Kale is one of the only greens that you can wash and prep days in advance—it’s so hardy that it rarely wilt. You can stem, slice or tear the leaves, rinse them, dry them well in a salad spinner or with kitchen towels, and store the leaves, wrapped in a paper towel in a zip-top plastic bag, for up to 3 days.
What is the best way to preserve fresh kale?
When you’re storing fresh kale, reduce excess moisture by waiting to rinse the leaves until you’re ready to eat them. You can store fresh kale that hasn’t been cut by wrapping the leaves in a paper towel, placing them in a plastic bag like Glad® FLEX’N SEAL™ Gallon Bags and squeezing out any extra air before sealing.
Should kale be stored wet or dry?
Dry as much as you can: Lay a clean kitchen towel or a couple of sheets of paper towels out on the kitchen counter. Scatter the leaves in a single layer, top with another clean towel, and roll like a jelly roll. Lightly press down so the towels absorb the liquid, then unroll.
What to do with kale after you harvest it?
How to Store Kale. Kale will store for two to three weeks at 32° to 34°F (0°-4°C) and 90 to 95 percent humidity (moist) with some air circulation. Wrap leaves in a moist cloth or paper towel and store them in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator; this will keep leaves from drying.
How do you harvest and save kale?
To store freshly picked kale, wash all of the leaves and then blot them dry with a cloth. Store the whole leaves intact by placing them in a resealable plastic bag along with a paper towel so that the leaves don’t get soggy or slimy. If refrigerated and stored like this, kale leaves will keep fresh for up to 2 weeks.
How do you store kale for long term storage?
Thoroughly dry the kale in a salad spinner or with paper towels. Spread the leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet, and place in the freezer for a couple of hours. Once frozen, pack them in a freezer bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to eight months.
What can I do with abundance of kale?
8 Ways To Use Up Your Leftover Kale
- Kale Smoothie. In some ways, kale might seem like the last green that you’d want to add to a smoothie because its texture isn’t exactly, um, smooth, and its flavor can be a little bitter.
- Kale Frittata.
- Kale Lettuce Wraps.
- Summer Kale and Green Goddess Soup.
Can I freeze kale without blanching?
You can freeze kale without blanching, but plan to use it within four to six weeks. Unblanched kale may develop a bitter flavor because you haven’t stopped the action of the naturally-occurring ripening enzymes in the leaves.
Does freezing Kale destroy nutrients?
In fact, freezing kale preserves its nutrients. It is loaded with just as many vitamins and minerals as the fresh stuff!
How do you blanch kale for freezing?
Blanched kale can be frozen for up to 6 months. To blanch kale, bring a large pot of water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Cook the kale leaves in the boiling water until they brighten in color, about 2 minutes, then plunge into the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and preserve the color.
Is there a way to preserve kale?
Store Whole Bunches In the Fridge
To avoid excess moisture, wrap the whole bunch of kale in a layer of paper towels, and store in a supermarket plastic bag or a zip-top plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. The kale should keep for 1 week.
Will kale grow back after cutting?
Is kale cut and come again? When kale is harvested properly, it works as a cut and come again vegetable that quickly grows back to regenerate its leaves for multiple harvests. For your kale to grow back, harvest the oldest leaves first—those on the outside of the plant at the bottom.
Does kale grow back every year?
Kale is a biennial that many people grow as an annual, advises Cornell University. Some varieties of kale are perennial plants that come back year after year.
Should kale be washed before refrigerating?
To store kale in the refrigerator:
Wash the kale by adding the kale leaves to a bowl of clean cold water and swish it around a little bit. Let it site for 10-15 minutes to remove any dirt of grit. You will then want to drain the kale from the water and remove any excess moisture by running it through a salad spinner.
When should kale be harvested?
Kale can be grown to its full size or harvested when the leaves are small and tender. Kale is ready to harvest when its leaves are the size of your hand. It usually takes up to 95 days for kale to be ready after planting it from seed.
How long does kale last in ground?
Kale will grow for up to 2 years in your garden. The first year of growth gives you plenty of delicious leaves. In the second year, your plants will focus on producing seeds. Grow your kale as annuals if you just want leaves from your plants.
How long does fresh kale last in the freezer?
Once they’re frozen, transfer the kale leaves to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 8 months.
How do you dry kale after washing?
In a colander: You can wash a hearty bunch of kale leaves in a colander. Let them sit under cold running water as you rub the leaves to remove any clumps of dirt. You can pat the kale dry with paper towels or a clean dishcloth, or you can use a salad spinner to dry kale leaves.
How do you store kale in the freezer?
How to Freeze Kale:
- Prep Your Kale. Make sure you fully wash and chop your kale before freezing, so it’s ready to go straight into your recipe from the freezer.
- Pack the Kale. After rinsing, make sure to let the kale drain well, then just place it in any air-tight freezer safe container.
- Cook the Kale.
What is the healthiest way to eat kale?
While raw kale may boast the highest nutrient content, the study found that steaming retained the most antioxidants and minerals, compared with other cooking methods ( 7 ).
Is raw or cooked kale better for you?
Some research points to eating raw kale instead of cooking it for the most nutritional boost. Cooking kale may lower its antioxidant content and vitamin C content, but that isn’t to say cooked kale isn’t healthy for you too.