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Once I first began making inexperienced smoothies, kale was the veggie I wasted essentially the most. I can’t rely the variety of instances I’d say: “I’ll use that tomorrow”— and that kale didn’t stand an opportunity.
Once I lastly discovered methods to freeze kale, it was a complete sport changer.
No extra smelly surprises and I all the time had leafy green vegetables able to go. Freezing kale is a kind of easy, no-brainer kitchen hacks that saves cash, saves time, and makes wholesome consuming really feel far more doable.
Step-by-Step Information
Whether or not you’re grabbing a bag of kale from the grocery retailer, buying on the farmer’s market, or harvesting your individual, freezing kale is likely one of the best methods to chop down on prep time and all the time have greens prepared for smoothies, soups, and fast meals. Right here’s methods to do it step-by-step:
Kale Freezing Suggestions
- Select contemporary, vibrant leaves: Older or yellowing kale leaves don’t freeze as properly and might have a stronger, extra bitter taste.
- Wash completely: Dust loves to cover in curly kale, so give it a superb rinse earlier than freezing.
- Stop freezer burn: Be certain that the spinach is totally dry and moisture free earlier than freezing, take away as a lot air as doable from the bag, and retailer it flat within the freezer for an hermetic seal.
- Flash freeze first: Unfold kale on a baking sheet for just a few hours earlier than bagging to stop sticking.
- Blanching: Blanching kale earlier than freezing may help protect shade, texture, and vitamins, particularly should you plan to make use of it in cooked dishes.
Does Freezing Kale Lose Its Vitamins?
Freezing kale preserves most of its vitamins, particularly should you prep it correctly. A tiny quantity of water-soluble nutritional vitamins, like vitamin C, could lower barely, however total, frozen kale continues to be filled with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
The best way to Use Frozen Kale
When you’ve obtained your kale stashed within the freezer, meal prep turns into quicker and approach much less anxious. Right here’s how I exploit frozen kale:
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Extra Freezer Guides
Should you’re discovering this kale freezing information useful, you’re going to need to take a look at my different guides to save lots of time and scale back meals waste:
Should you’ve discovered methods to freeze kale, I’d love to listen to the way it turned out within the remark field beneath. Your suggestions helps me and all of the readers on this neighborhood. And should you’re all in favour of extra kitchen guides (and unique content material), join my weekly recipe newsletter.
Prevents display screen from going darkish
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Wash the kale completely to take away any filth or bugs.
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Strip the leaves from the thick stems and tear or chop into medium items.
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Drain properly and pat the kale fully dry.
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Add the kale to freezer-safe luggage, portioning as desired.
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Take away as a lot air as doable, seal, and lay the luggage flat within the freezer.
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Freeze for 1–2 hours, or till strong. When prepared to make use of, take away the quantity wanted and return the remaining to the freezer.
- Select contemporary leaves: Use vibrant, deep-green kale. Older or yellowing leaves don’t freeze as properly.
- Flash freeze: Unfold kale on a baking sheet and freeze for 1–2 hours earlier than bagging to stop clumping.
- Blanching: Blanching kale earlier than freezing may help protect shade and texture, particularly should you plan to make use of it in cooked dishes. This step isn’t required for smoothies.
- Storage: Frozen kale retains properly for as much as 6 months when saved hermetic.
- The best way to use: Add frozen kale straight to smoothies, or toss into soups and sautés with out thawing.
Serving: 1 cup | Energy: 7 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 1 g | Fats: 0.3 g | Saturated Fats: 0.04 g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.1 g | Monounsaturated Fats: 0.02 g | Sodium: 11 mg | Potassium: 73 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 0.2 g | Vitamin A: 2098 IU | Vitamin C: 20 mg | Calcium: 53 mg | Iron: 0.3 mg
Frequent Questions
The easiest way to protect kale is determined by how you propose to make use of it. For brief-term storage, hold unwashed leaves dry and chilly within the fridge. For longer storage, the freezer is the most effective place to maintain your kale. freezing kale works properly, with blanching as an non-obligatory step to assist protect shade and texture should you plan to cook dinner it later.
Frozen kale can style barely completely different than contemporary kale, primarily as a result of freezing softens the leaves. As soon as thawed or cooked, the feel is much less crisp and extra tender, which makes it higher suited to smoothies, soups, stews, and sautéed dishes relatively than salads.
It’s finest to freeze kale in parts. Unfold chopped leaves on a baking sheet to freeze individually earlier than transferring to luggage. This prevents clumping and makes it straightforward to seize simply the quantity you want.
Correctly frozen kale lasts as much as 6 months. For the most effective style and nutrient retention, attempt to use it inside this timeframe, maintaining it saved in hermetic, freezer-safe luggage.
