What Can You Do With Celery Tops

You can do a surprising number of things with celery tops, and once you know how useful they are, you’ll never toss them in the trash again.
 
Celery tops are the leafy green parts that grow at the end of each celery stalk, and they’re completely edible, flavorful, and versatile in the kitchen.
 
If you’ve been asking yourself what you can do with celery tops, the short answer is: a whole lot more than you probably realize.
 
Many people trim them off and throw them away because they think the leaves are bitter or useless, but that’s a huge mistake.
 
In this post, we’ll explore what you can do with celery tops, from cooking and garnishing to making pesto and even freezing them for later.
 
Let’s get to it.
 

What Can You Do With Celery Tops in the Kitchen?

The best things you can do with celery tops happen right in your kitchen, and here are some of the most practical and delicious options.
 

1. Use Them as a Flavorful Herb

One of the easiest things you can do with celery tops is treat them like an herb.
 
The leaves have a concentrated celery flavor that’s slightly more intense than the stalks, which makes them perfect for adding depth to soups, stews, and stocks.
 
You can chop them up finely and sprinkle them into your dish just like you would with parsley or cilantro.
 
They work especially well in chicken soup, vegetable broth, and even tomato sauce.
 

2. Make Celery Top Pesto

If you’re wondering what you can do with celery tops that’s a little more creative, pesto is the answer.
 
You can blend celery tops with garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and nuts like walnuts or almonds to create a vibrant green pesto.
 
This pesto tastes fresh and slightly peppery, and it’s amazing tossed with pasta, spread on sandwiches, or drizzled over roasted vegetables.
 
It’s a great way to use up a big batch of celery tops before they go bad.
 

3. Add Them to Smoothies and Juices

Another thing you can do with celery tops is blend them into smoothies and juices.
 
The leaves are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, so tossing a handful into your morning smoothie gives you a nutritional boost without changing the flavor too much.
 
You can pair them with apple, cucumber, spinach, and a squeeze of lemon for a refreshing green juice that actually tastes good.
 

4. Garnish With Them

Celery tops make a lovely garnish for all kinds of dishes.
 
You can use the smaller, more delicate leaves to top off deviled eggs, potato salad, or a bowl of creamy soup.
 
They add a pop of green color and a subtle celery aroma that enhances the presentation without overpowering the dish.
 

What Can You Do With Celery Tops to Reduce Waste?

If your goal is to reduce food waste, here’s what you can do with celery tops so nothing goes to the compost bin.
 

1. Freeze Them for Later

One of the smartest things you can do with celery tops is freeze them.
 
Just wash them, chop them up, and pack them into freezer bags or ice cube trays with a little water.
 
Whenever you need celery for a recipe, you can pop out a cube or grab a handful and toss it straight into the pot.
 
This way, you always have celery flavor on hand without needing to buy a fresh bunch.
 

2. Make a Homemade Stock

You can also save celery tops in a bag in the freezer along with other vegetable scraps like onion skins, carrot peels, and garlic ends.
 
When the bag is full, simmer everything in a pot of water for an hour or two, strain it, and you’ve got homemade vegetable stock.
 
This is probably the most rewarding thing you can do with celery tops because it turns scraps into a base for future soups and risottos.
 

3. Dehydrate Them Into Celery Powder

If you have a dehydrator or an oven with a low setting, you can dry celery tops until they’re crispy and then grind them into a fine powder.
 
This powder is a fantastic seasoning for popcorn, roasted potatoes, or even Bloody Marys.
 
It’s a unique answer to what you can do with celery tops that most people never think of.
 

What Can You Do With Celery Tops Beyond Cooking?

There are even a few non-cooking uses for celery tops that might surprise you.
 

1. Use Them in Infused Water

You can add celery tops to a pitcher of water along with lemon slices and cucumber for a spa-style infused drink.
 
The leaves release a subtle, refreshing flavor that makes plain water much more enjoyable.
 

2. Feed Them to Pets or Compost

If you have rabbits, guinea pigs, or chickens, celery tops make a healthy treat for them in moderation.
 
And if you don’t have pets, you can always add them to your compost pile to return nutrients to the soil.
 

3. Use Them as a Natural Deodorizer

Believe it or not, you can simmer celery tops in a pot of water on the stove to freshen up your kitchen.
 
The mild, green scent neutralizes cooking odors without being overpowering.
 

So, What Can You Do With Celery Tops?

You can do a lot with celery tops, from using them as an herb and making pesto to freezing them for stock and even dehydrating them into powder.
 
They’re not just scraps, they’re a versatile ingredient that deserves a spot in your kitchen.
 
So the next time you’re about to toss those leafy tops, remember everything you can do with celery tops instead.
 
Whether you’re cooking, juicing, or reducing waste, celery tops are worth keeping around.