Author: Cyndie Story
Last saved by: michelle.armstrong
Company: Culinary Solution Centers, LLC

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
Vegetable Preparation Methods and Tips

Segment 27: Celery
Chef Cyndie: Have you ever seen a veggie tray served without celery?  No, of course not!  Celery is a popular snack for children and adults.  Plus, the added celery crunch in recipes adds fiber, potassium and Vitamin C to your diet.  Select celery with shiny, firm, crisp stalks.  If the green leaves are still attached, these should be a bright green color.  Try to avoid celery that is soft, has brown patches on the stalks or leaves that have yellowed.  And don’t throw away the celery leaves; they add a wonderful flavor to soups.
To prepare celery sticks or slices, remove the stalks and rinse well.  You may want to remove the stalks with your chef’s knife instead of breaking off individual stalks.  The choice is yours.  After rinsing well, you are ready to cut your stalks into the product you need. 
For slices, simply cut across the stalk into the desired width.  If you want a diagonal slice, cut across the stalk on the diagonal.  If its celery sticks you want, cut the celery stalk in half, then into four inch pieces.  These should be ½ inch wide sticks.  If the celery stalk is large you may need to make additional lengthwise cuts.
Depending on the amount of product you need, this task may be difficult and time consuming.  In some instances processing whole celery stalks may require a food processor to complete these tasks easily and quickly. See the segment titled Automated Food Processing Equipment for more information on slicing celery.

Like carrots, celery is ideal for the Fresh Cut industry due to its good storage qualities.  But if pre-cut celery is held too long in storage, the ends will start to turn brown.  Do not serve celery with browned ends.  If the ends of pre-cut celery are brown and damaged, remove with a chef’s knife prior to serving for quality presentation.
Don’t just talk the talk, bite the stalk. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables every day