Can I freeze fresh kale?

[Chickn chick 46]

I have a bunch of kale thats been growing in my greenhouse all winter but is getting ready to bolt. I'd like to freeze it if possible then give the rest to the hens. Anyone know if it can be done successfully?

Thanks!

 

[boston3381]

How to Freeze Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard. Collards and Other Greens
More photos and a PDF print version coming

If you like frozen greens in the winter, just imagine how good it would taste if you had picked a bag yourself and then quickly froze it at home! It is also one of the simplest ways to put up a vegetable for the winter. Here's how to do it, complete instructions in easy steps and completely illustrated. The greens will taste MUCH better than anything you've ever had from a store.

Directions for Freezing Greens
Ingredients and Equipment
fresh greens - any quantity. I figure one handful per serving.
Vacuum food sealer or "ziploc" type freezer bags (the freezer bag version is heavier and protects better against freezer burn.
1 Large pot of boiling water
2 large bowls, one filled with cold water and ice.
1 sharp knife



Instructions
Step 1 - Pick or select the greens!

This is the most important step! You need greens that are FRESH and crisp. Limp, old greens will make nasty tasting frozen greens. Select young, tender green leaves.

How many greens and where to get them
You can grow your own, pick your own, or buy them at the grocery store. About 14 pounds of greens makes 7 quart jars; or 9 pounds is needed per 9 pints. A bushel, which produces anywhere from 13 to 20 quarts, weighs 30 pounds. That works out to an average of 2 pounds of greens per finished quart jar.

Start with fresh greens - as fresh as you can get.

Step 2 - Wash the greens!
I'm sure you can figure out how to rinse the leaves in plain cold water. I use a large bowl of cold water and a colander to let them drain.

Step 3 -Hull the greens
Cut off any woody stems. or damaged pieces

Step 4 - Get the pots ready
Get the pot of boiling water ready (about 2/3 filled) and a LARGE bowl with ice and cold water.







Step 5 - Blanch the greens.
All fruits and vegetables contain enzymes and bacteria that, over time, break down the destroy nutrients and change the color, flavor, and texture of food during frozen storage. greens requires a brief heat treatment, called blanching, in boiling water or steam, to destroy the enzymes before freezing. Blanching times for collards is 3 minutes and all other greens 2 minutes..

Begin counting the blanching time as soon as you place the greens in the boiling water. Cover the kettle and boil at a high temperature for the required length of time. You may use the same blanching water several times (up to 5). Be sure to add more hot water from the tap from time to time to keep the water level at the required height.

Step 6 - Cool the greens
Cool greens immediately in ice water. Drain the greens thoroughly (this shouldn't take more than a minute).

After vegetables are blanched, cool them quickly to prevent overcooking. Plunge the greens into a large quantity of ice-cold water (I keep adding more ice to it). A good rule of thumb: Cool for the same amount of time as the blanch step. For instance, if you blanch greens for 3 minutes, then cool in ice water for at least 3 minutes.

Drain thoroughly.



Step 7 - Bag the greens
I love the FoodSavers (see this page for more information) with their vacuum sealing! I am not paid by them, but these things really work. If you don't have one, ziploc bags work, too, but it is hard to get as much air out of the bags. remove the air to prevent drying and freezer burn. TIP: If you don't own a vacuum food sealer to freeze foods, place food in a Ziploc bags, zip the top shut but leave enough space to insert the tip of a soda straw. When straw is in place, remove air by sucking the air out. To remove straw, press straw closed where inserted and finish pressing the bag closed as you remove straw.

Step 8 - Done!
Pop them into the freezer, on the quick freeze shelf, if you have one!







lol found this on the web ..i didnt type this .just copyed it

 

[Chickn chick 46]

Thank you! I knew I could rely on the people here for info. My neighbor said I could freeze fresh after removing the stems but it didn't sound right to me

Any other info if anyone knows is welcome, Thanks!

 

[Terri O]

Well, You probably wouldnt have to be as fussy for your greens if you were just feeding them to the hens anyhow. I would skip a few steps especially if you have grown them yourselves without pesticides etc. Steam them in the micro and freeze them up! Or you could always let them bolt...this chickens still like them that way! Terrio