How to Cook Celery

Celery is a truly versatile vegetable and there are many simple ways you can prepare it. You can boil chopped celery if you enjoy tender celery, or steam it quickly if you want to preserve more of the nutrients. Stir-frying or sautéing is also a great option, especially if you like your celery slightly crisp rather than soft and tender.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Boiling

  1. Image titled Cook Celery Step 1
    1
    Rinse off the celery and chop it into 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Give the celery stalks a quick rinse to remove any dirt and debris, then place them on a cutting board and pat them dry. Use a sharp knife to chop off the tops and the roots of the stalks. Discard those, and chop the remaining stalks into roughly bite-size pieces.[1]
    • You don’t have to pat the celery dry, but it can prevent your hand from slipping accidentally, which can result in injury.
    • If your celery has any leaves on the stalks, remove those.
  2. Image titled Cook Celery Step 2
    2
    Put the celery in a medium saucepan and cover it with water. Transfer the chopped celery to a saucepan and add just enough water to cover the pieces completely. Try to arrange the pieces in a single layer, but it’s okay if they overlap a little, as long as they’re fully submerged in water.[2]
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  3. Image titled Cook Celery Step 3
    3
    Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Set the saucepan on a stove burner and turn the heat to high. Let the water come to a rolling boil, which will probably take 5-10 minutes, depending on how much water you’re boiling.[3]
    • You'll know the water is at a rolling boil when you can stir it and it doesn't stop bubbling.
  4. Image titled Cook Celery Step 4
    4
    Lower the heat and simmer the celery for 10-15 minutes. After you turn down the heat, cover the saucepan with a lid. Let the celery simmer in the water until it becomes tender, which usually takes 10-15 minutes.[4]
  5. Image titled Cook Celery Step 5
    5
    Drain the celery and serve it immediately. Remove the pan from the heat. Place a colander in your sink and pour the contents of the saucepan into it. Allow the water to drain completely. Then, season the celery with your favorite spices and serve it warm.[5]
    • Salt, pepper, butter, and a little sugar are popular options, but you can use any spices you like!
    • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and consume them within 3-5 days.[6]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Steaming

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    1
    Wash off the celery stalks and cut them into bite-size pieces. Run the celery stalks under your faucet to remove any lingering debris. Then, put the celery on a cutting board and pat the stalks dry with a paper towel. Chop off the tops and the roots of the stalks with a knife. Then, cut the stalks into 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces.[7]
    • It’s best to remove any leaves that are on the celery stalks, but you don’t have to—they’re edible![8]
  2. Image titled Cook Celery Step 7
    2
    Add the celery to a frying pan and cover them with water. Transfer the celery pieces to a medium-sized frying pan in a single layer. Add just enough water to cover the pieces completely.[9]
    • For additional flavor, you can use vegetable or chicken stock instead of water.
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    3
    Turn the burner to medium and steam the celery for 5-10 minutes. Place the frying pan on a stove burner and put a lid on the pan to cover the celery. Turn the heat to medium and steam the celery until it softens.[10]
  4. Image titled Cook Celery Step 9
    4
    Strain the steamed celery before serving it. Place a colander in your sink. Remove the pan from the heat, take off the lid, and pour the contents into the colander so the water can drain away. Then, season the celery with your favorite spices and enjoy.[11]
    • Put your leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate them. Be sure to enjoy the leftovers within 3-5 days.[12]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Sautéing

  1. Image titled Cook Celery Step 10
    1
    Rinse off the celery and cut the stalks into thin matchsticks. Run water over the celery to get rid of any dirt on the stalks. Put the celery on a cutting board and chop off the tops and roots. Julienne the stalks so that you end up with thin, matchstick-size strips.[13]
    • Celery is a root vegetable, meaning it grows in the ground, so definitely rinse the stalks off thoroughly before cooking them!
    • Matchsticks work better for sautéing than bite-size pieces because they cook quicker and more evenly.
  2. Image titled Cook Celery Step 11
    2
    Heat a skillet or frying pan over high heat. Before you add anything to the skillet, go ahead and let it heat up on your stove’s burner. Turn the heat to high and let the skillet get hot. It’s ready when you can flick a droplet of water into the pan and it evaporates right away.[14]
  3. Image titled Cook Celery Step 12
    3
    Add 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. You don’t have to use exactly this amount of oil--just make sure the bottom of the skillet is completely covered in a thin layer of oil. Heat the oil over high heat until it starts to shimmer.[15]
    • You can also use peanut or canola oil instead of vegetable oil for this. Any oil with a high smoke point will work great![16]
  4. Image titled Cook Celery Step 13
    4
    Sauté the celery pieces for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the matchsticks to the hot oil carefully. Let them saute for several minutes, stirring a few times to prevent sticking and to ensure the pieces cook through evenly. Remove the skillet from the heat when the celery becomes tender-crisp.
    • You want the celery to be softened, but not so tender that it becomes floppy.
    • If you want a little more flavor, add 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of soy sauce to the skillet while you saute.[17]
  5. Image titled Cook Celery Step 14
    5
    Season the sautéed celery however you’d like and serve it. Sautéed celery tastes best when freshly cooked or at room temperature, so season it with your favorite spices and try to get it on the table quickly so that it doesn’t get cold.[18] You can enjoy the celery on its own or alongside your favorite stir-fried veggies and meats.
    • You can season the celery with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, or any other spices that you enjoy![19]
    • You can also serve your stir-fry over brown rice or with whole wheat pita bread for a more filling meal.[20]
    • Keep leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container and eat them within 3-5 days.[21]
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Community Q&A
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  • Question
    How should I store celery?
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    Celery should be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. It can be wrapped in foil to help it remain crisp. Do not wash until you need to use it. For full storage instructions, check out the wikiHow: How to Store Celery.
  • Question
    How long should celery be stir fried?
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    Celery can be stir-fried for anywhere between 1 to 5 minutes, depending on how crisp or soft you'd like it to be. Follow the recipe's instructions if using one.
  • Question
    How to make celery soup?
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    Celery soup is a great way to use celery, as it creates a creamy soup suitable for the cooler months. For full instructions on making it, check out the wikiHow How to Make Celery Soup.
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Things You'll Need

Boiling

  • Sharp knife
  • Cutting board
  • Saucepan with a lid
  • Colander

Steaming

  • Sharp knife
  • Cutting board
  • Saucepan with a lid
  • Colander

Sautéing

  • Skillet
  • Sharp knife
  • Cutting board
  • Spatula or wooden spoon

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References

  1. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  2. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  3. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  4. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  5. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  6. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16727
  7. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  8. ↑ https://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/top-10-ways-to-enjoy-celery
  9. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  1. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  2. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  3. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16727
  4. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  5. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  6. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  7. ↑ https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/celery_stir_fry/
  8. ↑ https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/celery_stir_fry/
  9. ↑ https://living.thebump.com/cook-steam-carrots-celery-7669.html
  10. ↑ https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/celery_stir_fry/
  11. ↑ https://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/top-10-ways-to-enjoy-celery
  12. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16727

About This Article

Amber Crain
Co-authored by:
Amber Crain
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Amber Crain has been a member of wikiHow’s writing staff for the last six years. She graduated from the University of Houston where she majored in Classical Studies and minored in Painting. Before coming to wikiHow, she worked in a variety of industries including marketing, education, and music journalism. She's been a radio DJ for 10+ years and currently DJs a biweekly music program on the award-winning internet radio station DKFM. Her work at wikiHow supports her lifelong passion for learning and her belief that knowledge belongs to anyone who desires to seek it. This article has been viewed 87,328 times.
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Co-authors: 7
Updated: October 21, 2021
Views: 87,328
Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Article SummaryX

To cook celery, first, rinse the stalks to remove any dirt before chopping them into 1-inch pieces with a sharp knife. If your celery has any leaves on it, remove these with the knife. Once you have your celery in bite-sized pieces, place them in a saucepan and add enough water to cover them completely. Next, set the saucepan on your stove and turn the burner to high. Wait until the water comes to a rolling boil, which should take about 5 to 10 minutes, then lower the heat to a simmer. After simmering for 10 to 15 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and use a colander to separate your celery from the water. Finally, season your celery and serve it warm! For more advice, like how to cook celery by steaming it, scroll down.

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