Rinse the fresh greens under cold running water to clean them, then use a sharp paring knife or your hands to separate the Swiss chard leaves from the stalk. 2. Blanch your chard. Blanching Swiss chard before freezing preserves the flavor and stops the enzymes that cause browning after long storage periods.
How do you blanch Swiss chard for freezing?
Bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Drop about one pound of whole leaves in boiling water, cover and blanch for 2 minutes (blanch stems for 3 minutes). Remove chard from water and immerse in an ice water bath for 2 minutes. Drain.
Can you freeze uncooked Swiss chard?
The good news is, Swiss chard is a hardy green, which makes it suitable for freezing. Of course, you have to prep the greens well prior to freezing to extend its original color and flavor. When prepping the Swiss chard for freezing, you can either blanch the greens or flash-freeze them.
Can you freeze fresh Swiss chard without blanching?
Can You Freeze Swiss Chard Without Blanching? Yes, but it depends on how you want to use it and how quickly. If you plan to use the frozen chard within a few weeks, there is no need to blanch it first.
How do you freeze Swiss chard and kale?
Instructions
- Wash the Chard. Wash the chard well.
- Separate Stalks From Leaves. Separate the stalks from the leaves.
- Prepare Boiling and Ice Waters. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and fill a bowl with ice water.
- Place Swiss Chard in Boiling Water.
- Plunge Chard in Ice Water.
- Drain Well.
- Prepare for Freezer.
- Freeze.
What can I do with too much Swiss chard?
Revive tired-looking leaves in a bowl of cold water with a splash of vinegar. After 20 minutes or so, the leaves should perk up.
What can you do with frozen Swiss chard?
Add the frozen greens straight from the freezer to the stockpot or pan to make soups, casseroles, or stir-fry dishes, defrosting and cooking in one continuous process. You can also add frozen Swiss chard to a smoothie, or sautée the greens with olive oil and garlic to make a nutritious side dish.
Does Swiss chard grow back every year?
Swiss chard is a biennial, so it will grow for two years, surviving the winters in areas where temperatures do not dip below 15 degrees F. After the second year of growth, your chard plant will start to produce seed and it will not grow back the following year.
How do you defrost Swiss chard?
How to Thaw Swiss Chard?
- To thaw the Swiss chard, remove the desired number of cubes from the freezer.
- They can be thawed in the refrigerator in a small container, or dropped directly into soups or stews as they cook.
- For best results, consume thawed Swiss chard within a few days of defrosting.
How do you store Swiss chard after picking?
How to Store Chard
- Remove any blemished or wilting leaves from the bunch.
- Wrap the stalks of the chard in a slightly damp paper towel or cloth.
- Place the chard in an open plastic bag or perforated plastic bag. Store in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Do you eat the stems of Swiss chard?
Swiss Chard is entirely edible, including the leaves and stems. The stems need a little more cooking time than the leaves because they have a lot of cellulose that needs to soften for longer. The leaves cook quickly.
Can you freeze greens without cooking them?
If you want to store your frozen leafy greens for several months they need to be blanched first. While you can freeze kale and other leafy greens raw they will only keep for a month to month and a half before the texture, color and flavor all start to deteriorate.
How many times can you harvest Swiss chard?
To harvest, use a clean, sharp knife or garden scissors and sever steams about two inches above the soil. Mature leaves can be harvested a few at a time or all at once. But for multiple harvests throughout the season, as explained above, the terminal bud must remain to keep producing new growth.
Does chard freeze well?
If you’re suffering from salad fatigue, or just can’t eat another plate of sautéed spinach, we’ve got good news: Leafy greens are one of the easiest things to preserve. You can’t preserve tender lettuce, but hardier greens like Swiss chard and kale lend themselves perfectly to freezing.
Can you eat Swiss chard stems raw?
I didn’t want to compromise those beautiful colors in any way, so I just sliced up the stems and shredded the greens for a beautiful salad. Wait, can you eat rainbow chard raw? You can absolutely eat chard raw, the same way you would eat kale or spinach raw.
How healthy is Swiss chard?
Swiss chard is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin K and a good source of vitamin C and magnesium. Swiss chard also contains the antioxidants beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Vitamin A plays a significant role in normal formation and maintenance of many organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys.
Can Swiss chard be eaten raw in a salad?
Swiss chard can be enjoyed raw in salads or on sandwiches or wraps, braised, boiled, sautéed or added to soups and casseroles. Here are some tips to incorporate more Swiss chard (leaves and stems) into the daily routine: Add a handful of fresh Swiss chard leaves to an omelet or scrambled eggs.
What can you not plant next to Swiss chard?
Plants to Avoid
Chard is not a fan of most herbs with the exception of mint. These two make great garden buddies. Chard also shouldn’t be planted near potatoes, corn, cucumbers, or melons. All of these will either compete for soil nutrients or foster harmful pests.
Should you let chard flower?
You may even choose to still eat your bolted chard. The leaves will have more of a bitter flavor, but you can reduce that bitterness by cooking the greens instead of eating them raw. If you catch the bolting early and pinch off the flower stalk, you can probably salvage the leaves without too much extra bitterness.
When should Swiss chard be cut back?
When to Cut Swiss Chard. Harvest Swiss chard once the broad leaves at the outside of the plant are 1 to 2 feet tall and just fully expanded. Smaller leaves can be cut to use as baby greens in salads. New leaves continue to develop from the center of the plant.
How long does Swiss chard last?
Swiss chard can be stored for one to two weeks if refrigerated.
Gerardo Gonzalez loves cooking. He became interested in it at a young age, and has been honing his skills ever since. He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique.
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