How to Clean, Wash, Peel and Otherwise Prepare Celery Properly for Your Holiday Parties

Peel celery to remove the strings.

There are only 15 calories in two celery stalks, but a serving packs 15 percent of your daily vitamin C recommendation, and 10 percent of Vitamin A, fiber, potassium and folate. Celery has long been touted as a nerve soother and aphrodisiac, as it contains male pheromones believed to attract women, according to the website Health Diaries. Cajun and French cuisine use celery extensively as a base for stews, sauces and soups, as it adds a mild but distinctive flavor. Knowing how to clean, peel and prepare celery for your meals or holiday parties adds a healthy zest to the occasion.

Instructions

1. Cut both ends off the bunch and separate the stalks.

2. Rinse stalks thoroughly in cold water. Dry with a paper towel or a clean dishcloth.

3. Peel the back of the stalks, or ribs. Use a vegetable peeler, just as you would peel a carrot. Peeling is not necessary, but it does remove the stringy portion that sometimes deters people from eating the vegetable raw.

4. Cut the raw ribs into sticks for dipping. Fill with peanut butter and raisins, blue cheese, Gorgonzola cheese, cream cheese or any other filling you desire.

5. Dice the stalks into small pieces. Use as part of a mirepoix, which includes an equal mix of celery, carrots and onion that can be incorporated into homemade stuffing, stew, soup or casserole.

Tips & Warnings

• Like any vegetable, celery can carry pesticides and other undesirable contaminants. Wash it properly before eating.

References

• Fruits and Veggies More Matters: Celery
• Ocean Mist: Celery Cooking, Preparing and Storing
• Health Diaries: 25 Facts About Celery