If you're searching for instructions on how to freeze celery, you're in the right place. We're going over all the steps for freezing celery in detail and answering some common questions to help you along the way.
Let's get started...
Can You Freeze Celery?
Quick Answer: Yes, you can freeze celery. It won't be crisp and crunchy once frozen, but if you follow the steps below, it won't lose any flavor. Keep in mind that frozen celery is best for recipes you'll be thoroughly cooking it for, like soups and gravies.
Need celery recipe ideas? This article will get you started.
Directions for Freezing Celery
Step 1 - Clean and Chop the Celery
The first thing to do is clean the celery. Rinse the stalks under running water, gently brushing away any dirt you see.
With a sharp knife, cut the clean celery into slices, or chop it. The celery pieces can be any size you prefer for cooking later.
Step 2 - Get Ready to Blanch
Next, set up your blanching area. This is key for making sure that the celery tastes just as good after freezing as it did when it was fresh.
Grab a pot and fill it with water, then put it on the stove to boil. Next, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water.
The ice water is going to be your method of cooling the celery after you blanch it to halt the cooking process.
Step 3 - Blanch the Celery
When the water on the stove is boiling, add the celery pieces and leave them to cook for no more than a few minutes.
You may be wondering: Is blanching always necessary? The answer depends on when you're going to use the celery.
If you think you'll get to it within the next few weeks, there's no need to blanch. But if it's going to be a few months, blanching is the way to go.
Step 4 - Transfer the Celery to an Ice Bath
After blanching, carefully remove the celery from the boiling water and move it to the bowl of ice water.
Let the celery chill for a few minutes. It doesn't need to be particularly cold—just cooled off.
Step 5 - Dry the Celery
Drying the celery well will help to stop any freezer burn from happening. The easiest way to do this is to lay the celery on one paper towel and pat it dry with another.
If you have time, you can also let it air dry. Just keep it spread out evenly so that all the surface moisture can evaporate.
Step 6 - Pre-Freeze the Celery
This is the step that will keep the celery from clumping together in the freezer, making it impossible to pry apart.
Take a baking sheet that will fit in the freezer and line it with parchment or wax paper. If it's nonstick, you can skip the lining.
Then spread the celery out on the tray, taking care to separate the pieces. It's OK if they're touching a bit. You're just trying to keep them from mounding up.
Then pop the tray in the freezer and wait an hour, or until the celery is frozen.
Step 7 - Pack the Celery in Freezer Safe Containers
Almost done! Put the frozen celery in whichever freezer-safe packaging you prefer. If you're using a Ziploc bag, use a straw to remove all the air before you seal it up.
You can also use freezer Tupperware. Just fill it up all the way to prevent big air pockets and promote a longer freezer life.
Then freeze the celery and enjoy it whenever you like!
Read next: What Does Celery Root Taste Like?
Bonus Tips
Sure, you can chop or slice celery like you would any other vegetable. But if you don't know the trick in this video, it's going to change your world.
