A while back I tried a Pinterest experiment of freezing chopped green onions. I am so sold on this idea and totally love it! So I wanted to try it out with another ingredient that I like to have, and is a key ingredient to some recipes, but we don't use it often enough to justify having it in the fridge all the time..... Celery.
Using the same idea, I cut up a large bunch of celery and placed it into a Tupperware round 3 container (or a spaghetti dispenser would work). For my green onions I had a shaker top, but the celery I just used the regular seal.
I never have to worry about having celery in the fridge anymore! I'm loving this!
Hope you try it and enjoy it as much as I do.
*Update- I'm still loving and doing this years later. I use my frozen green onions and celery mostly in salads or tuna sandwiches (adding these can really make the recipe so much better). I've also used them for soups. So far I haven't had any problems or any time they didn't work out great. I chop them up a little bigger than normal when I freeze them since I don't know what I'll be using them for. But if I want them chopped small like in tuna I just chop them up quick in my Tupperware smooth chopper. I did find these containers that are great for freezing celery and other things in- they are microwavable and dishwasher safe, yet if they break they're not horribly expensive.
2020 UPDATE-
I've found an even BETTER alternative to freezing my celery and green onions now, Thrive Life has freeze dried celery, green onions, and a ton of other food items. Here's the reasons I've switched to using Thrive Life's products in both my daily cooking as well as in my food storage:- They are shelf stable- up to 25-30 years unopened, and 6-18 months once opened.
- In most cases freeze dried foods have higher nutritional value than what you'd get at the grocery store. This is largely due to the fact that foods are allowed to ripen on the vine/tree allowing them more time to absorb nutrients & flavor.
- They taste AMAZING! Seriously. You know how sometimes you get corn on the cob that's just so delicious and better than other times? Imagine having that flavor in ALL your corn. That's how Thrive Life foods are.
- It saves me money! Using items out of the can on the shelf means I scoop the amount of celery or other item that I need for the recipe. No more using half an onion, while the other half rots in the fridge. No more having to buy a whole head of celery when I only need 1-2 stocks. Use what you need, and the rest sits on the shelf waiting to be used next time. With a much longer shelf life too! Plus less room in the fridge being taken up.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou bet!
DeleteThank you for sharing. I was just chopping celery about 30 minutes ago. Well bck to chop up the rest and freeze..
ReplyDeleteYou bet! Thanks for the comment :)
DeleteOh this is a great idea. I have wasted so much celery, and other vegetables that can be frozen as well. Next time I buy produce, i'll prepare it for freezing, and hopefully I won't put it off. This will also diminish the science projects that grow in the fridge.
DeleteI too think that this idea is one of the best yet! So many times I have wasted these item but not using them fast enough. I think I will try carrots too.
DeleteI freeze green/red peppers ,too! I slice into sticks freeze in freezer storage bag.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it awesome?!?! I just recently started freezing green peppers too since I only use them once in awhile but there's some recipes that are just better with them!
DeleteThanks for sharing!
where did you get the storage containers that are in the photo
ReplyDeleteThey're Tupperware. They're called Modular Mates and come in all different sizes and 4 shapes.
DeleteYou can order them from your local Tupperware rep, or online at: www.tupperware.com
But I recommend waiting until January since they go on sale every year in January.
I just use freezer ziplocs for freezing green onions and peppers. I have never frozen celery but have some in the refrigerator now which I will chop up later today. Date the Ziploc and just lay them flat on a shelf in the freezer!
DeletePlease refrain from using plastic freezer bags. Reuse, renew recycle. Thank you.
DeleteYou can reuse your freezer bags. I just wash and dry them and they are good to use again and again. They also take up less space in your freezer. I even wash and reuse my milk bags.
DeleteI do this also. Never thought about celery. I do this also with orka. I put chopped green onions in used water bottles. We travel in a rv and this is fast and easy. I also use water bottles for eggs. Crack them and pour them into water bottle. You can freeze them like this also.
DeleteWhoa whoa. You can freeze eggs in a water bottle? Bag still would work right?
DeleteI'm with Michelle -- everything goes in a freezer zip lock bag with the contents and date written on the label. Never thought to freeze celery or green onions -- I ALWAYS have sliced and minced onion in the freezer, as well as bell peppers. Will add celery and green onion to my freezer storage!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cheryl and Michelle- I used the Tupperware containers for about a year, but then found that when they were frozen the lids were sometimes a pain to get on and off- and if dropped while frozen they broke easier too. Tupperware has a excellent warranty program for broken pieces but I ended up switching to ziploc bags and it took up less room too.
ReplyDeleteI freeze: celery, green onions, chopped onions, bell peppers, avocados, and limes. All are great for a quick "go-to" for recipes.
Do you chop the avacodo? Does it get mushy
Deletewould like to know this about avacodo also. doe they get freezer frost on them?
DeleteIt really depends on 3 factors:
Delete1- if you have any moisture/water in the bag or container
2- how good the seal on your bag or container is
3- your freezer (some are more prone to defrosting than others)
When I've put mine in ziploc bags sealed well in a good freezer I've never had an issue.
Modular Mates are not designed for freezer use. That's likely why you are having difficulties with cracking and seals. Please consult with your consultant for the best products for use in the freezer. Thank you for the tip! I am going to freeze my celery tonight!
DeleteUse empty Water bottles and then just remove and shake what you want for both green onions and celery. also if you place the bulb of each in water and change the water every 2 days you will re grow both of them and never have to buy again! Just AWESOME!!!1
ReplyDeleteGREAT idea!! :) Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI plant the celery after it is rooted and wait for the leaves to get really large. Dehydrate the leaves and use them for stews, salads, etc. I also dehydrate the celery, grind well in my vitamix along with some pink salt and have great celery salt!
DeleteDoes celery get soft when frozen or stay crisp?
ReplyDeletenot by very much. I put it in sandwiches and salads and soups.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHas any one tried mixing onion and peppers and celery in the same bag or container
ReplyDeleteI haven't but I don't see why you couldn't if you regularly use a combination of those things! Great idea!
DeleteThe Holy Trinity! Oh yeah
DeleteTank you ... Ive ben doing this for a fue years now
ReplyDeleteI chop onions, peppers, celery and carrots, mix them together then pack in sandwich baggies for the freezer - perfect serving sizes, quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteYou can chop all kinds of onions and keep in the freezer. Usually I have more onion than needed in a recipe so I finely chop and put in a sealed plastic container. When I need a small amount, I can use a fork to flake off how much I need leaving the rest in the freezer.
ReplyDeleteI love freezing my onions too! Green, yellow, red. It's so nice to have them on hand and not worry about them spoiling. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteOnce you cut up all this stuff..lay it flat out on a baking sheet and "flash freeze" the pieces..THEN bag them. When you need a certain amount, you won't have to chip away at a big blob.
DeleteGreat idea...thanks
DeleteJust shake them while they are freezing a few times. When frozzen they will be loss.
DeleteThanks for sharing this! I freeze so many things, but never thought about celery! I always want it an hand, but it usually goes bad before I finish a bunch! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou bet! I know, I'm the same. There's some recipes that having certain ingredients just make or break the recipe... celery and green onions are those for a lot of mine, but we don't go through them enough to always have on hand without spoiling. :)
DeleteI will have to try this. Yes hubby hates buying it because so much gets thrown out. Thanks for the great idea.
DeleteI cut onions,celery,carrots,peppers,tomatoes and garlic all together to make great soups in the winter
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Did you see my crockpot freezer meals post? That's kind of what I did there.
Deletehttp://atozformomslikeme.blogspot.com/2012/04/crockpot-freezer-meals.html
Modular Mates are only designed for shelf storage. However, Tupperware does have a freezer line. http://catalog.tupperware.com/2017/catalog/spring/?BuildGuid=c50ef6fd-df37-423d-88d9-7307c5688150
ReplyDeleteYes, but even the freezer ones will break if dropped, and the lids aren't easy to remove either when frozen. And there's no warranty on frozen dropped Tupperware, even the freezer type.
DeleteTupperware's warranty covers "cracked, chipped, or peeling" So that would include anything that is broken. :)
DeleteHow long do they last in the freezer?
ReplyDeleteDepending on how good your freezer is- months!
ReplyDeleteRice and pasta freeze well too. I put my left over rice in freezer bags and put them in the freezer to use for another meal or to add to soup.
ReplyDeleteBrenda Sturgis
I make a large batch of brown rice in my Instant Pot, then divide into dinner size portions, ziplock and freeze. 2 minutes in the microwave and they’re perfect! Such a time saver!
DeleteI've tried freezing chopped onions and they came out all watery and limp when trying to cook them. What am I doing wrong?
ReplyDeleteThey will go limp when you cook them fresh or frozen, but as for the extra water, maybe just make sure they are good and dry when you freeze them so they don't have ice crystals with them...? That would be my best guess.
DeleteMy celery turns yellow and ugly...can you tell me what I'm doing wrong ?
Deleteoh dear! I'm not sure. It should keep it's color when frozen. The only way I can imagine it turning yellow is if it sat out to defrost or was put from the freezer into the fridge and not used right away. As long as you use it right away it shouldn't change color.
DeleteAs for the peppers, I vaccum seal them. The last so much longer.
ReplyDeleteYep! I rarely use peppers so freezing is great.
DeleteI stick a straw in the freezer bag and suck as much air out as possible keeps from freezer burning.
ReplyDeleteThat's dedication!
DeleteWhat about leeks? Has anybody froze them?
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried- let us know how it turns out!
DeleteHave frozen leeks, onions, peppers, mushrooms, avocados, celery, herbs, zucchini washed, chopped, grated and dried (blotted). Have occasionally measured and mixed veg for soups, stew recipes.
DeleteHOW WERE THE MUSHROOMS ONCE THAWED? CAN YOU USE PEPPERS ON VEGETABLE TRAY AFTER FROZEN OR DO YOU HAVE TO USE FROZEN FOR COOKING?
DeleteThanks for sharing your ideas of freezing these items. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteYou bet! Thanks for your comment :)
Deletetrès bonne idée , merci beaucoup.
ReplyDeletede rien
DeleteHi, I freeze baby spinach in lunch bags in small amounts to use in my soups. As soon as I take it out of the frezzer I crush it so it breaks into smaller pieces. Going to try freezing celery. I wrap my celery in tin foil. I wrap it not washed and make sure it is completely wrapped and sealed. It last for 2 weeks or more and stays crisp.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! I'll have to try spinach.
DeleteYou might want to include garlic or roasted garlic in your items that you freeze. When I roast garlic, I'll fill a muffin pan with bulbs. When finished, separate cloves carefully (they're very soft)then freeze flat.
ReplyDeleteI always use the crushed garlic from Costco- you can't beat it for the price (about $4.50 for 48 oz) it's shelf stable until it's opened then lasts in the fridge for months. We use a lot of garlic though.
DeleteWhere do you find that in Costco?
DeleteIt's over by their spices usually.
DeleteI purchase fresh, peeled garlic from Costco. Put it into the food processor and spread into dedicated (for garlic) ice cube trays. Freeze. Each cube in these particular trays are 3 cloves of chopped garlic.
DeleteGreat idea, thank you! Celery goes soft so quickly, I feel like I throw so much of it out.
ReplyDeleteMe too! That's why I started freezing it. There's some recipes that just aren't the same without it.
DeleteFor small portions freeze chopped veggies in ice cube trays, pop out when frozen and keep in the freezer in whatever container you prefer.
ReplyDeleteDoes the celery stay firm or get soft when frozen? Does it still have a nice crunch for tuna salad.
ReplyDeleteA couple of things that I haven't seen on your site, but thought I might mention. Old parmesan cheese containers are great for celery. Just wash and reuse - the flip lid helps control how much you put in. Also, I like it better than my Ziploc bags for this item. I use freezer bags for all my herbs that I grow also. I always have parsley, basil, thyme, mint and several other on hand - the tastes is much better than dried. Finally, I save and wash out my 1/2 gallon orange juice containers. You know the paper kind with the plastic lid? I buy fresh peas from the farmer's market, wash them and load them in the container. When I need some, I bang it on the counter a bit, give it a good shake, and I pour beautiful "fresh" peas out.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea. Happy Spring!
DeleteGreat ideas! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteDoesn't anyone use a seal a meal.for freezing.
ReplyDeleteCan you do this with cilantro?
ReplyDeleteI freeze baggies full of kale and spinach, and use them in smoothies, stir-fries, and soups.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great food prep ideas! I see a lot of people saying their celery goes bad fast. I can get mine to last about two weeks in the fridge if I take it out of the plastic bag it comes in and wrap it in foil. If I don't get that done right away or it's starts getting limp again, I clean in stick in water in the fridge and it will crisp up also. Hope this helps:)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great...if it works. I'll try a small bunch to see. I tried celery in the dehydrator, but EWWWW. Not good after rehydration.
ReplyDeleteWhat about freezing chopped carrots? Has anyone tried this?
I grow and freeze cleaned chopped leeks every year. Works great. And yes chopped carrots freeze great too.
ReplyDeleteDo you flash freeze first? If you put them in containers unfrozen don’t they just clump together?
ReplyDeleteI've seen the question a few times but not an answer... what is the texture of the celery when brought out of the freezer? Is there still a decent degree of crunch? Thanks, sorry if I overlooked the answer
ReplyDeleteFYI you can wrap most veg in foil and it will keep up to a month and stay crisp I do this with celery,lettuce and green onions. But have never thought of freezing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteyou gals need to invest in a food saver, its great, been using for years and because it vacuum seals your items last a lot longer not only in fridge but frozen as well the bags can be resealed after taking out what you need as well as washed and reused provided there is ample room to reseal them and no holes in the bags go on line and check it out. can even reseal your chips, crackers etc.
ReplyDeleteI have frozen celery for years. I chop some very small and leave some stalks about 3 inches for soups. It does lose the crunch, so I don't think it would do for salads. frozen in small bags it packs nicely on my freezer door.
ReplyDeleteI was so inspired by all these amazing women that I just ordered a seal a meal from Amazon. Can't wait to experiment with all my herbs.
ReplyDeleteRecently I bought the big gallon can of sliced black olives at sams club and put them in freezers baggies and froze them. Now I always have sliced olives for pizza etc... thanks for sharing. Your idea is great too.
ReplyDelete