How to Dehydrate Celery
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Dehydrated celery is perfect for creating dried mirepoix or flavourful soup bases and is an excellent addition to a variety of dehydrated meals. It can also be ground into powders to make custom seasonings and spice blends.
Snapshot
Special Prep
Blanch or steam
(optional)
Temperature
135°F
Time
10-12 hours
Mass Change
Approx 95% decrease
How to prep celery for dehydrating
Although not required, blanching or steaming celery before dehydrating it offers several benefits:
- Preserves colour and texture:Â Blanching helps maintain the bright green colour of celery and prevents it from turning dull or brown during the dehydration process. It also softens the fibers slightly, ensuring a better texture when rehydrated.
- Flavour: Blanching mellows out any bitterness in the celery.
- Microbial reduction: The brief heating process kills surface bacteria and enzymes that can cause spoilage.
- Promotes even dehydration:Â Blanched celery dehydrates more evenly because the heat process breaks down the outer layers, allowing moisture to escape more consistently.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning to make seasonings or powders from dehydrated celery – or looking for a more concentrated and robust celery flavour, skip the blanching/steaming stepÂ
Here’s a basic guide on how to blanch or steam celery for dehydration:
1. Prepare Celery: Wash and cut the celery into the desired size. (Recommendation: slice into 1/2″ long pieces for use in cooking recipes such as soup bases, spices; dice if intending to add into dehydrated meals)
2a. Blanching:Â Bring a pot of water to a boil and immerse the celery in the boiling water for a short period, typically 1 minute.
2b. Steaming:Â Bring a pot of water to a boil (with a steam basket or insert). Once steaming, add the celery and steam for about 2.5 minutesÂ
**The exact blanching/steaming time may vary, so it’s important to monitor the process closely (celery should be slightly soft but not mushy)
Cooling: Immediately cool by rinsing with cold water or transferring to a cold or ice water bath. This helps retain the color and texture of the celery.Â
Drain:Â Once cooled, drain the excess water from the celery.
Dehydration:Â Proceed with the dehydration process.
How to dehydrate celery
Basic Steps:
- Slice celery into 1/4″-1/2″ long pieces (Recommendation: 1/2″ long pieces are best for future use in cooking recipes such as soup bases; 1/4″ is best if intending to add into dehydrated meals)
- Blanch (1 minute) OR steam (2.5 minutes); celery should be slightly soft but not mushyÂ
- Cool by rinsing with cold water or immersing in a cold or ice water bath
- Drain and arrange on a mesh lined dehydrating tray with enough room for air to circulate between the pieces (no over lapping)
- Place in the dehydrator and dehydrate at 135°F for about 10-12 hours
It’s that easy!
Notes:
- Steaming is recommended over blanching to avoid losing water soluble vitamins in the celery
- A mesh liner is required for celery
- Dehydrating times may vary (the water content in the celery, as well as the humidity and altitude of where you live in impact the time)
- To learn more about dehydrating, check out our post How to Dehydrate: Learning the Basics
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How do you know when celery is fully dehydrated?
Celery will be dry to the touch and stiff. No moisture should excrete when split in half and squeezed.
Jar test: If eager, you can place your celery in a glass jar and tightly close the lid. If you notice moisture or condensation forming in the jar within 24-48 hours (or if the celery become squishy or tacky) you know there is still moisture and more dehydrating time is needed.Â
Note: You technically can’t over dehydrate celery. If in doubt, dehydrate until you’re absolutely certain there’s no moisture left.Â
Fresh to dehydrated conversion measurements ​
95%
The mass and weight of celery decreases by about 95% once dehydrated.
Ex. 1 cup of sliced celery
- Pre-dehydrated:Â 110g | 1 cup slicedÂ
- Dehydrated: 4g | 1 tbsp
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How to store dehydrated celery:
Here are some tips to help you maximize the shelf life of your dehydrated celery:
- Allow to cool after dehydrating before storingÂ
- Keep stored in a sealable container or bag in a cool, dry and dark place
- Using Mylar bags or vacuum sealing can extend the shelf life by up to three times its normal duration! This is useful if you’re prepping lots for longer term use. Learn the pros and cons of each in our post: The Ultimate Guide to Long-Term Food Storage: Mylar Bags vs. Vacuum Sealing (Bags & Jars)
When dried and stored properly, celery should have a shelf life of several years.
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Rehydrating Dehydrated Ingredients
When & Why to Rehydrate Dehydrated Ingredients
Knowing how much water to use for rehydration is essential for getting the best texture and flavour out of your dehydrated foods. Some ingredients are best rehydrated just before use, while others can absorb enough liquid during cooking – it all depends on how you’re using them!Â
For Dehydrated Meal Prep
- When preparing dehydrated meals for outdoor adventures, understanding the water requirements for different ingredients ensures you add just the right amount, giving you confidence in your meal creativity and preparation.
Before Cooking or Baking
- If a recipe doesn’t contain much liquid – such as stir-fries or casseroles – rehydrating beforehand prevents ingredients from staying too tough
- Pre-soaking reduces cooking time, especially for hard ingredients like beans or root vegetables
- Certain dehydrated ingredients (such as whole mushrooms or tomatoes) regain a better texture and flavour if rehydrated before cooking
- Rehydrated ingredients absorb flavors more easily when cooked, making dishes more flavorful
- Baking: Ingredients like dried fruits can be rehydrated to have a softer texture and to prevent them from drawing moisture out of the dough or batter
For Eating Raw
- If you’re eating the dehydrated ingredients uncooked, but prefer a softer texture (such as using dehydrated fruits or vegetables in a salad)
Rehydrating dehydrated celery:
Dehydrated celery to water ratio is typically 1 : 1 – 1.25
 Per 1/4 cup of dehydrated celery:
Quick Simmer
- Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a boil
- Turn down heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes
- Turn off or remove from heat and let sit for 2-3 minutes
Just Add Hot Water
- Add 1/4 cup boiling water and stir
- Let soak for 12-15 minutes
Add water & refrigerate
- Add 1/4 cup boiled water and stir
- Allow to cool, place in fridge and let soak for 24 hours
Note: it’s important to not let sit for more than 30 minutes in room temperature because of the risk of bacteria growth.
FAQs
Can I use frozen celery?
Yes, you can dehydrate frozen celery! As a bonus, there’s no need to thaw or blanch frozen celery before dehydrating.Â
Can I use an oven to dehydrate celery?
Not unless your oven can maintain a low temperature of around 135°F (57°C). Celery need to be dehydrated at this temperature to dry properly. If the temperature is too high, you risk either cooking the celery or causing “case hardening,” where the outer layer hardens, trapping moisture inside and preventing proper drying.
How to Dehydrate Celery
Dehydrated celery is perfect for creating dried mirepoix or flavourful soup bases and is an excellent addition to a variety of dehydrated meals. It can also be ground into powders to make custom seasonings and spice blends.
Notable Equipment
- 1 Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Celery, chopped
Instructions
- 1. Slice celery into 1/4"-1/2" long pieces (Recommendation: 1/2" long pieces are best for future use in cooking recipes such as soup bases; 1/4" is best if intending to add into dehydrated meals)
- 2. Blanch (1 minute) OR steam (2.5 minutes); celery should be slightly soft but not mushyÂ
- 3. Cool by rinsing with cold water or immersing in a cold or ice water bath
- 4. Drain and arrange on a mesh lined dehydrating tray with enough room for air to circulate between the pieces (avoid touching and over lapping)
- 5. Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 135°F for about 10-12 hours
Notes
- Steaming is recommended over blanching to avoid losing water soluble vitamins in the celery
- A mesh liner is required for celery
- Dehydrating times may vary (the water content in the celery, as well as the humidity and altitude of where you live in impact the time)
- To learn more about dehydrating, check out our post How to Dehydrate: Learning the Basics
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The Foodie Behind the Screen
Hi there! I'm Bri. I'm sharing my love for cooking - and the outdoors - one recipe at a time.
