It's that time of the year when the refrigerator is filled with an abundance of fresh produce. So, it wasn't a surprise that I received a reference question regarding the best way to keep celery fresh and crisp in the refrigerator. My first thought was to wash and cut the celery and put it in a glass pickle jar with a lid and a little water in the bottom, since that's the way my mother always kept her celery fresh. However, I soon discovered something I wasn't expecting - there are many opinions regarding proper storage of celery.
There's the plastic bag without perforations method, the wrap in aluminum foil process, the layer with damp cloth and/or perforated bag technique, and an airtight container approach (plastic or glass). There's wash and do not wash, AND any combination of the above mentioned. In fact, there are so many variations to choose, I soon understood how someone would ask for assistance with this baffling task. There are even conflicting ways to revive limp celery. Is it in ice water, or in lukewarm water? Of course, there are also different types of celery. I don't even want to go there!
So, if anyone out there has a definitive answer, please let the rest of the world in on it. Celery is a tough vegetable to figure out.
Happy crunching!