Celery yield: how much is usable after prep (AP to EP %)
Celery: about 73% usable going trimmed bunch to trimmed sticks, with a published range of 68–81%. That is a cost factor of 1.37: for every kilo you need ready to use, buy 1.37 kg as purchased.
Yield by preparation stage
| Stage | Average | Range | What is lost | USDA item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trimmed bunch → trimmed stalks | 73% | 68–81% | Leaf ends, root end and trimming | 509 |
| Hearts → trimmed stalks | 77% | 71–83% | Leaves, stems and discoloured parts | 510 |
| Untrimmed catering pack → trimmed bunch | 89% | 87–91% | Trimming including leaves | 508 |
The leaf and root ends are about a quarter of a bunch. They go in the stock bag, which is the only way that quarter earns anything back.
Prep notes
Separate the sticks, wash out the grit at the base, then peel only the outer sticks if they are stringy; the inner ones do not need it. Cut the leafy tops off level with a single cut rather than trimming stick by stick.
What the yield does to the cost
Celery, case of 12 heads at £13.99 (JJ Foodservice, 10 Oct 2026), assuming a trimmed head weighs about 500 g, is £2.33 a kilo as purchased. At 73% usable that is £3.19 per usable kilo.
Worked example: 25 g of sliced celery in a portion of braise or soup needs 34 g as purchased, costing 8p. Costed on the bought weight it would read 6p, so the costing would be 27% light: 2p a portion, or £2.16 over 100 portions.
| Usable celery needed | Buy (as purchased) at 73% |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | 1.37 kg |
| 5 kg | 6.85 kg |
| 10 kg | 13.7 kg |
Use 73% in the yield calculator →
Typical uses
Mirepoix and stocks, braises, Waldorf salad, bloody Marys and crudités.
Storage and the trim
Wrap whole heads and keep them in the fridge, where they last up to two weeks. Limp sticks revive in iced water for half an hour, which is worth knowing before you bin them. The leaves are a herb: chop them into salads and stuffings. Root ends and coarse outer sticks go in the stock pot.
Yield source: USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 102, Food Yields Summarized by Different Stages of Preparation (Matthews and Garrison, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 1975), Table 1, items 509, 510, 508 (US samples of trimmed celery bunches). Prices as stated, read on 10 Oct 2026. Your own case is the real number: weigh it in the yield calculator.
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