Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Green cabbage stays in the garden until winter. But the season ends faster than expected. Here you will find everything you need to harvest & freeze kale.
For many, kale is just as much a part of winter as icy temperatures. But even beyond the cold season, kale is a delicious and very he althy leafy vegetable. We'll tell you when to bring in your own harvest and how to preserve your kale.
Harvesting kale: the right time
Kale is a typical winter vegetable. Harvest time begins in late November and can take place over several months. The length of the harvesting season depends on how hardy your kale variety is. It is generally said that kale should be exposed to a severe frost before it is harvested - only then will it develop its full flavor. Since there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to harvesting kale, you should harvest your own kale at different times of the winter and find out for yourself when you like it best.
Storing and preserving kale
Kale is a nutritious and protein-rich meal for lovers all year round, which can be used in many different ways. The options for preserving kale are just as varied as the recipe ideas.
Freezing Kale
If you want to keep your beloved kale for a long time, you should store it in the freezer. However, before you refrigerate it, there are a few things to consider.
- Wash kale well to remove dirt and sand
- Remove leaves from main stem
- Blanch kale: Place in boiling s alted water for 2-3 minutes
- Rinse the kale with cold water
- Drain well and chop to desired size
- Place kale in jars: Ready to freeze!
Dry kale: make kale chips yourself
Another way to give the frost-loving winter vegetables a longerDehydrating the kale is to give it a shelf life. To do this, separate the leaves from the main stem, wash them and then chop them into bite-sized pieces. You can now give the kale a rather simple flavor with a little oil, s alt and pepper or opt for a more unusual variant. There are many recipes in which the kale chips are tossed with some hazelnut or almond paste to create a delicious and crunchy crust. Sesame paste, chia seeds or even oatmeal are also used in some recipes.
It is particularly important that all other ingredients (apart from the kale) are processed into a marinade so that the kale is evenly coated later. This guarantees a crispy, crispy crust. Once you have mixed all the ingredients with the kale, spread the mixture on a baking sheet. Now it's time for the actual drying process. When drying kale, the chips should dry at 40 to 50 °C for about 6 to 8 hours. You can use a standard oven for this, or a special dehydrator. After half a day of patience, you can finally enjoy your delicious and homemade kale chips!
Preserving Kale
Probably the most classic way to preserve kale is to boil it down. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Washing kale: removing dirt and sand
- Boil kale: Place in boiling s alted water for 6-8 minutes
- Chop and portion kale: Chop your kale to desired size and place in mason jars
- Pour s alted water over kale and seal jars
- Boil closed jars in boiling water for another 20 minutes
Note: Unfortunately, boiling the kale cannot prevent the loss of valuable nutrients!
See our review article for more information on kale. We will introduce you to different types of kale and explain what needs to be considered when growing and caring for the kale.