How To Preserve Kale

MasteringHow To Preserve Kalehas never been easier! With this simple step-by-step guide, you’ll learn freezing and dehydrating methods — expert tips included for maximum nutrition retention!

Rows of lush, green leafy kale plants growing in a garden bed, with a blurred background and a label at the bottom reading for anyone interested in gardening tips or learning how to preserve kale.

Preserving Guide: How To Preserve Kale

Kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens available, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health. Not to mention, they help make a mean salad!

However, fresh kale has a relatively short shelf life and can quickly turn from crisp superfood to wilted waste in your refrigerator.

Learning how to preserve kale properly not onlysaves money and reduces food wastebut ensures you always have this nutritional veggie ready for smoothies, soups, and more!

When To Harvest Kale

You should harvest your kale when the leaves are about the size of your hand.

How To Store Kale

Store fresh kale in the refrigerator.

Dehydrating Kale

CUT:Select young, tender leaves. Wash. Cut large leaves crosswise into several pieces.
DIPPING:Water or steam blanch until wilted
DEHYDRATOR:10-16 hours
APPEARANCE WHEN DRY:brittle

Canning Kale

Canning kale is not recommended!

Top: Baked kale chips scattered on a baking tray. Bottom: Fresh kale growing in a garden, showing how to preserve kale from harvest to snack. Green border surrounds the images. Text at the bottom reads

Freezing Kale

PREPARING KALE

Select young, tender green leaves.
Wash thoroughly and cut off woody stems.

FREEZING KALE

Water blanch greens 2 minutes.
Cool, drain and package, leaving 1/2-inch headspace.
Seal and freeze.

🍎🫙 Get a free Preserving Guide for all the details to dehydrate, can, and freeze 42 fruits and vegetables —get the FREE GUIDE here!

Expert Tips

Storage Time:Fresh kale typically lasts 5-7 days in the refrigerator, while properly preserved kale can last 8-12 months when frozen and 1-2 years when dehydrated.
Preserved Vitamins:Preserved kale retains most of its nutritional benefits, though some vitamin C may be lost during processing. Blanching before freezing actually helps preserve nutrients better than freezing raw kale. Dehydrated kale concentrates many nutrients, making it even more nutrient-dense per serving than fresh kale!
Preserving for Smoothies:For smoothies, wash and chop fresh kale, then freeze it in portion-sized bags or ice cube trays. This method preserves the nutritional content while making it easy to add the perfect amount to your morning smoothie without any bitter taste from wilted leaves!

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