How to Keep Celery Crisp

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 6, 2020 References Approved

Keeping celery fresh allows you to add crunch to soups, salads and snacks. Storing celery properly can keep it crisp longer. You can wrap celery in aluminum foil, store it in water, or use paper towels. Make sure to discard celery that has gone bad. Celery generally lasts between three to four weeks.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Storing Celery in Aluminum Foil

1
Wrap the celery tightly in aluminum foil. Celery often goes bad fast because it releases ethylene, a ripening hormone. When wrapped in foil, foil allow the ethylene to escape. If celery is stored in a loose plastic bag, ethylene is trapped, which will cause the celery to get limp. Aluminum foil prevents celery from becoming overripe and losing crispness.^{[1]
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- Ethylene is a hormone plants give off naturally. It's an aging and ripening hormone, which causes plants to ripen and then decompose. While ethylene is necessary to get plants ripe, it can cause decay and overripe plants after a certain point.
- Storing celery in a plastic bag traps ethylene, causing celery to go bad quicker.
2
Re-wrap your celery after each use. After using celery for a meal, be sure to re-wrap it in aluminum foil. Remember to wrap the celery tightly, as this will allow the ethylene to escape.^{[2]
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- If your aluminum foil is getting dirty, replace the wrapping with a new piece.
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3
Keep the celery for three to four weeks. Store the celery in your refrigerator. Using this method, you can expect your celery to keep for three to four weeks. After this, it will begin to go bad and should be thrown out.
- It can help to write the date you originally stored the celery down on the aluminum foil.
- Celery should not be eaten after it spoils. Celery that has gone bad will have a whitish color. It will also hollow out in the middle. The stalks will begin to bend away from the stem.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Paper Towels

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Wet a paper towel. Remove a large enough strip of paper towel to wrap around your celery stalks. Run the paper towel under the faucet. Get the towel damp, but not soaking wet.^{[4]
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- You can also use filtered water to wet the paper towel, if you prefer.
2
Wrap the paper towel around the bottom of the stalk. Fold the paper towel in half. Then, wrap the towel tightly and make sure to cover the full stalk. When the towel is fully wrapped, take a rubber band. Use this to secure the paper towel to the celery stalk.^{[5]
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3
Wrap the celery in a plastic bag. You can now place the celery back in the plastic bag it came in. However, you do not want ethylene to get trapped in the bag. Ethylene is a ripening hormone that can cause celery to go bad faster. Wrap the bag around the celery tightly, as this will allow the ethylene to be released. Then, use rubber bands to secure the bag in place.^{[6]
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4
Discard the celery after it goes bad. Watch for signs the celery has gone bad. You may notice the stalks bending away from the stem, the celery turning white, and the middle becoming hollow. Celery generally lasts anywhere from three to four weeks in the fridge.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storing Celery in Water

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Prepare the celery for storage. You will have to chop up the celery in order to store it in water. To start, cut the stalks off the base of the celery.^{[8]
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- You should also remove any leaves. If you want to use the celery leaves for cooking, store them elsewhere.
- Once the leaves and stalks are removed, cut each piece of celery in half.
2
Place the celery in a container. Choose a container that can comfortably fit all the pieces of celery. It should also have enough room that you can have about an inch of headspace on top. A Tupperware container or a larger bowl would work well.^{[9]
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- A container you can easily seal works best. The less exposure celery gets to air, the better.
3
Fill the bowl with water. Use filtered water, as tap water can expose your celery to chemicals. Pour enough water to cover the celery. Seal the container tightly and then place it in the fridge. If your container does not have a lid, seal it with plastic wrap.^{[10]
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Change the water daily. It's important to remember to change the water. This method will not work as well if celery sits in the same water each day.^{[11]
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- Remember to use filtered water over tap water.
- This method can be used on other root vegetables to keep them crisp over time.
5
Throw away celery that's gone bad. Eventually, celery will go bad even with proper storage. It usually goes bad after three to four weeks.^{[12]
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- Bad celery will have a whitish color. It will also hollow out in the middle.

Community Q&A

Question

Why do I have to use filtered water instead of tap water?

Community Answer

This statement refers to many cities that put additives in the water supply or well water that is high in iron. You can still use tap water, if you choose.
Question

Will it always be crunchy?

Community Answer

No. After 3 to 4 weeks, it will start to go bad.
Question

Should I cut the bottom off?

Community Answer

You can if you want to, but it's not necessary.