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Celery can be used for a handful of dishes, including soups, salads, and stir-fries, but most recipes usually call for only a few stalks, which means you may have extra celery, which usually goes to waste. But can you freeze celery for smoothies?
Yes, you can freeze celery for smoothies, juices, or any dish that does not require the firmness of the stalks, like flavoring soups, stews, and stocks.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to freeze celery — and make the most use of your produce.
Does Frozen Celery Lose Nutrients?
When stored properly, celery can be frozen for up to a year! Frozen celery can be used for smoothies and even stuffings, and no! Frozen celery does not lose nutrients; it maintains its nutritional value and provides an aromatic kick.
Blanching your celery before freezing it will help to preserve its color and flavor quite well for up to a whole year.
If you freeze celery unblanched, it will experience more noticeable changes and must be used within two months; past that point, the vegetable will lose its flavor and color and degrade to an unpalatable degree.
But whether it is blanched or not, once frozen, celery undergoes texture changes and becomes much softer.
Celery has a high water content, so when frozen, the celery’s cell structure ruptures, causing the vegetable to lose its crispness and crunch after spending some time in the freezer.
How To Freeze Celery (Storing Celery The Right Way)
To store leftover celery and prevent it from going bad, it is recommended that you freeze it, but you must do so properly.
Follow the simple steps below:
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Step 1: Make Needed Preparation
You cannot just toss your celery into the freezer to thaw, it must be prepped properly, and you’ll need some simple kitchen tools for this, including:
- A large pot filled with water
- An ice bowl
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Freezer bag or box.
Step 2: Clean the Celery
Discard the celery’s root before rinsing the entire stalk and branches thoroughly under clean, running water. Remove stuck dirt with your fingers and rub along the side of the celery to clean it thoroughly.
Ensure to wash each branch separately and not together in a basin of water; do so gently to avoid crushing or breaking the celery. Then soak the celery in salt water for 10 minutes to further clean it.
Step 3: Prep the Celery
Cut off the white bottom part of each celery stalk with a knife; if the celery has been laying around for a while and has become chewy, it will produce tiny strings as you try to cut it; you can use a vegetable peeler to remove this strings, so they don’t get caught in the food.
Cut each piece of celery into the desired shape, depending on what you intend to use the celery for after storage. You can cut them into long strips, a cube, or a half-moon slice.
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If you are unsure of what you are using the celery for after thawing, then you cut the celery into larger pieces. Do not toss out the removed parts of the celery; you can use the root, tops, and leaves for other dishes.
Step 4: Blanch Celery
Place the large pot of water on the stovetop and bring to a boil. Once the water begins to boil, place the chopped celery into a saucepan and allow to boil for 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 5: Transfer Celery to the Ice Bowl
After blanching the celery with boiling water, transfer it into the ice bowl and allow the celery to cool for about 5 minutes. Take it out and place it on a colander to drain.
Step 6: Place Celery On the Baking Sheet
You will need to wrap your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the celery from sticking together. Arrange the celery slices evenly on the baking sheet making sure they are evenly spaced. Then, place the baking sheet in the freezer.
Allow the celery to become frozen; you can place it in the freezer overnight. Freezing the celery pieces individually helps to keep them better for longer.
Read Also: Can You Freeze Cucumbers For Smoothies?
Step 7: Transfer Frozen Celery Into the Freezer Bag/Box
Transfer frozen celery into a freezer bag or box. If using a bag, remember to expel excess air before sealing the top of the bag.
Place a label with the date of storage on the box/bag before placing it in the freezer. You can store celery in the freezer for up to 12 months.
Conclusion | Can You Freeze Celery For Smoothies
As you can see from the discussion above, you can freeze celery for smoothies, and the process is very easy and straightforward.
Just follow the guide here on how to freeze celery, and you will be able to prevent it from going to waste.
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