Can You Freeze Fresh Spinach And Kale For Smoothies?

One of the easiest ways to freeze spinach, kale, collard greens, chard, or any kind of leafy green is to

steam it, blend it, and freeze it in cubes

. You can use the leafy green cubes in smoothies, soups, or stew.

Can you freeze raw spinach and kale?

You can freeze kale

(and bagged spinach), so you can keep it on hand without it getting all gross and stinky in the back of your refrigerator. It’s incredibly simple to do, but if you’re new to freezing vegetables make sure keep reading to understand how to make the best use of your frozen kale (or spinach).

How do you freeze kale and spinach for smoothies?

1. Wash, dry, and remove kale leaves from the stems. Place into a zip top freezer bag.
2. Seal the bag, removing as much air as possible. Freeze!
3. Remove frozen kale from the freezer.
4. Crush the leaves.
5. Measure out some for your green smoothie.

Can you freeze fresh kale without blanching?

You

can freeze kale without blanching

, but plan to use it within four to six weeks. … For frozen kale that lasts eight to 12 months, blanch leaves and stems. Blanch leaves for 2.5 minutes, covering the boiling water pot with a lid to steam-heat floating leaves. Blanch stems for 3 minutes.

How do you freeze spinach and kale without blanching?

The recommended process to freeze greens is to blanch them first. However, it is not required. You can freeze your fresh greens and other vegetables without freezing them if you like. The best way to freeze greens without blanching is to

“pre-freeze” your greens

before fully freezing them.

Is it OK to freeze spinach for smoothies?

If you know you’ll use your frozen spinach within six months,

you can freeze it without blanching

. … Another way to freeze spinach is to puree it with water and freeze in ice cube trays. After cubes freeze solid, toss them in a freezer bag. Spinach cubes are the perfect addition to green smoothies.

Is it OK to put raw kale in a smoothie?

It’s also a good source of vitamin C and iron. One cup of raw kale contains even more vitamin C than an orange! You can eat kale raw in a smoothie (

no need to cook it first

). The raw kale flavor is strong on its own, but the other ingredients mellow it.

How long can you freeze spinach and kale?

Can you freeze spinach, kale, and collard greens? Provided you follow our instructions correctly, you can freeze leafy greens for

up to 9 months

without blanching.

Does kale lose nutrients when frozen?

Is frozen kale healthy?

Yes

! Frozen vegetables in general can actually be healthier that fresh veggies if they are picked and prepared at the peak of freshness when their vitamins are at there peak. … Some vitamin C and B vitamins can be lost during the blanching process, but the majority of the nutrients are preserved.

How do you store spinach in the freezer?

1. Wash your greens, pat or spin dry in a salad spinner.
2. Place the leaves in flat layers inside freezer bags and press down.
3. When the bags are full, squeeze out all the air, tie the bags up and place them in the freezer.

Should I wash kale before freezing?

Do you have to wash kale before freezing:

Absolutely

.

It is much easier to remove dirt from fresh kale than frozen kale, so you might as well do the work upfront.

What do I do with all my kale?

1. Massage it in a salad. …
2. Make kale chips. …
3. Pair it with nuts. …
4. Try dinosaur kale. …
5. Throw it in the soup. …
6. Make it the green in “a grain, a green, and a bean.” …
7. Put kale in a burger. …
8. Put it in a green smoothie.

How do you store kale long term?

Option #1: Store

Whole Bunches In the Fridge

Wrap the 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 be in great shape for a week.

What happens if you do not blanch a vegetable before freezing it?

Blanching helps vegetables keep their vibrant colors and retain nutrients, and stops the enzymes that would otherwise lead to spoilage. Freezing vegetables without blanching them

first results in faded or dulled coloring, as well as off flavors and textures

.

How do you prepare kale for freezing?

1. Wash the kale well.
2. Dry the kale using towels or a salad spinner—moisture left on the kale leaves can lead to freezer burn.
3. Tear the kale leaves off the woody stem.
4. Layer the kale on a large baking sheet. …
5. Transfer the frozen kale leaves to your preferred freezer container.

Can you use frozen spinach instead of fresh?

One package (10 ounces) of frozen spinach leaves yields about 1-1/2 cups after cooking. Therefore, you can substitute 1 package (10 ounces) frozen spinach leaves for 1-1/2

pounds of fresh spinach

.