How Long Does Celery Root (Celeriac) Last?

Bought celery root (or celeriac) for the first time and wondering how to store it or how long will it keep? How long does celery root last?

Here’s a handy guide that covers everything you need to know about celery root, including its shelf life, ideal storage conditions, and how to tell if it’s bad.

• Shelf life
• Spoilage
• Storage

How Long Does Celery Root Last?

Whole celery root lasts 2 to 4 weeks in the crisper drawer or 4 to 7 days if you store it in the pantry. Once you cut it up, celeriac keeps for about 4 to 7 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

The typical advice is to use up celery root within about two weeks, which is similar to the shelf life of carrots and how long celery lasts.

But the reality is that celeriac is a root vegetable with a tough outer skin that helps it last quite a while. That means it can retain quality for even 3 to 4 months if stored at a low temperature and under moist conditions, according to the University of Florida.

Of course, you can’t expect your celery root to always stay fine for those 3 to 4 months. But 2 to 4 weeks is a reasonable storage period if you do everything right.

(More on that in the storage section.)

As for leaving celery root at room temperature, it doesn’t wilt as quickly as celery, and it can retain decent quality for up to a week if stored in a cool and dry place. So if you have a plan for using the veggie and you’re short on fridge real estate, putting it in the pantry for a few days is an option.

Cut Celery Root

Cut celery root retains quality for up to a week if stored in the fridge. Place the cut celeriac in an airtight container or plastic bag, and refrigerate promptly after cutting. Also, ensure you’re using a clean knife when cutting so you don’t cross-contaminate the veggie and make it go bad sooner.

Most cut veggies keep for only a couple of days, and celery root is one of the few vegetables that keep for longer than the typical 3 to 4 days after cutting. That said, it’s only seven days to figure out how to use your leftover cut celeriac.

How to Tell if Celery Root is Bad?

Celery root is bad if it’s slimy, soft, moldy, or has large dark or rotten areas. Toss it if it gives off a foul smell or is cut up and sitting in the fridge for more than 10 days.

Celeriac is a sturdy root vegetable that doesn’t easily go bad. But it’s not like it’s going to last forever.

Old celery root is typically soft and wrinkled. So while a couple of wrinkles or being a bit on the softer side are okay, at a certain point, the veggie quality becomes bad enough (say, the celery root is slimy) that you toss it. And it’s up to you to choose that point.

The next thing is mold. If there are large patches of fuzzy mold, you toss the veggie. But if there’s only a small area with some fuzzy action, you can simply cut it off when peeling and use the rest. Be reasonable, and don’t go overboard with this, though.

Speaking of mold, toss everything in the container or freezer bag if your cut-up celery has started growing white fuzz.

Next up is darkened flesh. If your celery root has been in storage for longer than a few weeks, chances are it’s developed one of those dark areas. As with mold, it’s okay to cut off those and use the rest, but within reason. That also works for potatoes with dark patches.

As for the funny smell, celeriac doesn’t typically develop an off smell, so if your does, chances are it’s no good.

Last but not least, err on the side of caution and toss the veggie if you’re not sure it’s okay to use.

With that in mind, let’s talk about how to store celeriac.

How to Store Celery Root

For best results, store your celery root in the fridge. Remove the green stalks and leaves if still attached, and place the root in the crisper drawer. A cool basement or a root cellar are also decent options, though celeriac lasts the longest if stored near freezing and in high humidity, says Michigan State University.

When refrigerating celery root, it’s best to place it in the vegetable drawer, the most humid place in the fridge. If that’s not an option, put the veggie into a plastic bag to help it retain moisture for longer. The goal is to keep the relative humidity of the storage spot high, which is optimal for celeriac.

When choosing a storage spot, make sure celeriac doesn’t sit near ethylene gas producers such as apples, as it’s slightly sensitive to the gas.

Also, you can freeze celery root after peeling it, cutting it up, blanching it in boiling water for a few minutes, and chilling it in ice water for about as long.

As for cooked celery, let it cool to about room temperature (for no longer than 2 hours), and then place it in the fridge, sealed tightly. Stored that way, cook celery will keep for 3 to 4 days.