DecodedGuides

How long does celery root last?

Celery root keeps for 1 week in the fridge. Times are USDA FoodKeeper quality guidelines from the point of purchase unless noted.

Basket of fresh vegetables on a wooden table
Photo: Nataliya Vaitkevich / Pexels
Pantry

No guideline

Fridge

1 week

from purchase

Freezer

No guideline

How celery root compares with other produce: fresh vegetables

USDA FoodKeeper gives celery root one time: 1 week in the fridge from purchase, and no figure for the other places. A blank usually means the food is not stored that way, not that the data is missing. The foods USDA lists next to celery root in produce: fresh vegetables show the range for the group:

FoodPantryFridgeFreezer
Cabbageno guideline1 to 2 weeks10 to 12 months
Carrots, parsnipsno guideline2 to 3 weeks10 to 12 months
Cauliflowerno guideline3 to 5 days10 to 12 months
Celeryno guideline1 to 2 weeks10 to 12 months
Cherry tomatoes10 days5 daysno guideline
Chives1 to 2 weeks2 to 3 weeksno guideline
Cilantro1 to 2 weeks2 to 3 weeksno guideline
Corn on the cobno guideline1 to 2 days8 months

About produce: fresh vegetables. Fresh vegetables vary widely in how they keep, with leafy greens wilting within days while root vegetables like potatoes and onions last for weeks in the right conditions. Moisture is usually the enemy of storage life, whether there is too much of it or too little. All produce: fresh vegetables.

How to tell celery root has gone bad

General signs for produce: fresh vegetables, the group USDA lists celery root under.

  • Slimy, wet leaves on greens that were crisp before
  • Soft or mushy spots on vegetables that were firm
  • Sprouting or wrinkled skin on potatoes and onions
  • Mould, often white or fuzzy, near the stem or cut end
  • Sour or off smell replacing a vegetable's usual earthy scent

More on produce: fresh vegetables. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Store leafy greens loosely wrapped in the crisper drawer, ideally with a paper towel to absorb extra moisture. Keep potatoes, onions and garlic in a cool, dark, dry place outside the fridge, and store potatoes away from onions since they spoil each other faster. Trim and wash vegetables just before cooking.

More in produce: fresh vegetables

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.