Do you get stuck with the celery dilemma, never knowing whether you really want to buy it because it’s always only sold in the biggest heads? It is a huge toss-up considering how versatile and prevalent celery is in the culinary world; we add it to soups, savoury pies, salads, stir-fries, and even Caesars. But even then, most recipes only call for a single stalk at a time, sometimes less.

Here’s the good news. You’re not alone in this dilemma, and there is a solution to the seemingly inevitable mushy, soggy celery stalks that end up withering away in your fridge for weeks.

How to keep celery fresh for weeks

It is super easy. The key is to avoid plastic or airtight seals. Aluminium foil is the optimal choice as it allows the ethylene, a ripening hormone, to escape, preventing the celery from ripening faster. First, chop off the ends of the stalks and store it in a separate bag for future use in stocks. Then take just one sheet of aluminium foil to wrap around the rest of the stalks. Store in the fridge, and you’re done! This method is guaranteed to keep your celery fresh for weeks.

Creamy Celery Bacon Soup with Slow Cooker

The cold weather is upon us, and all you really want is a warm cup of creamy soup. It’s time to take out that trusty slow cooker.

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients:

4 cups celery finely chopped
4 strips of bacon chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 yellow onion finely diced
4 small white potatoes peeled and cubed
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste

How to prepare:

Cook the chopped bacon in a pan over low heat until crispy then set aside on paper towel.
Add the celery, potatoes, onion, garlic, thyme, and chicken stock to your slow cooker and cook over on low heat for five hours.
Using a stick blender, puree the soup completely. If you don’t have a stick blender, transfer the soup into a food processor then puree.
In the slow cooker with the soup, stir in milk, cream, and butter. Once thinned and well mixed, add the bacon, and salt and pepper to taste.

Flavourful, delicious creamy celery bacon soup made with good ol’ slow cooker! What are some of your favourite ways to prepare this aromatic vegetable?