Celery is crisp and watery raw, and mellow and savoury once it has been cooked slowly as the base of a soup, stew or ragù.
1Choose: Pick a head with firm, tightly packed stalks that snap cleanly. Limp, rubbery stalks have lost their crunch.
2Store: Wrap it in foil or keep it in a bag in the fridge so it stays crisp, and pull off stalks as you need them.
3Prep: Trim the base, separate the stalks and wash them. Snap the cut end back and pull downwards to peel away the stringy fibres, or use a peeler, then keep the leaves and trimmings for stock.
4Cook: Dice it finely and sweat it slowly in oil or butter with onion and carrot until soft, or slice it thinly and eat it raw in a tomato salad with oregano and olive oil.
Video: “How To Cut Celery | 1 Minute Tips | Gennaro Contaldo” by Jamie Oliver on YouTube.
Answers are drawn from the sources named on this page. Not medical or veterinary advice.
When can babies eat celery?+
The earliest stage on this page is 6–8 months: Steam or simmer until soft, then cut into narrow strips. Do not give raw celery sticks.
How do I cut and serve celery for my baby?+
6–8 months (Batons): Steam or simmer until soft, then cut into narrow strips. Do not give raw celery sticks.
9–11 months (Bite-size pieces): Soft-cooked pieces once your baby picks things up between finger and thumb.
12–24 months (Batons): Raw celery sticks are a choking risk until about 3 years — cut into narrow batons, cooked or well-softened.
Is celery a choking hazard for babies?+
Hard raw fruit and vegetables are a choking risk. Grate, mash, steam or simmer them, or cut into slices rather than small chunks. Source: NHS Best Start in Life: preparing food safely for babies.
Is celery a common allergen?+
Yes. On the UK allergen list it counts as Celery.
Celery (including celery stalks, leaves, seeds and celeriac) is one of the 14 declarable allergens in the UK.
