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You can make celery salt at home with just two simple ingredients and a little bit of patience.
It’s a classic seasoning that brings a savory, salty, and slightly herbal kick to everything from Bloody Marys to deviled eggs.
If you’ve ever wondered how do you make celery salt, the good news is that it’s incredibly easy and way cheaper than buying those tiny store-bought jars.
All you need is fresh celery and coarse salt, plus an oven or dehydrator to dry everything out.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to make celery salt step by step, share some tasty variations, and show you how to store it so it stays fresh for months.
Let’s get started.
How Do You Make Celery Salt? The Simple Answer
How do you make celery salt?
You make celery salt by drying celery leaves and stalks until they’re completely brittle, then grinding them into a fine powder and mixing that powder with salt.
The ratio is usually one part celery powder to two or three parts salt, depending on how strong you want the celery flavor to be.
That’s the whole process in a nutshell.
But let’s break it down so you can make celery salt perfectly every single time.
1. Gather Your Ingredients
To make celery salt, you only need two things: fresh celery and salt.
Use the leaves and the inner stalks because those parts have the most concentrated celery flavor.
For the salt, coarse kosher salt or sea salt works best since it blends evenly with the dried celery powder.
Avoid table salt with anti-caking agents if you can, because it can leave a slightly metallic taste in your homemade celery salt.
2. Dry the Celery Completely
The key to making celery salt that doesn’t clump or spoil is getting the celery bone-dry.
Wash the celery leaves and stalks, then pat them dry with a clean towel.
Spread them out on a baking sheet and pop them into an oven set to its lowest temperature, usually around 150°F to 200°F.
Leave the door slightly cracked to let moisture escape, and bake for two to four hours until the celery crumbles easily in your hand.
If you have a food dehydrator, even better—just set it to 125°F and let it run for four to six hours.
3. Grind the Dried Celery into Powder
Once your celery is completely dry and crispy, it’s time to turn it into powder.
Toss the dried pieces into a spice grinder, a clean coffee grinder, or a high-speed blender.
Pulse until you get a fine, consistent powder.
This powder is the heart of your celery salt, so take your time and scrape down the sides as needed.
4. Mix the Celery Powder with Salt
Now comes the fun part.
Combine your celery powder with salt in a bowl.
A good starting ratio for celery salt is one tablespoon of celery powder to two tablespoons of salt.
Taste it and adjust—if you want a stronger celery punch, add more powder.
Whisk everything together until the color and texture are uniform, and your homemade celery salt is ready to use.
Tips for Making the Best Celery Salt
Making celery salt is simple, but a few small tweaks can take it from good to amazing.
1. Use Celery Seeds for Extra Flavor
If you want an even bolder celery salt, add a teaspoon of celery seeds to the grinder along with the dried celery.
Celery seeds pack a concentrated, earthy flavor that makes your celery salt taste more like the store-bought version, but better.
2. Toast the Salt for a Smokier Note
To give your celery salt a deeper, toastier flavor, spread the salt on a dry skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes.
Stir constantly until it starts to smell nutty, then let it cool before mixing it with the celery powder.
3. Keep the Texture You Like
Some people like their celery salt super fine, while others prefer a slightly coarse grind.
You can control this by how long you grind the dried celery and whether you use flaky salt or fine salt.
Either way, your celery salt will taste fantastic.
How to Store Your Homemade Celery Salt
Proper storage keeps your celery salt fresh and prevents clumping.
1. Use an Airtight Container
Transfer your celery salt to a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Glass is best because it doesn’t absorb odors or stain like plastic can.
2. Keep It Away from Heat and Light
Store your celery salt in a cool, dark cabinet, away from the stove or any direct sunlight.
Heat and light degrade the flavor and color of your celery salt over time.
3. Label and Date the Jar
Write the date on the jar so you know when you made it.
Homemade celery salt stays fresh for about six months, though it’s usually so delicious you’ll use it up long before then.
So, How Do You Make Celery Salt?
How do you make celery salt?
You make celery salt by drying fresh celery until brittle, grinding it into a powder, and blending it with salt.
It’s a simple, two-ingredient project that gives you a versatile seasoning for soups, salads, meats, and cocktails.
With the tips above, you can customize your celery salt and store it so it stays fresh for months.
Once you try homemade celery salt, you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff.