Celery has a wide range of use. Its versatility can be understood by the fact that it can be added to anything, be it your chicken salad or a smoothie, or simply be used as a garnish on your mashed potatoes.
But only a few dishes require you to add fresh crunchy celery to them. The rest either need you to cook or blend them.
That is why every time I buy celery, I keep a small amount in my refrigerator to add to dishes that require crunchy celery. I freeze the rest, so it stays fresh for longer.
Yes, you read it correctly, I freeze my celery, and today I will tell you how you can freeze yours as well. So stay with me till the end, as we’ll have a look at different ways you can use to freeze your celery and keep it fresh for longer.
Can You Freeze Celery?
Yes, you can freeze celery. Celery has a very small shelf life and normally goes bad in your refrigerator in a week.
To increase its shelf life, I prefer freezing any excess celery that I have in my home. This way, I save not only time but also money, as none of my celery goes bad.
Freezing celery can affect its texture, but if you’re not planning to use it in something that requires the signature crunchy texture, you should definitely freeze your celery.
Is It Safe To Freeze Celery?
I know you might have concerns if freezing celery is safe or not. Rest assured that freezing celery is completely safe and causes no harm to the body when consumed. So if you have any excess celery in your home, feel free to freeze it.
The only thing to remember when freezing your celery is that celery will not have the signature texture you have frozen it, so you will only be able to use it in dishes that do not need that crunchy texture.
How To Freeze Celery?
The process of freezing celery is pretty simple and straightforward. The first thing you need to do is wash your celery thoroughly and ensure there isn’t any residual dirt on it. Once it is washed, chop it into smaller pieces.
The next step depends on how long you plan to freeze your celery. If you’re only going to freeze it for two-three months, then there is no need to blanch your celery, simply put it inside a freezer bag and freeze it.
If you plan on freezing your celery for longer, blanch it by putting it in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and immediately transferring it to an ice bath to prevent overcooking.
After this, simply dry your celery, put it all in one freezer bag, or make smaller portions and put it in your freezer.
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Celery?
There are 2 ways of freezing your celery. In one, you just have to wash and chop your celery and put it in the freezer. The second one involves one extra step, but this is the one that I prefer doing.
Celery freezes most well after being blanched in hot water. This labor-intensive procedure retains the vegetable’s color and taste and lengthens its shelf life: Celery that has been blanched can be frozen for up to a year.
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How To Thaw Frozen Celery?
Another reason why you should freeze your celery is that it does not require thawing before use. You can simply take it out of the freezer and put it in your food.
But for some reason, if you want to thaw your celery anyways, just keep it out of the freezer overnight, and it will be good for use. And if you want to thaw it immediately, you can always use the microwave or put your celery in a bowl of water for some time.
How Long Does Frozen Celery Last?
This depends on the method you choose to freeze your celery. If you just chop your celery and put it in your freezer, then it will last for around two or three months.
But if you wish for your celery to last for almost a year, all you need to do is blanch it for 2 or 3 minutes in boiling water and dry it completely before you put it in the freezer.
I personally blanch my celery, and it lasts for almost a year, sometimes even more.
Do Celery Freeze Well?
Yes, celery freezes very well. In fact, it is one of those vegetables that are best for freezing as freezing them does not affect their taste and also significantly increases their shelf life.
If you plan on using your celery for making soup or a smoothie, you should definitely freeze your celery as these dishes do not require the signature crunchy texture of celery that is lost when it is frozen.
I only used frozen celery for my smoothies; this way, I don’t want to add any ice to them, and my smoothies don’t get watered down.
Final Verdict:
So this is how you can easily freeze your celery. Frozen celery is a preferable alternative for prepared foods like casseroles, stews, curries, and sauces since its flavor and texture could change.
Before freezing, blanching celery may help it keep more taste and have a much longer shelf life.
I hope you enjoyed reading today’s blog and that you find my tips helpful in freezing your celery. I will see you soon with some more new exciting tips and tricks; till then, happy freezing!
