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Here’s How To Store Celery Root(Celeriac) So It Lasts Longer

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Do you have a lot of celery root on your hands ? Even if you have just one piece, it can last you for several meals, depending on what you’re cooking.

In this case, you will need to store it and make sure it doesn’t spoil. This post is meant to help you store it the best way possible, and make it last longer.

celery root

How to store celery root

There are several ways to store celery root to ensure that you enjoy the whole root before it goes bad.

Celery root is also known as celeriac, and it is a member of the celery family. Celeriac is a root vegetable that is suitable for salads, mashes, soups, and purees. The appropriate storage of celery root will ensure that the flavors stay intact until you use it.

It is a common assumption that you can pick any celery root and store it for a week or two. That is not the case. There are a few factors that will determine the duration that you can keep the celery root.

Therefore, you need to know the best practices of storing celeriac, and it starts with picking the best celery root at the farmers market.

Read Also:Here’s Why Celery Is So Expensive Lately

1. Pick a good celery root

The storage of celery root depends on the kind of products you start with at the beginning. The best celery root has to be fresh and crisp before storage. The vegetable loses some of its flavors during storage, and that’s why you must start with the freshest celery roots.

The right way to decide whether celeriac is fresh is to weigh it in your hands. If it is heavier than it looks, then you have a good root. If it is lighter than it looks, then it is not fresh.

Celery has a high water content, aside from a high fiber content. Celery that feels light is actually one that has dried put and won’t be of much use to you.

You can opt to choose celery roots from the farmers’ market or the supermarket. Stay away from any celery that is already in a fridge if you will not use it immediately.

Celeriac comes in different shapes and sizes, unlike vegetables like beetroot that have a cylindrical shape. Some celery roots will have a smooth finish, while others will have a complex form.

Celeriac, with a lot of bumps, will be tricky to clean and peel. Smooth ones allow you to peel it easily and fast.

2. Prep celery root for storage

There are a few things you need to understand how to store celery root. First, celery roots tend to be muddy and dirty when they are fresh. You need to cut off any green leafy parts and roots on the celeriac.

After that, you have to brush off any dirt on the celery roots. Do not wash celeriac before storage to prevent the possibility of discoloration. Use your hands or a small brush to remove any dirt and soil on the root vegetable.

Keep in mind that you can leave celery root unwashed, and simply cut off as much as you need each time you use it. This si especially useful if you have a large piece.

clean celery root

3. Place celery root in an airtight container

You need to put the celeriac in a plastic bag before storing it in the fridge. The plastic bag keeps the celeriac from getting in contact with water in the refrigerator.

It would be best if you placed the celeriac in the vegetable compartments to ensure that it stays fresh for as long as possible.

It can be tempting to try and freeze celery for future use, but celeriac doesn’t freeze well. You can attempt to do it for a couple of weeks. However, the taste won’t be the same when you defrost and cooks the celery roots. The freezer can keep celeriac edible for a couple of weeks at most.

How long does celery root lasts ?

Whole celery root can stay in the fridge for 10-14 days when you follow the right storage procedure.

It can last 3-4 days in the refrigerator without a plastic bag. However, it will be more prone to discoloration because it doesn’t have a plastic bag.

It would help if you only took the celery roots out of the fridge when ready to cook. The same goes for washing the celeriac.

The storage duration is different once you cut the celery root. It is harder to store celeriac once you cut it because it oxidizes faster. It would help if you still placed it in a plastic bag to prevent further oxidation.

As a rule of thumb, try not to store celery root after cutting. If you do, use the remaining portion as soon as possible.

Does celery root go bad ?

Celeriac goes bad, just like any other root vegetable. Sometimes it goes bad because of poor storage or that the celery wasn’t fresh from the start. There are signs that you should look out for when you store celery root for an extended period.

The first sign of spoilage is a slimy and mushy texture of the vegetable. You will notice the slimy texture immediately if you touch the celeriac.

The other indications include a funny odor and some discoloration of the root. Proper storage of the celery roots will prevent it from going bad. It would be best if you disposed of the celery root of you notice any signs of spoilage.

Is celery root a starchy vegetable ?

Celery root isn’t a high starch root. You can use it together with potatoes to form a healthy mash. It is less calorie-dense in comparison to potatoes, and it can be eaten raw.

It would be best if you sprinkled some lemon, lime, or vinegar to prevent the celery root from browning in salads. Also, it has few calories that won’t throw you out of ketosis when you are on a keto diet.

Just keep in mind that whenever you cook celery it will soften significantly, so it’s a good candidate if you wnt something mushy inside and crispy outside.

Is celeriac the same as celery ?

Celeriac and celery are the same, with celery being used for the green stalks while celeriac is the root of the same plant.

Celeriac is used for soups, purees, and mashes.

Celery, on the other hand, is a leafy vegetable that people like to eat raw with hummus. The stalks are crunchy, and they make an excellent choice for a snack.

There’s also celery leaves, which are used as garnishes in soups or in salads.

Why do you need to store celery root ?

You may need to store celery root to avoid using going to the farmers market whenever you need celeriac. It’s the same reason you need to keep other vegetables in the fridge after your weekly shopping trip.

store celery root

Plus, it is not hard to prepare and store celery root for future use, especially when cooking it within a week.

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Conclusion

Storing celery root depends on the preparation before you throw it in the fridge.

You can keep celery root in the refrigerator for up to 14 days without worrying that it will go bad. Overall, it is simple to store two weeks’ worth of celery root if you often eat the root vegetable.

It can last in the open for a few days if your fridge is out of order. The bottom line is to store the root vegetable and see which duration works best for you.


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