the celery tightly in aluminum foil
Often, celery spoils quickly because it releases ethylene, a hormone that triggers ripening. The tinfoil will protect the celery while allowing the ethylene to disperse. If, on the other hand, you close it in a plastic bag, the ethylene will be trapped inside it, so the celery will go limp. Tinfoil prevents celery from ripening too quickly and losing crunchiness.
- Ethylene is a hormone that is released by plants. Thanks to ethylene, the products ripen, then spoil and decompose following their natural cycle. It is an indispensable hormone for ripening, but at some point it causes the fruits and plants to decompose.
- If you trap ethylene in a plastic bag, celery will spoil faster.
Step 2. Rewind the celery after each use
Remember to rewind it in aluminum foil every time you use it. Wrap it tightly, but not too tightly, to allow the ethylene to disperse.
If the tinfoil is dirty, throw it away and replace it with a clean sheet
Step 3. Store the celery for up to 3-4 weeks
Keep it in the refrigerator. Using this method, you can expect it to last up to 3-4 weeks. Beyond that date, it will start to go bad and you will have to throw it away.
- Write the date you packed it on the aluminum foil using a permanent marker.
- Celery should not be eaten when it is no longer fresh. You may find that it's time to throw it out by examining it. If it is pale in color, if the stems are hollow in the center, or if the buds are curved, throw it away.
Method 2 of 3: Use the kitchen paper
Step 1. Moisten the paper
Tear off a strip of paper that is long enough for you to wrap around the celery. Moisten it with running water - it should be moist, but not soggy.
If you prefer, you can moisten the paper with filtered or bottled water
Step 2. Wrap the paper around the base of the stems
Fold the paper in half, then wrap it tightly around the part where the stems are thickest and secure it with a rubber band to keep it in place.
Step 3. Put the celery in a plastic bag
Now you can put it back in its original packaging. However, remember that ethylene should not be trapped inside the bag, otherwise the celery will spoil faster. Then wrap the bag around the celery, but not too tightly, then use a rubber band to hold it in place.
Step 4. Throw away the celery after it has gone bad
Examine it to see if it is still fresh. You may notice that the stalks have arched, that they are empty in the center or that they have lost their original bright green color: it means that it is time to throw away the celery because it is no longer fresh. Remember that it can generally last up to 3-4 weeks.
Method 3 of 3: Using Water
Step 1. Prepare the celery
If you want to keep it in water, you need to cut the stems at the base to separate them from the root part.
- In addition to separating the stems, you will need to remove the leaves. If you want to use them in the kitchen, keep them separately.
- After removing the leaves and cutting the stems at the base to separate them, cut the celery in half.
Step 2. Put the celery in a container
Choose a container that is large enough to comfortably hold all the stems. There should be a couple of inches of empty space under the lid. You can use a regular plastic food container.
You should use an airtight container, as the less celery is exposed to the air, the better
Step 3. Fill the container with water
Use filtered or bottled water because water that comes straight out of the tap can contain chemicals. Add just enough to cover the celery. Close the container, then put it in the refrigerator. If the container does not have a lid, you can seal it with cling film.
Step 4. Change the water every day
It is important to change the water daily. This method will not work if the celery is left in the same water for more than a day.
- Remember to use filtered or bottled water.
- This method can also be used with other vegetables to keep them crunchy over time.
Step 5. Throw away the celery after it has spoiled
Sooner or later celery will go bad even if you store it properly. Generally, this happens after 3 to 4 weeks.
