Celery

Celery Basics

Celery provides water and fiber, which are good for hydration and digestion.

Shop and Save

• Choose celery with straight, firm stalks and fresh-looking green leaves. Avoid woody, brown or limp stalks. 
• Celery is available year round but may have the best flavor and cost less when in season. In Oregon, this is usually July through November. 
• Celery seed can be found in the spice area of stores. It adds flavor to sauces, dressings and pickles. 
• Celery salt is made with crushed celery seed and table salt. Look at the label for its sodium content.

Store Well Waste Less

• Refrigerate celery in a loose plastic bag for 1 to 2 weeks. 
• Rinse celery under running water just before using. 
• Cut off the bottom 2 inches of the root end and throw away, compost or re-grow it. 
• Cut off leaf ends. Add to salads or save for broth.
• Remove the outer strings of celery with a vegetable peeler, if desired.   
• Refresh wilted celery sticks. Trim one end and put in cold water for an hour. 
• Freeze celery for longer storage. Cut into pieces and put in an airtight container. Use within 3 months in cooked dishes such as soups.  

You can re-grow celery

• Cut off the bottom 2 inches of the root end and peel off the outer 4 stalk pieces. 
• Put in a bowl with about 1 inch of water. Change the water every 3 days. 
• After 5 or 6 days, you will see green leaves sprouting from the center. 
• After 2 to 3 weeks, you will see small roots growing at the bottom. Plant into a one gallon container of damp potting soil with the roots about 1 inch below the top of the soil. 
• Place the container outdoors to grow in the cooler weather of spring or fall, or indoors any time of year.    

Celery is a member of the parsley family, along with carrots, parsnips, dill and fennel.  

Enjoy Celery

Recipes

Cream of Celery Soup

Ants on a log 

Quick Fix 

• Add a delicious crunch to any salad. 
• Serve sticks raw with a dip. 
• Add savory flavor to sauces, soups, stews and stuffings. 
• Add to a stir-fry. 
• Save pieces and leaves for making broth. 
• Add to a smoothie.

Kids Can!

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

• rinse celery under cool running water. 
• fill and top their Ants on a Log. 
• re-grow celery from the root end of a stalk.