Celery is an easy-to-store healthy snack that can be kept fresh for several days. The trick is to store it right. If you don’t keep it well-protected, it will start to lose its crisp texture and become limp. Wrapping it in paper towels and placing it in the fridge will help to lock in moisture and prevent it from going bad.
Before storing celery in the fridge, wash and dry the stalks thoroughly. Then, soak them in a vinegar solution for at least 20 minutes. This will help to remove dirt and germs. Then, wrap the celery in a paper towel and put it back in the fridge.
What is Celery?
Celery is a fresh biennial plant that has been raised for ages in a variety of ways. Although it was first cultivated for its alleged medicinal benefits, it has since spread around the world and is now a staple of many people’s diets. The herb is a member of the Apiaceae family, which also includes dill, carrots, fennel, and parsley. The domesticated and widely cultivated plant’s scientific name is Apium graveolens. Celery produces a mass of stalks covered with green leaves and white blooms during the blossoming season.
How to Store Celery in the Fridge?
Celery Stalks
Although the majority of celery stalks purchased from the grocery store are wrapped in plastic, this plastic can actually hasten the rate at which celery deteriorates. This is due to the fact that ethylene, a hormone generated by plants that promotes ripening, is unable to escape and will spoil your celery.
Instead, wrap celery stalks in foil and store them in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. This storage method permits the ethylene to escape while ensuring that the celery doesn’t lose moisture, which causes it to develop a limp. Celery stalks can last for up to two weeks when kept in this manner.
Cut Celery
As the whole stalks will retain water better than the sliced portions, it is recommended to preserve celery whole until you are ready to consume or cook it. The celery should be used within a few days for best freshness, so if you have any leftover sliced celery from a dish or are wanting to prepare ahead of time, store it in an airtight container (like this one from Rubbermaid, buy it: Target, $11) and keep it there.
The best ways to keep your celery crisp and fresh are these two storage techniques. Celery can quickly lose moisture despite careful storage because it contains 95% water. Fortunately, you can still use the limp, rubbery stalks. Trim both ends of each celery stalk and place them in ice-cold water for 30 minutes in the refrigerator to allow the celery to crisp up. This will restore the celery to its firm form.
What is the Heath Advantage of Celery?
Elements found in celery and its seeds may offer a number of health advantages. It’s crucial to keep in mind that celery only contains trace amounts of these nutrients, making it hard for it to function as a standalone preventative measure or treatment.
Preventing Cancer and Inflammation
A plant substance called apigenin, which has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties is found in celery and are used in traditional Chinese medicine. It may also possess certain traits. a dependable source that supports the fight against cancer.
According to the authors of a 2016 review trusted Source, laboratory tests have shown that apigenin may support apoptosis, a sort of programmed cell death, which could make it beneficial as a cancer treatment. Apigenin and diets high in apigenin were found to reduce the production of certain inflammatory proteins in mice in a study conducted in 2015. These substances could therefore aid in lowering inflammation and reestablishing immune system balance.
Celery contains the flavonoid luteolin. Luteolin may possess anticancer properties that assist prevent cancer cells from proliferating and encourage cell death. They proposed that luteolin increases the susceptibility of cancer cells to treatment medicines.
The Heart Rate
Celery and celery extracts are used by some practitioners of Chinese medicine to decrease blood pressure. Celery seed extracts were administered to rats in one investigation to see how they altered blood pressure in animals with normal blood pressure and those with chemically induced hypertension.
What Flavor does Celery have?
Although celery has a mild, earthy flavour, it is important to remember that it can also be consumed raw. Even though it seems like a bitter vegetable, it has several health advantages and may be utilised in a variety of cuisines. Others dislike it, while some people enjoy it in salads. For instance, celery goes well with a range of proteins and seasonings, such leeks and garlic.
A crisp, mellow bunch of celery with a light pepper flavour is great. Boiling the bitter celery’s outer portion will preserve it.
On the other side, the core of the stalks is typically sweeter but can still be abrasive. It’s better if you leave them alone on the exterior stalks. For a healthier taste, cut off the inner stalks and add them to a salad. You could even eat the full celery stem as an alternative.
Reference: Identification and classification of celery cultivars with RAPD markers
What are the Risks of Consuming Celery?
The authors of reviews are known as reviewers. According to a 2017 Trusted Source article, celery can make some people have severe allergic responses. Some signs could be:
Trouble Breathing and Hives
After eating celery, anyone experiencing breathing difficulties should seek emergency medical attention. Some people get the potentially fatal reaction known as anaphylaxis.
Read food labels carefully if you have a celery allergy because even tiny amounts might cause an allergic reaction. Celery seed supplements should also be avoided by expectant mothers since they can stimulate the uterus.
Another risk are pesticides. Celery is listed as the 11th most probable produce type (out of 15) to contain pesticides in 2019 by the Environmental Working Group. Wash celery well to remove all indications of illness.
What to Look for in Bad Celery?
We’ll go over the most well-liked techniques for determining whether your celery has gone awry below.
The Colour
Usually, a quick glance can tell you whether your celery is good or not. When fresh, celery has lovely green leaves and light green and white stalks.
The leaves show signs of decay when they begin to turn yellow and black. Additionally, check the base of the stem to see if the interior starts to turn brown or reddish-brown. This is a sign of degradation brought on by a fungus invasion.
The Feel
Celery that is in good health and at its peak has strong, crisp stems. Simply touching celery leaves will reveal their texture. They are no longer fresh and may be past their prime if the leaves and upper stem are limp.
It can also be sliced with a herb knife. If the stems are rubbery to the touch when cut, they have been overly damp and the insides of the stalks are starting to rot.
Fresh celery should have a watery texture and a flavour that is salty and bitter and persists after the first bite. It has been compared to spinach by some, however it is softer. If you’re eating one that is extremely bitter or has no taste at all, you’re probably eating a bad one.
The Taste
You might think your celery is fresh enough to use as a garnish for your dish if it is still green and not limp to the touch.
A celery stalk can maintain its look while being exposed to chemicals, even if the stalk’s interior is rotting. Of course, until you get your first taste, you won’t understand this.
How can you Get the Celery’s Bitter Taste Out of your Mouth?
Cleaning up the mess, the smaller, whiter inner stalks typically have a significantly lower bitterness than the darker outer stalks. While cleaning the bunch, set aside the inner stalks for raw consumption and use the larger, more bitter outer stalks in cooked dishes.
Celery stalks tend to be less sour than the leaves, especially if the leaves are dark in color. Use the leaves sparingly in prepared recipes if you are sensitive to the bitter flavor. To remove any dirt or dust that could harm the flavour, cut off the bottoms of the ribs and thoroughly wash the stalks in bloodless water.
Cooking with creativity Cooking softens celery while improving its mild flavour and aromatic properties. Cook the fruit if it is largely sour rather than eating it raw. The bitterness is tempered by simmering it in a broth or stock until smooth, and any lingering bitterness is covered by the other ingredients.
To enhance the mild flavor of celery, it can also be steamed or boiled for 20 minutes. For a crispier texture, try sautéing celery in butter until it starts to melt. This will lessen any minor bitterness, but it may not always be the best option for bitter stalks that are challenging to handle.
Combine Different Flavors
Celery enhances flavors while lowering bitterness when mixed with complementary flavors. Intensely fragrant ingredients are more efficient in reducing bitterness than subtle ones. Dinner might be sautéed in a flavorful beef or soy sauce broth, or celery can be cooked with onions and garlic.
Strong-flavored or acidic meals, such as tomatoes or cabbage, can also lessen the bitterness. Celery goes well with soft foods like potatoes, rice, and poultry, but extremely bitter bunches must be thoroughly cooked and covered in rich sauce or gravy to mask a sour flavor.
Conclusion
One way to store celery in the fridge is to freeze it. It can be stored in freezer pouches or air-tight plastic bags. The key is to label each bag or container to track how long it has been frozen. You can also freeze individual pieces of celery.
Before freezing, you should blanch it to lock in flavor and keep the texture intact. You can also flash and freeze it. To flash freeze it, place it on a baking sheet lined with paper and freeze it for a couple of hours. This will keep the celery crisp for months.
