How to Store Celeriac for Winter
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Learning how to store celeriac comes down to a few conditions: a cool temperature, humidity that keeps the root from drying out, and clean roots that are not washed before storage. Celeriac, also called celery root, is a cool-season crop that can be kept through winter when it is handled properly. The sources below describe moist sand in a cool box as the usual method, with the refrigerator crisper as a fallback when no cool space is available.
Quick answer
- Store celeriac at about 32 to 40 F in a cool, humid place such as a root cellar or unheated space.
- Pack roots in slightly damp sand or sawdust, with the roots not touching each other.
- Do not wash roots before storage, because moisture encourages rot.
- If no cool space is available, a refrigerator crisper in perforated plastic bags is an alternative described by one source.
Why storage conditions matter for celeriac
Celeriac is a root vegetable, and its storage life depends mostly on temperature and moisture. A root that is too warm will lose firmness and may sprout, while a root stored in soggy conditions is more likely to rot. The RHS advice on root vegetables notes that celeriac is best used fresh, and that it can be kept in moist sand in boxes when fresh use is not possible. In cold regions, the RHS says indoor storage is necessary because the roots cannot be left in the ground through a hard winter.
The temperature range is the most consistent detail across the sources. Harvest to Table gives a range of 32 to 40 F for a root cellar. The Farmer’s Almanac gives the same 32 to 40 F range for sand storage of root vegetables and warns that temperatures below 32 F damage the cells of the vegetable. Keeping the storage space above freezing and below the point where sprouting speeds up is the practical goal.
How to prepare celeriac before storage
Start with roots that have reached a usable size before the first hard frost. Harvest-to-table guidance describes lifting the root after it reaches a few inches across, and loosening the soil around each plant so the root is not bruised. Bruised or cut roots are more likely to rot in storage, so handle them gently.
Brush off loose soil. Do not wash the roots. Harvest to Table states that moisture encourages rot, and the same idea appears in the Farmer’s Almanac advice to store unwashed roots. Set aside any roots with soft spots or mold, because Harvest to Table recommends removing compromised roots so they do not affect the rest.
Cellar storage in moist sand or sawdust
The method most often described for winter storage is layering celeriac in a box with slightly damp sand or sawdust. The sources describe the sand as slightly moist, not wet. A handful should hold together without dripping. Place a layer of sand in the bottom of a box, set the roots on top so they do not touch, then cover them with more sand. Repeat the layers until the box is full, and keep the top layer covered so the roots do not dry out.
Choose a place that stays cool and does not freeze. The Farmer’s Almanac lists an unheated garage, a basement or an unheated mudroom as common places that can hold this range. Harvest to Table describes a root cellar as a cool, humid environment. The exact conditions in a house will vary, so a thermometer is useful for checking the temperature over several days.
Check the box regularly. Harvest to Table recommends looking through the roots periodically for soft spots or mold and removing any that are affected. The sources describe the sand as slightly moist, so avoid making it wet enough to drip, since Harvest to Table notes that moisture encourages rot.
Refrigerator storage as a fallback
If a cool, humid space is not available, a refrigerator is a practical option. Harvest to Table describes placing cleaned roots in perforated plastic bags in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. The RHS advice also refers to storing roots in moist sand, so the same principle of humidity without standing water applies in either place.
The sources do not give a refrigerator temperature or duration for celeriac. The crisper method is offered as a fallback when a cool, humid space is not available, and the stored roots should still be checked for soft spots or mold.
How long celeriac keeps in storage
The sources give a range rather than a fixed date. Harvest to Table says that properly stored celeriac can last 3 to 4 months or longer. The RHS says roots kept in moist sand can be used through the cold months, with indoor storage needed in cold regions. The Farmer’s Almanac gives 4 to 6 months for general sand storage of root vegetables, but that figure is not specific to celeriac.
Because the storage life depends on the root’s condition at harvest and on how steady the temperature stays, check stored roots regularly and remove any that show soft spots or mold, as the Harvest to Table guidance recommends.
How we chose
This article covers storage only, not growing or cooking. The sources were chosen from pages that could be opened and checked on 2026-10-27 and that address celeriac or root vegetables in storage. The RHS page is a UK horticultural advice page, the Harvest to Table page is a gardening publication with a personal account, and the Farmer’s Almanac page covers general root vegetables. Retail product pages were not used.
What we could not verify
The sources above describe storage conditions in general terms. We could not find an extension or government publication that gives a tested procedure for storing celeriac specifically. The 4 to 6 month figure from the Farmer’s Almanac applies to general root vegetables in sand, not to celeriac on its own. The Harvest to Table page is a personal gardening account rather than a university or government publication, so its guidance is useful for practice but does not establish a research result.
What the sources do not say
None of the three sources gives a precise sand moisture level, a specific humidity percentage, or a tested maximum storage time for celeriac. The sources also do not describe how much a cellar temperature can swing before quality drops. The RHS does not specify a temperature range for sand storage. Readers who need a measured standard for storage should look for a cooperative extension publication on root vegetable storage in their state.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wash celeriac before storing it?
No. Harvest to Table advises against washing roots before storage because moisture encourages rot. Brush off loose soil and trim the leaves instead.
What temperature is best for storing celeriac?
The sources give 32 to 40 F. Keep the storage space above freezing, because temperatures below 32 F can damage the root’s cells.
Can celeriac be stored in the refrigerator?
Yes, according to Harvest to Table, which suggests cleaned roots in perforated plastic bags in the crisper drawer when no cellar is available.
How long does stored celeriac last?
Harvest to Table says properly stored celeriac can last three to four months or longer. The sources do not give a tested maximum for every storage method.
What should I do if a stored root has soft spots?
Remove the affected root so it does not affect the rest, following the Harvest to Table advice to check roots periodically and remove any that are compromised.
Internal links
For a wider view of storing harvested produce, see how to store freshly harvested vegetables. For another root crop that is kept through winter, see how to store potatoes.
Sources
- RHS, “Root vegetables: storing,” https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/root-vegetables-storing (opened 2026-10-27)
- Harvest to Table, “How to Harvest, Cure, and Store Celeriac for Winter Use,” https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-harvest-cure-and-store-celeriac-for-winter-use/ (opened 2026-10-27)
- Farmer’s Almanac, “How to Store Root Vegetables in Sand (Without a Root Cellar),” https://www.farmersalmanac.com/root-vegetables-sand-storage (opened 2026-10-27)
