Freezing celery and everything you need to know!
When freezing celery, keep in mind the important points to follow, such as blanching method, packaging, and storage time, so that you can enjoy its unique quality when adding it to your food.
It must have occurred to you that some of the celery you used in cooking was left over. In such a situation, you are likely to ask yourself, "Can I store this fresh celery in the freezer?" and "Can frozen celery be used in a variety of foods as fresh celery?" For answers to these questions and information on freezing celery, stay with us.
To freeze celery, you must follow these steps.
1- Wash the celery
Before freezing celery, wash it thoroughly to remove any dirt and germs. If the stem isn't already removed, remove it so you can clean out the dirt that's always on the bottom. Then cut off any part that has changed color or has become hard and rough.
2- Chop or chop the celery
Before freezing celery, it is best to separate the stalks and wash them well. In the next step, it is preferable to cut the stems to the desired size. Frozen celery is not as easy to cut as fresh celery. In addition, chopped celery takes up less space in the freezer. So it is better to do this before freezing.
3- Boil the chopped celery
If you want to use frozen celery in a shorter period of time (about 2 months), you can skip this step. But for longer storage, it is better to boil celery. Because celery contains a lot of water, it is not easy to freeze, and freezing often causes the stalks to crack and taste bad. But blanching can be the best way to freeze celery. A way to store vegetables in the freezer that preserves their flavor for a long time. Blanching stops the enzymatic processes in the plant and kills bacteria and mold.
To blanch celery, you need a pot of boiling water and a bowl of ice water. Soak the chopped celery in hot water for three minutes, then cool it in a bowl of ice water. After the blanching and cooling process and before placing it in the freezer, the celery must be dried. Then we pour the celery on a baking sheet and put it in the freezer for two hours.
4- Pack the celery for storage in the freezer
Once the celery is frozen solid, you can pack it for freezer storage. You can place the celery in a plastic freezer bag or an airtight freezer bag. Think about how you will use it and portion it out according to future recipes you have in mind. After you're done with the package, be sure to put a "celery" label on it and write the date you frozen it on the label.
Another way is to freeze celery, which will extend its shelf life. To prevent the celery pieces from sticking together in the freezer, first put them on a separate tray in the freezer and wait a few hours for them to freeze slightly. Then transfer them to a freezer bag or a special container. This two-stage celery freeze allows you to remove the amount of veggies you need at a time, instead of having to use an entire package!
How long to store celery in the freezer
If you use different solutions to blanching a stalk of celery before freezing, you can use the best quality celery for 12 to 18 months. If the freezer temperature is constant, after freezing celery can be stored in the freezer indefinitely.
The best way to use frozen celery
Celery contains a lot of water, which makes it moist and crunchy. Unfortunately, after freezing celery, some of its crunchy quality diminishes. Keeping in mind that after freezing celery it will lose its crispness, so it is preferable to use frozen celery in soups, celery soup and other hot dishes. You can also use frozen celery in seasonings and sauces.
using frozen celery
You can add celery directly to your cooking food without melting it and enjoy the properties of celery and its delicious taste in your food. Of course, if you wish, you can still use frozen celery to make salads, but you shouldn't expect it to be just as good as fresh celery.
