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. With a knife (or your hands!), remove the kale stems before blanching and freezing.
How do you pick and prepare kale?
To harvest, pick your kale leaves when they are about the size of your hand.
Pick the outside leaves first
, and avoid picking the very top center leaves, as that’s where the plants’ continual growth comes from. The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends picking one fistful of leaves per harvest.
Can you keep picking 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
.
When should I pick my kale?
Kale is ready to harvest
when the leaves are about the size of your hand
. Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. Start harvesting the oldest leaves firt from the lowest section of the plant. (Discard any yellowed or torn leaves.)
What does kale look like when ready?
Before you begin, you’ll need to make sure that your kale plant is ready to harvest. You’ll know when it’s ready when it’s
about 12 inches tall and the leaves are the size of your hand or bigger
. Leaves that are the size of your palm are younger and more tender whereas the bigger leaves will be older and a bit tougher.
How do I freeze kale?
Quick-freeze small clumps of kale individually on a cookie sheet. After they’re frozen, place clumps into
freezer bags in bulk
. Remove as much air as possible from bags before sealing. When you freeze kale like this, you can grab a handful for a smoothie, or pour out more to create a side dish.
How long do kale plants last?
So How Long Does a Kale Plant Live? Normally Kale is biennial, so it will only live for
two years
. But there are Kale variants, that can live more than two years like Tree Kale for example.
How often do you water kale?
Kale is a fast grower, so keep the soil moist by giving it
1 to 1.5 inches of water each week
. Get the most out of your harvest by regularly feeding plants with a continuous-release plant food. For nutritious kale year-round, consider an indoor, water-based growing system.
Does kale need full sun?
Most vegetables require a minimum of
six to eight hours of sun
. … One of the most nutritious shade loving vegetables around, kale thrives in just a few hours of sunlight per day. Kale is also extremely cold tolerant, making it a great crop for fall harvests.
What can you not plant with kale?
Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable and member of the cabbage family. Varieties include lacinato, red Russian, and dinosaur kale. Avoid planting kale with other brassicas (like
broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and Swiss chard
), as they can fall prey to the same pests and diseases.
Is kale a perennial?
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.
How long does kale last in freezer?
Once they’re frozen, transfer the kale leaves to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for
up to 8 months
.
Should I wash kale before freezing?
Make sure you fully wash and chop your kale before freezing
, so it’s ready to go straight into your recipe from the freezer. I buy bags of pre-chopped kale, but I always give it another wash and pick out any larger pieces of stem.
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.
