A whole head of celery will keep fresh for up to a week when placed in a vegetable crisper, or in a long-life green storage bag, in the refrigerator. However, it may need to be cut in half to fit in the crisper drawer. You can break off individual stalks for use and the remainder will keep well, especially if it is still attached to its root base.
To prepare celery, cut the strings from coarser outer stalks, trim the stalks and wash all the celery carefully to remove trapped earth. The celery stalks can then be sliced, diced, chopped or cut into strips to be cooked in soups and stews, braised or steamed as a vegetable or used in stir-fries. Serve it raw as a crisp partner to cheese.
For best effect when serving as a raw accompaniment, especially on a cheese board, you can leave some of the leaves attached.
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