The Aluminum Foil Hack For Keeping Celery Super Fresh
A fairly divisive vegetable, celery often gets labeled as tasteless. A single cup of this vegetable contains roughly 115 grams of water (via WebMD), which is likely the reason it gets branded as bland, but it also has a salty, almost spicy flavor that makes it interesting. In addition to its mildly salty flavor, celery also has a beautiful crunch that is great for adding a crispy element to homemade soups.
Though you can label celery as boring if you want, you can't deny that it's healthy. Despite its high water content, celery is filled with antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids (per Healthline). Celery also reduces inflammation and aids proper digestion. So, it's easy to see how it's a helpful vegetable, and there are even ways to spice it up if you don't like its taste. However, a problem that people occasionally encounter is celery going bad faster than it should. Don't worry, a simple aluminum foil hack can keep your celery super fresh for weeks!
Remove celery from plastic wrap and wrap it in aluminum foil
According to EatingWell, the best way to store celery involves removing it from its plastic wrap and tightly wrapping it in aluminum foil. Like all plants, celery produces ethylene, a hormone that stimulates ripening. Plastic wrap traps ethylene, which causes celery to spoil quickly. Unlike plastic wrap, aluminum foil allows ethylene to escape, allowing celery to stay fresh for longer. This is why it's extremely important to replace celery's plastic wrap with aluminum foil.
While aluminum foil is enough to preserve the freshness of celery, you can also place a damp paper towel inside the foil, reports MasterClass. The dampness of the paper towel will help keep the vegetable moist. After wrapping the celery in foil (or foil and paper towels), store it in the crisper of your refrigerator for optimum freshness. With this storage method, your celery stalks should last for about two weeks, per Eating Well.
How to make celery more appealing
As mentioned, celery seems to have a reputation for being a bland vegetable, but there are some ways that you can spice it up. An easy way to make celery more appetizing is to stuff it, per SFGate. Of course, you can always make the traditional ants on a log with peanut butter and raisins. Though this is often associated with children, anyone can enjoy it! If you want to get creative with this classic snack, try substituting the peanut butter and raisins for other toppings. You can substitute these ingredients with basically anything you want, but good alternatives for peanut butter include cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and hummus, while good alternatives for the raisins include cranberries, peas, and tomatoes.
You can also add celery to a stir fry to make it more enjoyable (via MasterClass). Sauté it with vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and zucchini, and add noodles and sauce. Don't forget to add seasonings such as thyme, dill, and oregano, as this will enhance the flavor of the celery. Regardless of how you choose to spice up your celery, remember to wrap it in aluminum foil so that you can keep it fresh for as long as possible.