Looking for ways to get healthy, probiotic foods into your diet? Fermented celery only takes 5 minutes and ferments in 5-7 days.
When you think about fermented vegetables, celery probably isn’t the first veggie to come to mind. Celery is one of those veggies we use to make chicken salad, or make homemade celery soup. It’s normally one of those things served next to a dish of wings at your favorite restaurant, or dipped with ranch dressing on a veggie platter.
When you have an abundance of celery, though, you tend to look for fun ways to use it – leading you to wonder if it makes a wonderful ferment.
I’m here to tell you that it does – because this ferment is absolutely amazing!
Fermented vegetables are a wonderful way to get healthy probiotics in your diet. Sneaking those fermented vegetables in your diet is not as hard as you may think. It’s actually quite simple!
This fermented celery takes just a few minutes to throw together and 5-7 days to ferment. Start by trimming your celery into stalks that will fit in a wide mouth pint canning jar. You want to leave an inch or so of headspace, so try to trim each stalk to equal height.
After you wash them off thoroughly, divide your cloves and pickling spice between each jar. Then stuff your celery upright in each jar making sure that they are as tight as possible (to prevent them from wiggling out!) If you have a floater, merely shove him back down in the jar so he doesn’t pop out.
Once you mix the brine, pour it over each jar, leaving an inch of headspace.
Place your fermenting lids on each jar, and then set them towards the rear of your countertop in a cool area. If you feel that your pantry would be a better place, then go for it.
I love to take a towel and fold it lengthwise, then place the jars on those before moving to my desired resting place for the 5-7 day ferment. The towel will catch any overflow over the course of the next few days so that the counter/pantry doesn’t get soaked with brine.
Looking for ways to get healthy, probiotic foods into your diet? Fermented celery is a very easy task. It only takes 5 minutes of time and ferments in 5-7 days.
Ingredients
- 1 small bunch of celery
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 bunch fresh dill
- 2% brine solution (4 tsp salt to 1 quart water, dissolved)
- 2 tsp pickling spice
Instructions
- Clean and trim the ends of the celery. Cut the stalks into even stalks that will fit in the wide mouth, pint canning jar.
- In each jar, place 2 cloves of garlic, a sprig or two of fresh dill and a tsp of pickling spice.
- Carefully stuff each jar with the celery stalks. You may have to lay the jars on their side to stack the stalks in each very carefully, making sure to pack them very tight.
- Pour the brine over the celery. If you notice any celery floaters, pack them back in with the others. Leave 1 inch headspace.
- Cover each mason jar with your fermenting lids, and top those off with water. Place both jars on a folded kitchen towel in a cool area (cabinet or pantry).
- Ferment for 5-7 days.
- Remove the fermenting lid, place a regular canning lid and band on each jar, and refrigerate.
See more ferments:
- Fermented Summer Squash Relish
- Fermented Cabbage and Jalapeno Slaw
- Lacto-Fermented Turmeric Ginger Carrot Sticks
I want to try this recipe, but I don’t understand how I’m supposed to get one quart of brine into two pint jars full of celery.
I should have specified — you will likely have brine leftover. It’s easier to make a quart of brine and dump what’s leftover than try to make too little brine and have to calculate making an additional (smaller) amount.
So put your celery in the jar, then top with brine. Whatever brine is left, just toss it or use it for another ferment (broccoli, peppers, hot sauce, etc.) Hope that makes things a bit more clear. Have a great week!
Hi. Wondering how long will this last in the fridge?
Thank you,
Jayne
Fermented foods will last for quite a while, provided that you use a clean spoon/fork/etc when you open the jar to remove some. I had our fermented celery for just over a month before my oldest ate it. But as long as it is refrigerated, it will last for several months. I hope that helps!
do they stay crispy just like fresh celery sticks?
thank you,
Prasad
They absolutely do!
can refrigerated celery be used in this recipe? i have a large bag of celery from costco that i’d like to use up but it has been refrigerated at their store and now at home. thanks for your insights.
absolutely it can!
Do I need to strip the celery before cutting it?
No, that is not needed!