How long does celery last?

Checked 25 Oct 20264 official publishers, 6 sources

Fresh stalks: 1-2 weeks in the fridge, 10-12 months in the freezer for best quality and keeping it in the pantry is not recommended.

Storage times for celery by state and place
StatePantryFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Fresh stalks Not recommended Extension 1-2 weeks FoodKeeper Extension Extension 10-12 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension Extension
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStatePantryFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Fresh stalks-1-2 weeks10-12 months
Nebraska ExtensionFresh stalks-1-2 weeks10-12 months
NDSU ExtensionFresh stalksNot recommended1-2 weeks10-12 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “Celery loses its crispness when frozen. The frozen product is suitable only for cooked dishes.” Extension
  • “Select crisp, tender stalks, free from coarse strings. ... Water blanch for 3 minutes. Cool promptly, drain and package leaving no headspace.” Extension
  • “celery, cucumbers, parsley, radishes, and lettuce are vegetables that don’t freeze well due to water logging” Extension
  • “Cabbage*, celery, cress, cucumbers*, endive, lettuce, parsley, radishes As raw salad Limp, water-logged,quickly develops oxidized color, aroma and flavor” Extension

What the sources say

FoodKeeper gives fresh celery 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator from the date of purchase and 10 to 12 months in the freezer, with no pantry time.1

The Nebraska Extension chart lists the same 1 to 2 weeks and 10 to 12 months, and leaves the pantry column empty for celery.21

Freezing changes celery: the National Center for Home Food Preservation says it loses its crispness, and that the frozen product is suitable only for cooked dishes.4

Its method starts with crisp, tender stalks free from coarse strings, then a 3 minute water blanch, prompt cooling and draining, and packing with no headspace.4

The National Center also puts celery on its list of foods that do not freeze well when the usual use is raw salad, where thawed celery is limp, water-logged and quick to develop an oxidized color, aroma and flavor.6

The NDSU Extension food storage guide repeats 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator at 32 to 40 °F and 10 to 12 months in the freezer at 0 °F, and marks the pantry as not recommended for celery.31

A National Center leftovers article names celery again among vegetables that do not freeze well because of water logging.5

Rules that apply here

Freezing and refreezingFridge and freezer temperature
CabbageOnionsMushrooms

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 281: Celery. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Celery. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Weeks; DOP_Freeze: 10-12 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Celery - 1 to 2 weeks 10 to 12 months (freezing celery)
  3. 1 • FN579 • Food Storage GuideNDSU Extension. NDSU Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. Celery * 1 to 2 weeks 10 to 12 monthsCelery * 1 to 2 weeks 10 to 12 months ... * Not recommended
  4. Freezing Celery - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Celery loses its crispness when frozen. The frozen product is suitable only for cooked dishes.Select crisp, tender stalks, free from coarse strings. ... Water blanch for 3 minutes. Cool promptly, drain and package leaving no headspace.
  5. Lots of Leftovers? - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. celery, cucumbers, parsley, radishes, and lettuce are vegetables that don’t freeze well due to water logging
  6. Foods That Do Not Freeze Well - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cabbage*, celery, cress, cucumbers*, endive, lettuce, parsley, radishes As raw salad Limp, water-logged,quickly develops oxidized color, aroma and flavor
  7. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.