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How to Dehydrate Celery for Soups, Stews, and Storage

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Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

Learning how to dehydrate celery is a simple way to stretch your grocery budget and reduce waste while keeping this crunchy veggie ready for soups, stews, and seasonings all year long.

✅ Quick Answer: How to dehydrate celery
Wash and slice celery into ⅛-inch pieces. Blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain well and arrange on dehydrator trays. Dry at 135–140°F for approximately 10–16 hours, or until brittle. Cool completely before storing in airtight containers in a cool, dark, dry place.

Whether you've harvested celery from your garden or picked up a store-bought bunch, dehydrating is an easy way to preserve its flavor and keep it ready for your favorite recipes.

Side-by-side comparison of celery slices before and after dehydration on dehydrator trays.

Step-by-Step: How to Dehydrate Celery

Sliced celery on a Nesco dehydrator tray
  1. Wash and slice: Wash fresh celery thoroughly, trim the ends, and cut the stalks into approximately ⅛-inch-thick slices. A mandoline does a fine job of this—just watch your fingers, please!
  2. Blanch the celery: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the sliced celery and blanch for 3 minutes. Drain immediately and cool briefly in cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain thoroughly and pat dry.
  3. Arrange on trays: Spread the celery slices in a single layer on your dehydrator trays, leaving space between the pieces for good airflow.
  4. Set the temperature: Set your food dehydrator to 140°F, following your manufacturer's instructions.
  5. Dry until brittle: Dehydrate for approximately 10–16 hours, checking periodically. The celery should be very brittle when completely dry, with no remaining moisture or flexibility. Rotate trays if your dehydrator requires it.

Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter

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135°F
95°F450°F
Celsius equivalent: 57.2°C
Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter

Move the slider to convert temperatures instantly.

135°F
95°F450°F
Celsius equivalent: 57.2°C

Dehydrated celery on a Nesco dehydrator tray
  • Check for dryness: Dehydrated celery should be very brittle when fully dried, not leathery. The little dried pieces remind me of tiny seahorses for some strange reason! :-)
  • Drying time: Allow approximately 10–16 hours, depending on your dehydrator, slice thickness, and humidity.
  • Rotate your trays: If your dehydrator requires tray rotation, remember to rotate them for even drying.

Cutluxe Chef Knife

See the Cutluxe Chef's Knife I Use

A sharp chef’s knife makes food preparation easier and gives you better control than a dull blade. I use my Cutluxe chef’s knife, which has a full-tang blade extending through the handle for strength and stability. It costs more than a basic kitchen knife, but mine has been a dependable kitchen tool when kept properly sharpened.

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PL8 Professional Mandoline

Progressive International Mandoline Slicer

The Progressive International PL8 mandoline makes it easier to create evenly sized slices that will dry at approximately the same rate. Always use its hand guard and keep your fingers well away from the blade.

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Celery sliced on a mandoline slicer

But my newest kitchen must-have is this:

SupMaKin Upgrade Safe Mandoline Slicer

SUPMAKIN Slicer and Dicer

The SupMaKin slicer works particularly well for producing uniform vegetable slices, although cleaning the blades and all those little grooves can be time-consuming—especially after preparing a large batch.

It's useful for slicing, but for bigger chopping jobs, I personally prefer my food processor.

You can read my full multi-function slicer review for a closer look at its advantages and drawbacks.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—this does not affect the price you pay. Read full disclosure.


Delicious Soups You Can Make With Dehydrated Celery

Here are a couple of easy celery-based soups listed on our Recipes page for you to wrap your taste buds around: Celery and Potato Soup and a Curried version!

If you've got a great recipe to share too, please use the entry form on the bottom of our Recipes page to send it in so we can all benefit from your culinary creation! Thanks! :-

Homemade celery and potato soup
Homemade curried celery and potato soup

Don't forget to save the celery leaves!

They're wonderful dried and crumbled into soups, stews, and homemade seasonings. And don't throw away those smaller, tender celery stalks either!

Chop them up and add them fresh to Tuna Salad or Chicken Salad, or dehydrate them along with the larger stalks for later use.

Dehydrated celery rehydrates beautifully in soups and stews, adding plenty of celery flavor without needing to keep fresh stalks in the refrigerator!

🧂 How to Make Flavor-Packed Celery Salt in Minutes

Celery salt is a wonderful addition to soups, stews, casseroles, and homemade seasoning blends. And it's surprisingly easy to make using your dehydrated celery!

  1. Grind the celery: Place completely dried, brittle celery pieces in a clean, dry spice grinder or coffee mill. Grind until you have a fine powder.
  2. Add the salt: Mix equal parts celery powder and salt. For example, start with 1 tablespoon of celery powder and 1 tablespoon of salt.
  3. Taste and adjust: Give it a taste and adjust the proportions to suit your preference. Add more celery powder for a stronger celery flavor or more salt if needed.
  4. Store properly: Transfer your homemade celery salt to a clean, completely dry, airtight spice jar. Keep it in a cool, dark, dry cupboard, away from steam and moisture.

Tip: You can also grind dried celery leaves into a powder for an extra burst of celery flavor!

And here's a little bonus—have you ever tried fresh celery with peanut butter? Sounds odd, I know, but it's delicious!

How to Store Dehydrated Celery

Once your celery is completely dry and brittle, proper storage helps preserve its flavor and keeps moisture from spoiling your hard work.

  1. Cool completely: Let the dehydrated celery cool to room temperature before packing it. Warm celery can create condensation inside storage containers.
  2. Check for moisture: Break a few of the thicker pieces to make sure they're brittle throughout, with no soft or damp centers. Unlike dried fruits, properly dried vegetables generally don't need a separate conditioning period.
  3. Choose airtight containers: Pack your celery into clean, dry Mason jars, vacuum-sealer bags, or moisture-resistant food-storage containers. Use smaller containers if you only need a little celery at a time.
  4. Store somewhere cool, dark, and dry: Keep the containers away from sunlight, heat, and humidity. A pantry or cupboard is ideal.
  5. Check your stored celery: Inspect the containers during the first few days for condensation or moisture. If you notice moisture but no signs of spoilage, return the celery to the dehydrator and dry it thoroughly before repacking. Discard any celery showing mold.

How long will it last? For best quality, aim to use your dehydrated celery within 6–12 months. Properly dried and packaged celery may remain usable longer, but flavor and quality gradually decline.

Storage tip: Vacuum sealing can help reduce exposure to air. Food-grade desiccant packets may help manage residual moisture in suitable packaging, while oxygen absorbers can be used with thoroughly dried celery in sealed Mason jars or heat-sealed Mylar bags. Neither replaces proper drying.

Want to Grow Celery? Easy Steps to Get Started

Growing celery in a field

Celery is a cool-weather crop that grows best in mild temperatures. In cooler climates, you can start seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, then transplant the seedlings outside once conditions are suitable.

Celery prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. Keep the soil consistently moist because celery doesn't tolerate drought well.

Harvest celery when the stalks have reached a usable size and are firm and crisp. Don't wait for the leaves to turn yellow—that can indicate the plant is past its best.

If you're growing celery specifically for dehydrating, you can preserve both the stalks and healthy leaves, making the most of your harvest.

Four Delicious Celery Varieties You Can Dehydrate

Celery isn’t just the pale green stalks from the supermarket. Here are four tasty types worth dehydrating—or planting in your garden:

Celeriac

Mild and earthy, grown for its large, knobby, root-like base. Excellent in soups, stews, and creamy purées.

Chinese Celery

Thin, delicate stalks with a stronger celery flavor than typical supermarket celery. Both the stalks and leaves are excellent for dehydrating and adding to soups, broths, and homemade seasoning blends.

Pascal Celery

The classic supermarket variety—crisp, mild, and versatile. Great raw, cooked, or dehydrated.

Red Celery

Striking red stalks with a slightly sweeter taste. Adds color to salads and dehydrates beautifully for soups.

FAQ: Dehydrating Celery — From Leaves to Oven Tips

Got questions about dehydrating celery? Here are a few helpful answers about drying celery leaves, using your oven, and storing your finished celery.

Can you dehydrate celery leaves?

Yes! Wash the celery leaves, shake off excess water, and pat them dry. Spread them in a single layer on dehydrator trays and dry at approximately 115°F until crisp and crumbly. This may take 2–4 hours or longer, depending on humidity and your dehydrator. Let them cool completely before storing in an airtight jar. Crumble them into soups, stews, and homemade seasonings whenever you need a little extra celery flavor.

Can you dehydrate celery in the oven?

Yes, although a food dehydrator gives you better temperature control. Wash, thinly slice, and blanch the celery for 3 minutes, then cool and drain thoroughly. Spread the pieces on parchment-lined baking trays and use your oven's lowest suitable setting, ideally around 140°F. Dry until completely brittle, checking regularly. Drying may take several hours or longer, depending on your oven. Only leave the oven door slightly open if the manufacturer permits it.

What can you use dehydrated celery for?

Dehydrated celery is perfect for soups, stews, casseroles, and homemade stocks. You can add the dried pieces directly to dishes with plenty of liquid, where they'll rehydrate as they cook. You can also grind completely dried celery into powder for seasoning blends or mix it with salt to make homemade celery salt.

How long does dehydrated celery last?

Properly dried celery can maintain good quality for approximately 6–12 months when stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark, dry place. It may last longer under ideal storage conditions, but always check for moisture, mold, or unusual odors before using it.

Let the celery cool completely before packing it into clean, dry Mason jars or vacuum-sealer bags. Check the containers for condensation during the first few days. If moisture appears, return the celery to the dehydrator until thoroughly dry.

For longer-term storage, vacuum sealing can help protect against moisture and air exposure. Food-grade oxygen absorbers may also be appropriate for thoroughly dried celery in suitable airtight packaging, but they don't replace proper drying.

Now that you know how easy it is to dehydrate celery, you’ll always have this versatile veggie on hand for soups, casseroles, or even homemade celery salt.

If you’d like more tasty ways to use dried food, don’t miss my free 5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Great PDF below. Inside you’ll find carrot soup, minestrone, split pea soup, spicy beef jerky, and even banana cinnamon rolls—all proven favorites that make dehydrating fun and delicious!

Hand holding the 5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Great free PDF guide

5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

← Get your free copy now!

5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

Hand holding the 5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Great free PDF guide

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

Get your free copy now!

More From Easy Food Dehydrating

More From Easy Food Dehydrating


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Save the Harvest food dehydrating game featuring jars of dried bananas, beets, mushrooms, peas, and corn.

Test Your Food-Dehydrating
Know-How

Choose a food, make the right preparation, drying, and storage decisions—and see how many stars you can earn!

Play “Save the Harvest”

Test Your Food-Dehydrating
Know-How

Save the Harvest food dehydrating game featuring jars of dried bananas, beets, mushrooms, peas, and corn.

Choose a food, make the right preparation, drying, and storage decisions—and see how many stars you can earn!

Play “Save the Harvest”