How to Freeze Kale and Other Leafy Greens

Freezing kale and different leafy greens couldn’t be less complicated! We’ll present you learn how to freeze kale and different leafy greens so you may get pleasure from their freshness and vitamin all 12 months spherical!

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In case you’d wish to know learn how to freeze kale, learn how to freeze spinach, learn how to freeze Swiss chard, learn how to freeze collard greens or another leafy inexperienced, we’ve acquired you coated!

Yearly I develop further leafy greens crops in order that I’ve lots to freeze to final via the winter months. In years previous earlier than I had a backyard I might top off on natural greens on the retailer after they had been on sale for a similar motive. Freezing leafy greens saves you cash, saves you time, cuts down on meals waste and lets you get pleasure from these nutritious greens all 12 months spherical. Achieved correctly, frozen leafy greens will last as long as 12 months.

Easy methods to Blanch Kale and Different Leafy Greens

Whichever sort of leafy inexperienced you need to freeze, the method is identical. The one distinction might be how lengthy to blanch them as some greens are thicker and extra fibrous and a few are very tender.

Begin by deciding on contemporary, crisp, wholesome greens with good coloration and no blemishes. Reduce off notably massive, woody stems as they don’t freeze effectively. Rinse them a number of instances underneath chilly operating water. Chop the leaves and stems to the specified dimension (small leaves will be frozen complete).

Convey a big pot of water to a boil. Place the greens within the pot and canopy with the lid. Don’t overcrowd the greens, it’s greatest to work in batches. You’ll want about 1 gallon of water for each 4 cups of greens. Fill a big bowl with ice water.

Collard Greens: Blanch for 3 minutes.

Kale: Blanch for two minutes.

Swiss Chard: Blanch for two minutes.

Mustard Greens: Blanch for two minutes.

Child Spinach: Blanch for 90 seconds.

As a common rule most greens will should be blanched for two minutes apart from collard greens, that are extra fibrous, and child spinach leaves, that are extra tender.

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Start counting the blanching time as quickly as you place the greens within the boiling water and canopy the pot with a lid.

Instantly after the allotted blanching time, drain the greens and plunge them into the ice water. Allow them to cool for a similar period of time as blanching. Drain them effectively after which squeeze as a lot water out of them as you may.

Easy methods to Freeze Kale and Different Leafy Greens

After you’ve blanched and cooled the greens within the ice water and drained them, give them a radical squeeze to get as a lot water out of them as you may. Now it’s time to pack them for freezing.

Place the ready greens in freezing containers or in ziplock luggage. Squeeze as a lot air out of the baggage as you may. Label and date the baggage and place them in your freezer.

Does Freezing Kill the Vitamins in Leafy Greens?

An excellent quantity of analysis has been completed evaluating the nutrient ranges in frozen versus contemporary greens and the conclusion is that most of the minerals and nutritional vitamins are usually not simply destroyed by both the blanching or the freezing course of. In brief, your frozen leafy greens are nonetheless loaded with vitamins!

Do You Must Blanch Kale to Freeze It?

Sure and no. If you wish to retailer your frozen leafy greens for a number of months they should be blanched first. Whilst you can freeze kale and different leafy greens uncooked they’ll solely preserve for a month to month and a half earlier than the feel, coloration and taste all begin to deteriorate.

Blanching is a vital step with regards to freezing any vegetable for a number of causes: Blanching stops the enzymes that result in spoilage, it allows the greens to retain their unique texture, their vibrant colours, flavors and their vitamins. Failing to blanch your veggies will end in poor textures, light, uninteresting colours and off flavors. It could actually additionally trigger the kale to style bitter.

How Lengthy Do Frozen Leafy Greens Final?

Ready correctly your leafy greens will preserve for 8 to 12 months within the freezer.

To Summarize:

Wash the leafy greens and chop them to the specified dimension. Small leaves will be frozen complete. Reduce off notably massive, woody stems as they don’t freeze effectively.

Fill massive bowl with ice water.

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Convey a big pot of water to a boil. Don’t overcrowd the greens, it’s greatest to work in batches. You’ll want about 1 gallon of water for each 4 cups of greens.

Place the greens within the boiling water, cowl with the lid, and begin counting instantly. As a common rule, most leafy greens require 2 minutes of blanching apart from collard greens which want 3 minutes and child spinach leaves which solely want 90 seconds.

Instantly drain the greens and plunge them within the ice water. Allow them to cool for so long as the blanching time.

Drain the greens.

Squeeze as a lot water out of the greens as you may.

Place the ready greens in freezing containers or ziplock luggage. Squeeze as a lot air out of the baggage as you may. Label and date the baggage and place them within the freezer.

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You should definitely additionally take a look at our tutorial on Easy methods to Freeze Inexperienced Beans!

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