You picked up a whole bunch of celery for a soup, used only two stalks, and now the rest is still sitting in the crisper. If you’ve ever wondered exactly how long celery keeps in refrigerator, the reassuring answer is up to two weeks when it’s stored the right way.
How Long Celery Lasts in the Fridge
Celery is one of the more patient vegetables in your produce drawer. Standard food-safety guidance gives whole, unwashed celery one to two weeks in the refrigerator at or below 40°F. Once you cut it, that window shortens because the exposed flesh loses moisture faster.
| Form | Approximate fridge time | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Whole bunch, unwashed | 1–2 weeks | Drying, slight wrinkling |
| Cut celery sticks | 4–7 days | Limp ends, dull color |
| Cooked celery dishes | 3–4 days | Sour smell, mushy texture |
The Best Way to Keep Celery Crisp
Moisture loss is celery’s main enemy, but too much moisture causes sliminess. The trick is to keep the bunch intact and unwashed until you’re ready to use it. Wrap the whole bunch in a lightly dampened paper towel, slip it into a reusable produce bag or loosely closed zip-top bag, and place it in the high-humidity crisper drawer if your fridge has that setting.
If you’ve already cut celery into sticks, store them in a container with about an inch of cold water. Change the water every couple of days, and they’ll stay snack-ready for the better part of a week.
How to Tell If Celery Has Gone Bad
Before you throw out a whole bunch, give it a quick once-over. Limpness alone does not mean spoiled. Celery that is simply tired can usually be perked up and used in cooking.
- Limp but not slimy or dark: dehydrated, not spoiled. Refresh it in cold water or use it in soups, stews, or stock.
- Soft, mushy spots or slimy patches: spoiling has begun. Discard those stalks.
- An off, sour or fermented smell: trust your nose and compost the bunch.
🌱 Note: If your celery looks rubbery but has no mushy spots, trim the base, stand the stalks in a jar with an inch of cold water, and refrigerate overnight. It won’t be quite as snappy as day one, but it’s still excellent for cooking.
Celery is more forgiving than most greens. Keep it whole, keep it dry, and give it a little air, and you can stretch one bunch through two full weeks of meals.
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