How to Buy Celery
Celery adds crunch to salads, texture to soups, and is the perfect accompaniment to spicy Buffalo wings. Because of its low calorie count, celery is also a dieter’s favorite. Picking it out, though, can be tricky. It’s sometimes stringy and tough or can quickly turn limp. Here’s how to choose the best snappy stalks. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Buy celery by the stalk rather than the head. If your grocery store offers this option, it’s a great way to avoid waste and save money. Purchase just what you need for your recipe, and avoid having leftovers in your refrigerator. This works perfectly for the solo cook.
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Buy celery hearts. The tougher outer stalks have been removed, leaving the choicest part of the head.
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Look for firm stalks. Gently wiggle a stalk from side-to-side (but be careful not to break it). There should be very little give. If there’s a lot of movement, this head of celery is already on its way to floppiness, so put it back.
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Feel the stalks for thickness. They should be pretty hefty. Thinner stalks tend to be tougher and stringier.
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Go for a fresh-looking, medium green color. If yellowing, the head is probably too old. If dark green, the head could be tough.
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Weigh celery heads in your hand. They should feel heavy for their size. This means they are fresh and have a high water content.
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Tips & Warnings
When you get celery home, store it in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. This will help keep moisture in and prevent a cold fridge from freezing it.
