Prudent Pantry: Preserving Kale
My garden is full of kale right now and despite the fact that we’ve been enjoying kale salad and dried kale we are not able to eat it all. So I decided to freeze some. This is a very simple process.
Kale
Select your kale that you want to freeze. Pick early in the day so the greens are crisp and fresh. About 14 pounds of greens makes 7-quart bags.
Small bunch of kale.
Wash the greens and cut off any of the woody stems or damaged pieces.
Rinsed Kale
Get a large pot of boiling water ready; it should be about 2/3rds full. You will also need a large bowl full of ice and cold water.
Because the kale contains enzymes and bacteria that over time will break down and destroy nutrients and change the color, flavor and texture during storage, kale requires a brief heat treatment called blanching. Basically it means placing your kale in the boiling water for two minutes.
Blanching Kale
Then place in the ice water for two minutes.
Ice Bath
Drain.
Drain and dry kale
Use your foodsaver or a Ziploc bag. You want to get as much air out of the bag as possible.
Kale ready for the freezer.
That’s it! You’re done. Place your kale in the freezer and it will be ready to use this winter.
Linked to: LauraWillaimsMusings, ThePrudentPantry, HomesteadRevival, ThePrairieHomestead, TheMorrisTribe, MamalDiane, PremeditatedLeftovers
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Timely post as we were given some kale. Ours didn’t even grow this year. Great step by step too! Thank you for sharing this at the Carnival of Home Preserving!
How timely. I have a bunch of kale I need to freeze but I thought I would have to sautee it all first. This will be much faster. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy I had no idea that I could freeze kale. It grows beautifully here and I absolutely adore it. Thanks somuch for sharing this!
Karen Lynn, It’s a great way to have kale on hand for those winter soups!
Hello,
Kale is such a pretty plant. It can be chopped and then blanched and chilled. I spread it out on cookie sheets (after draining as much as possible) then freeze it for a few hours.. The cookie sheets can twisted and the kale comes loose. Sometimes a spatula is necessary. Place in freezer bags. Kale can be added to rice dishes and to scalloped potatoes, stews, soups………
Lucy
Great tips Lucy, thanks for sharing!
I just freeze it raw and finely shredded, and I think it tastes great! Here are many ways to use kale, most of which work with frozen as well as fresh.
Becca,
Thanks for the link, I have lots of kale, I’ll have to try just shredding it and freezing it!
Love this! I didn’t grow kale this year, though I love the taste of kale cooked in bacon grease. I’ve frozen it as you’ve described, and I’ve also dried it. I crumble the dried kale in soups and stews.
Great tutorial. I am featuring this post as part of my highlights on the H&S Hop this week.