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To properly store celery, you need to keep it cold, keep it moist, and keep the stalks away from the drying air of your fridge.
Fresh celery properly stored can stay crisp for up to two weeks, and if you take a few extra steps, you can even freeze it for soups and stews later.
If you’ve been wondering how to properly store celery so it doesn’t go limp in two days, this guide will walk you through the best methods from the moment you bring it home.
In this post, we’ll look at how to properly store celery in the fridge, how to properly store celery so it lasts for weeks, and even how to properly store celery in the freezer.
Let’s get to it.
How to Properly Store Celery to Keep It Crisp
Learning how to properly store celery starts with understanding what makes it wilt in the first place.
Celery is mostly water, and the moment you bring it home from the store, that moisture starts to escape.
The goal of properly storing celery is to lock that moisture in while still letting a tiny bit of air circulate so mold doesn’t form.
Here are the most effective ways to properly store celery:
1. The Aluminum Foil Method
This is one of the best ways to properly store celery in the fridge.
Wrapping celery tightly in aluminum foil creates a breathable barrier that holds in moisture but lets ethylene gas escape.
Ethylene is a natural gas that celery releases as it ages, and trapping it speeds up spoilage.
When you properly store celery this way, the stalks stay crunchy for three to four weeks in the crisper drawer.
Just make sure the foil covers the whole bunch, and don’t wash the celery until you’re ready to eat it.
2. The Damp Paper Towel Trick
If you’re not a fan of foil, you can properly store celery using paper towels and a plastic bag.
Wrap the celery in a slightly damp paper towel, then place the whole bundle inside a zip-top bag with the air pressed out.
The damp towel keeps the celery hydrated while the bag stops it from drying out.
This method works great if you’re planning to properly store celery for one to two weeks and use it often.
Change the paper towel if it starts to smell or look soggy.
3. The Glass Jar Water Method
Another clever way to properly store celery is to treat it like fresh flowers.
Cut the base of the stalks, stand them upright in a jar with an inch of water, and place the jar in the fridge.
The celery will keep drinking water through its base, staying firm and crunchy much longer.
This is one of the simplest ways to properly store celery, and you can swap out the water every couple of days.
If you notice the base turning brown, just trim it before putting it back.
4. Properly Storing Celery in the Crisper Drawer
No matter which method you choose, the crisper drawer is the right home for celery.
That drawer is designed to hold higher humidity, which is exactly what celery needs.
When you properly store celery, set the drawer to high humidity and keep it away from apples, bananas, and other ethylene-producing fruits.
Those fruits will actually make your celery age faster, so store them separately.
How to Properly Store Celery in the Freezer
Sometimes you buy more celery than you can eat, and that’s when freezing becomes the smart move.
You can properly store celery in the freezer, but keep in mind the texture changes after thawing.
Frozen celery becomes soft, so it’s best used in cooked dishes like soups, stews, and casseroles rather than fresh salads.
To properly store celery in the freezer, wash and chop the stalks into bite-sized pieces first.
Then blanch them in boiling water for two to three minutes and drop them into ice water to stop the cooking.
Drain the pieces well, spread them on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid.
Once frozen, transfer the pieces into freezer bags, press out the air, and label with the date.
When you properly store celery this way, it keeps for up to a year in the freezer.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Celery
Knowing how to properly store celery also means knowing what not to do.
1. Don’t Wash Before Storing
Washing celery before you properly store it adds extra moisture to the surface, which invites mold and rot.
Rinse the stalks only when you’re ready to eat or cook them.
2. Don’t Leave It in the Plastic Store Bag
That thin plastic sleeve from the grocery store traps ethylene and moisture, which speeds up spoilage.
If you want to properly store celery, take it out of that bag as soon as you get home.
3. Don’t Keep It at Room Temperature
Celery left on the counter wilts fast because warm air pulls moisture out of the stalks.
To properly store celery, it always belongs in the fridge.
4. Don’t Store Near Ethylene Producers
Apples, bananas, avocados, and tomatoes all release ethylene gas that ages celery quickly.
When you properly store celery, keep it in a separate drawer or shelf.
So, How to Properly Store Celery?
To properly store celery, keep it cold, keep it moist, and keep it away from ethylene-producing fruits.
Whether you wrap it in foil, roll it in damp paper towels, stand it in a jar of water, or freeze the chopped stalks, the goal is always the same: lock in moisture without trapping gas.
If you follow these steps, you’ll know exactly how to properly store celery and enjoy crisp stalks for weeks instead of days.
Give one of these methods a try the next time you bring home a bunch, and you’ll be glad you did.