Celery

Celery is prized for the refreshing and distinctive flavor and crunch it adds to salads, soups, and stews. Flavor is most intense in leaves and outer stalks. Those growing celery for the gourmet market shield the stalks from steady sun during the plant's long growing period (over 100 days). Because of its long maturity, celery grows best in temperate climates, with mild winters and moderate summers. One variety of celery is grown for its root (celeriac), which was often used in winter before celery in bunches became widely available.

What to Look For:

1. Fresh celery is crisp, first and foremost. To test crispness, squeeze stalks gently together and listen for a squeaking sound. Flex stalks if possible and do not buy bunches that have limp stalks or leaves.
2. Celery hearts tend to be lighter in color than whole bunches because they are composed of inner stalks only.
3. Celery root should be heavy for its size and free from scarring or dark spots, which may signal spoilage.

Celery Storage and Preparation Tips:

1. Cut off base, wash stalks, pat dry lightly, and refrigerate in a plastic bag.
2. For extra-crisp celery (a relish-tray or crudités), cut stalks in serving-size pieces and immerse in cold water in refrigerator.
3. Outer stalks may have coarse strings on their outside edges. Slide a sharp knife under the strings and pull gently to remove.
4. Leaves can be chopped and frozen to season cooked dishes if you do not plan to use them immediately.

Cooking with Celery:

In the U.S., the bulk of celery is eaten raw. Many Americans cannot imagine potato, pasta or meat and fish salads without celery. Celery is traditionally an ingredient in poultry stuffing; an old-fashioned holiday hostess used outer stalks for her turkey stuffing and set out the trimmed inner stalks along with olives and radishes to begin the meal. Celery is frequently used for stir-fries in Asian cuisine, and European cooks often braise the stalks in meat broth or bake it au gratin. Because of its high water content, celery "marries well" with other flavors, without losing its distinctive contribution to the seasoning of a dish.

Celery Nutrition Highlights:

Celery is a good source of Vitamin C, potassium, folate, and dietary fiber. It also contains manganese and several other trace minerals needed for healthy human enzyme functioning.

Nutrients of Celery