Kale is a nutritious and versatile cruciferous vegetable you can consume in many ways. It is a vegetable that I always want to have in my diet. Since it is an off-season veggie, I asked myself, “Can I freeze kale without blanching?” What is the best way to freeze kale?
You can freeze unblanched kale, but it is unsuitable for long-term storage. Keep reading to learn how to freeze kale without blanching.
Also read: How long can you keep Brussel sprouts in the fridge?
What does blanching kale mean?
Why blanch kale before freezing? You should blanch kale and other vegetables meant for freezing to maintain their quality.
Blanching is a food preparation technique that is frequently applied to fresh greens. It is prevalent for freezing or canning vegetables.
Blanching is the technique of briefly scorching vegetables in steam or boiling water and then stopping the cooking process by submerging them in ice water or running cold water (shocking or refreshing).
Blanching halts enzyme processes that might otherwise result in flavor, color, and texture loss. Over time, it helps to lessen the loss of quality.
Furthermore, blanching reduces the bacteria on the food and eliminates some surface debris, germs, and pesticides.
Over-blanching can exacerbate the loss of heat-sensitive and water-soluble nutrients, like B and C vitamins, during the blanching process.
It’s crucial to blanch the vegetables for the appropriate amount of time. It is worse to underblanch than not to blanch at all since it increases the activity of enzymes.
Blanching kale before freezing helps preserve its color, keeps the leaves from becoming bitter, and increases its shelf life. You may freeze blanched kale for up to a year.
In addition, blanching vegetables can enhance their nutritional content.
How to freeze kale
Compared to refrigeration, freezing your kale lets you store it for far longer. You may freeze blanched kale for up to a year.
You can keep kale for four to six weeks without blanching; during this time, its enzymes may become active and create a bitter taste. Blanching inhibits this activity.
For freezing kale, use these instructions for blanching:
- Remove stems from kale leaves, wash, and chop to the desired size.
- In a big pot, quickly bring the water to a boil.
- In a big bowl, add ice and water.
- Gradually add a few handfuls of kale leaves to the boiling water, cover, and blanch for two and a half minutes. (If using the stem after blanching, blanch for three minutes.)
- After blanching for around three minutes, remove leaves and stems with tongs or a sieve, then submerge them in ice water for the same length. Continue until you use all the leaves.
- Using a cloth, squeeze out extra water from the leaves.
- Place tiny kale clumps on a baking sheet and quickly freeze each one.
- Once frozen, transfer the clumps into freezer bags in large quantities, and make sure you evacuate all the air inside the bag before sealing.
When you freeze kale like this, you can grab a handful for a smoothie or pour more to create a side dish.
Frozen Tip: Always label the bags or containers of your frozen kale so that you can monitor the freshness.
Can you freeze kale without blanching?
Yes! You can freeze kale without blanching. Because kale holds its texture so well, there are times when I would rather not blanch it.
Blanching the frozen kale ahead of time is optional if you intend to use it within a few weeks.
Compared to refrigeration, freezing your kale lets you store it for far longer. Frozen kale that has been blanched can be kept for up to twelve months, whereas unblanched kale can only be kept for four to six weeks.
It is important to remember that if you have yet to stop the ripening enzymes in the leaves from developing spontaneously, unblanched kale may taste harsh.
Thus, blanching the kale stops the enzymes from working, preventing the leaves’ bitterness.
In stews and homemade soups, where other flavors are likely to overshadow any bitterness, unblanched kale leaves work nicely.
How to freeze kale without blanching
First, give the kale a thorough wash to get rid of any dirt, bugs, or other garden detritus before freezing it without blanching.
Before rinsing the leaves, some people soak them in 1-3 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water for 20 to 30 minutes.
Chop the leaves as you would typically prepare them for cooking, removing the stems (these are generally too tough to use in anything but soups or stir-fries).
If you intend to use the stems, you can freeze them individually. Before freezing, thoroughly dry the kale using paper towels or dish towels.
Ensure the kale is clumped into little pieces and put them on a cookie sheet to be frozen later.
After about an hour of letting them freeze into separate pieces on the baking sheet, move them to a container for long-term preservation.
You can use a freezer-safe plastic zipper bag or a freezer-safe plastic food storage container. If using a bag, remove as much air as possible before freezing it.
The kale will stay in those clumps when frozen if you flash freeze it in parts first, making it simple to take out the necessary amount from the freezer.
What happens to kale when you freeze it without blanching?
While kale can keep relatively fresh after freezing without blanching, you may notice some changes. Here are a few things that could happen to your kale if you freeze it without first blanching it:
- Wilted foliage
- Texture modification
- Enzyme and natural taste reduction
- Color fades
However, like with most frozen meals, the earlier you utilize them, the less they will change. The longer you keep it in the freezer, the more probable it is to decay.
Read also: How long is uncooked cabbage good for in the fridge?
Can you freeze kale for smoothies?
Smoothies, soups, and casseroles taste great with frozen kale. You can add frozen kale to smoothies, sauces, and stews to add color, taste, and nutrition. It’s also straightforward to freeze.
You can chop your kale in a food processor or blender with a little water until it is smooth if you want to use it in smoothies or make frozen juice packs.
For small, easy-to-blend amounts, I like to freeze it in silicone or ice cube trays.
If you want to use frozen kale quickly, just put it in a green drink. It’s as easy as taking a handful (or more or less, based on your taste) and putting it right into the blender with the other ingredients.
It’s a great way to get the health benefits of kale, even if you don’t like the taste.
In a mixer, put about a cup of frozen kale, some frozen fruits, and any drink you want; this will make a quick and easy kale smoothie.
Greek yogurt, oat milk, or almond milk are my favorites. If you want the drink to have more taste and look good, you can add chia seeds, almonds, or oats. You’re now ready to go!
How to thaw frozen kale
Kale thaws rather quickly, especially if you’re using a handful or so. Still, if you’re melting a bigger bag, you can expedite the process by submerging the bag in a basin of cool water.
While prepared meals and smoothies work well with previously frozen kale, raw salads, kale chips, and other recipes that call for the texture of fresh leaves don’t work well with it.
Other uses of thawed kale
There are many ways to use thawed kale in your diet. Since it retains its shape relatively well (though not perfectly), you don’t have to change your cooking too much or make many concessions to accommodate it.
Apart from making smoothies, you can also use it in kale soup.
Kale Soup
Another fantastic use for frozen kale is in soup. Add your preferred vegetables and greens, some vegetable stock, and fried onions and garlic.
After the vegetables are all soft, mix them and adjust the seasoning.
These are just a few applications for frozen kale. Other alternatives are to include it in a stir-fry, purée, or pesto.
Though kale holds its shape relatively well, you should be aware that it is not precisely unbreakable and will lose some of its crunch when cooked, so keep that in mind.
Conclusion
Freezing kale without blanching is not only possible but also a great choice to preserve the nutritional value of this vegetable.
However, frozen kale without blanching lasts for about six weeks. So, consume your kale within the first six weeks of freezing if it is not blanched before freezing.
Frequently asked questions
Does freezing kale destroy nutrients?
Many studies have been carried out to compare the nutritional content of frozen and fresh vegetables, and the results show that many minerals and vitamins are not readily lost during the blanching or freezing processes.
In summary, the nutrients in your frozen kale are still very much intact in a larger amount.
Is it better to freeze cooked or raw kale?
Quick blanching in hot water for two to three minutes is the best method for freezing kale since it retains its flavor and brilliant color.