How Long Can You Freeze Celery for Soups? A Science-Backed Storage Guide
Do you also often buy a whole bunch of celery but only use one or two stalks, and then watch the rest slowly wilt?I used to always throw away the uneaten celery until I started researching "frozen celery" and realized how versatile it is!
How long can frozen celery (for making soup) be stored?
The answer is: It can be frozen for about 2 to 3 months!
Although celery is not as cold-resistant as carrots and corn, as long as it is properly stored, it can be stored in the freezer for two to three months without any problem. Especially when used for making soup, stewing, making sauces or smoothies, it's completely sufficient!
Small tips: The longer it is frozen, the softer the fibers will become, but you can't tell the difference when making soup! Anyway, it's going to be stewed until soft, so what's there to worry about?
How to freeze celery? Here are the correct steps!
Many people think that freezing vegetables is troublesome, but the operation for celery is actually super simple:
1. Wash the celery thoroughly.
2. Remove the tough strings and roots, and cut it into small sections (about 2 cm long) or small pieces.
3. Blot dry the moisture. This step is crucial because too much moisture can easily form ice lumps.
4. Spread it out flat on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour first to avoid clumping.
5. Finally, put it into a plastic storage bag or a sealed container, label it with the date, and put it in the freezer.
Celery treated in this way won't stick together when taken out, and it's really convenient to use whenever you need it!
Can you freeze celery without blanching?
I've struggled with this question myself. After trying it a few times, the conclusion is:
✅ You can freeze it directly without blanching!
Especially if you plan to use it up within 1 - 2 months, or if you mainly use it for making soup, stewing, or as a base for fried rice after freezing, then you don't need this extra step at all.
But if you're more particular about keeping the color bright green or want to freeze it for a longer time, you can also blanch it:
1. Blanch the celery in boiling water for 1 minute.
2. Rinse it with cold water and drain.
3. Then freeze it. This way, the color will be more beautiful and the flavor will be better locked in.
Most of the time, I don't blanch it. It's simple and practical.
Can you freeze cooked celery?
This is also a question that many people ask. For example, if you've made a pot of soup and want to save the leftovers for a few days, what should you do with the celery in it?
✅ The answer is: Cooked celery can also be frozen!
Just pay attention to a few points:
1. Let the food cool completely before putting it in a container and freezing it.
2. If it's something like chicken soup with celery or braised pork with celery, you can freeze the whole thing with the soup.
3. Stir-fried celery can also be frozen, but after thawing, don't stir-fry it again. Heating it directly and eating it will have a better texture.
This method is especially suitable when preparing soup bases for babies or when you're too lazy to cut fresh vegetables when cooking for yourself!
Can I freeze celery leaves?
Yes! And it's highly recommended to keep them!
Celery leaves have a strong aroma. Although the raw texture isn't very appealing, they smell great when used to make stock, cook porridge, or make smoothies!
My method:
Wash them thoroughly and let them air dry.
Chop them up or leave them whole.
Put them in small plastic storage bags or ice cube trays and freeze.
Grab a small handful every time you make soup, and the flavor-enhancing effect is very obvious! It's also a way of practicing "zero waste" in life.
Can you buy frozen celery in the market?
Most supermarkets don't sell frozen celery separately.
But you can find it in frozen vegetable combination packs, such as:
The mirepoix (celery + onion + carrot) combination
Frozen stuffing ingredient packs
Some soup mix packages also contain chopped celery
However, freezing it yourself gives you the most flexibility. You can cut it into the shape you want according to your needs, and you can also eat it with more peace of mind.
Can you freeze celery for smoothies?
I really want to answer this question loudly: Yes, and it's highly recommended!
Although frozen celery can't be eaten raw, after making it into a smoothie, you can't really tell the difference in texture. Instead, it's even cooler and smoother.
My commonly recommended combinations:
Celery + apple + cucumber + lemon juice + a little honey
Celery + spinach + avocado + coconut water
Celery + frozen pineapple + ginger slices + lemon
You don't need to thaw it at all. Just take it out of the freezer and blend it directly. Not much nutrition will be lost either!
People who work out, use meal replacements, or want to eat more leafy vegetables really shouldn't miss this!
What else can you do with frozen celery? (Not just making soup!)
In addition to making soup, here are other uses for frozen celery:
Make stuffing (a classic Thanksgiving stuffing).
Add some chopped celery when frying rice to enhance the flavor and increase the amount of vegetables.
Use it with onions and carrots as a base for stir-fries.
Chop it up and make pancakes with eggs to add flavor and make it healthier.
It's very useful for making sauces, noodle sauces, or soup bases for cooking noodles.
Freeze it in ice cube trays to make "celery stock cubes". Throw one into the pot whenever you need it. It's so convenient!
