Can You Freeze Celery?
Veggie lovers know that celery has a pretty short shelf life, so you may be asking yourself, “Can you freeze celery?” Celery is that unassuming veggie that adds a punch of flavor and color to salads, soups, stocks, stir-fries, crudité trays and smoothies. It’s even a fun and crunchy snack paired with peanut butter, dips and other items — ants on a log, anyone?
One downside is that celery’s shelf life isn’t that long. Raw and uncut celery can last in the fridge for about two weeks, possibly longer if wrapped tightly and not cut. Once it’s been cut, it may only be good for a few days to a week, and soggy celery is never tasty.
With all the nutritional value packed inside this crispy green stalk, it seems a shame to waste any part of this low shelf-life ingredient. Luckily, freezing celery offers an ideal way to preserve its shelf life and ensure you always have some on hand. If you want to know how best to freeze this vegetable, keep reading for an in-depth guide on how to freeze and defrost celery for use in all your favorite recipes.
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Can Celery Be Frozen?
Can you freeze celery? Yes! Like other fruits and vegetables, freezing celery is a wonderful way to have ingredients on hand and prevent food waste. The texture and consistency may change a bit — it won’t be as crisp and crunchy — but it’s still fine to cook with and saves time and money at the market.
Can You Freeze Celery Stalks?
If you’re wondering, “Can you freeze celery stalks?” the answer is yes, you absolutely can. Before freezing, you’ll want to wash and trim off all leaves and stems. Washing ensures that any dirt and loose leaves are removed, while trimming allows the celery pieces to be neatly stacked side by side in the freezer bags. It’s also quick and convenient to use the frozen celery when you’re ready to make a casserole, blend a smoothie or simmer a pot of stock.
Can You Freeze Chopped Celery?
If you're questioning whether you can freeze chopped celery, the answer is yes. In fact, it’s best to chop the celery before freezing it. By doing so, you’ll save time when you’re ready to use the celery, as well as take up less room in the freezer. You can freeze diced celery too. Diced celery is excellent for use in stocks, celery gratin, mirepoix and Cajun holy trinity mixes.
Can You Freeze Celery Juice?
Are you a fan of crisp and refreshing smoothies and celery juices? You’ll be happy to know that you can freeze celery juice for later use. It will last for approximately six months. This is a wonderful option for meal prepping and on-the-go smoothies and juice. Even if you don't have any pre-made, simply grab a handful from the freezer and toss it in the blender when you’re short on time or late for work.
Can You Freeze Celery for Soup?
Celery is a delicious, nutritious and colorful accompaniment to all kinds of soups, from vegan potato soup to Maryland crab soup. To save time and always have soup vegetables on hand, you can freeze celery to use later in any of your favorite soup recipes. Simply chop it and add it to freezer-safe bags. Once you need it, you can add the celery directly to soup mixes on the stove, there's no need to defrost before use.
How To Freeze Celery
There are two ways you can freeze celery. The first method is simply freezing the raw celery. To freeze celery for later use in recipes:
1. Trim the leaves and stems.
2. Wash and thoroughly dry every stalk.
3. Cut stalks into a length that will easily fit in your freezer.
4. Put the celery pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Place the sheet in the freezer for an hour or two.
6. Transfer the pieces to an airtight freezer bag.
A handy tip is to place the celery pieces in smaller bags, rather than adding a bunch to one big freezer bag. This way, you can avoid having to defrost a large amount at one time. This method prevents food waste and makes the bags easier to store in the freezer. Smaller bags can easily fill in gaps between larger items in an already overflowing freezer.
How To Blanch Celery for Freezing
Another way you can freeze celery is by blanching it first. Blanching is the process of placing vegetables and other foods in boiling water for a short amount of time and then immediately placing them in ice water. This process preserves the flavor and extends the shelf life of the celery. After trimming and cleaning the celery:
1. Cut celery pieces to the length you prefer.
2. Place the pieces in boiling water for about two minutes.
3. Place the celery in ice water for a few minutes.
4. Drain the celery in a colander.
5. Dry the celery pieces and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Allow the sheet to sit in the freezer for an hour or so.
7. Place the pieces in an airtight freezer bag to use in your next stew, stock, smoothie or gratin.
How Long Can You Freeze Celery?
While it can be frozen, like other fruits and vegetables, frozen celery won’t last forever. Blanched celery can last for up to 18 months. Frozen celery that’s not blanched is good for about two months.
How To Use Frozen Celery
Just how do you use frozen celery? You can take frozen celery straight from the freezer to the stock pot. There’s no need to defrost ahead of time, as the celery may become mushy. When used in smoothies, the frozen celery can function as an additional ice element to create a frosty beverage when combined with spinach, avocados and other greens.
How To Defrost Celery
How do you thaw celery when you’re ready to simmer vegetable soup, bake a casserole or put together a colorful mirepoix? To defrost frozen celery, all you need to do is place it in the refrigerator overnight. To make it even quicker and more convenient, you don’t have to defrost celery if you’re adding it to soups, stews, stir-fries and other heated dishes. Simply toss it in the pan or stockpot.
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The next time you come across a super sale on celery, you’ll know that freezing it is convenient, safe and acceptable. Go ahead and take advantage of the savings without worrying about stale stalks. Frozen celery might not be the best option for a crudité tray or as an after-school peanut butter “log” snack, as it loses a bit of its crispness in the freezer, but it’s a tasty option for soups, stews, stuffing, smoothies and casseroles.
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