Few things are more infuriating to me than biting into a chewy celery stick that is covered in that stringy rib material.
A knife or peeler can be used to remove the ribs or strings from the rinsed celery (the fibrous filaments that run the length of a celery stalk), but the easiest and most aesthetically pleasing method is to snap off segments using your hands, from the hollow inside at the white end, toward the outer surface, and pull toward the tip.
Break off the white end by hand and pull to remove the strings, at least 1/3 of the way up the stalk. Repeat two times for three rib-free celery sticks per stalk.
That’s it! Use in your favorite recipe, serve on a crudite platter, with chicken wings, or on their own as a hydrating, almost-calorie-free snack.