Freezing chard lets you enjoy the versatile, easy-to-prepare, nutrient-rich leafy green any time of year.
But you don’t have to limit your chard consumption to that window.
you’re able to preserve these hardy, healthy greens by freezing them.
Photo: Getty Images / Fascinadora / 500px (swiss chard), Getty Images/ ryasick (ice)
To preserve fresh chard for freezing, wash the greens first, like you would whencooking chard.
Give the chard a rough chop after rinsing and drying.
you’re free to also separate the leaves from the stems, if you like.
Since chard stems are tougher than the leaves, they take a few extra minutes to cook.
There are two simple ways to separate the stems from the leaves.
What Is Blanching, and Why Blanch Chard Before Freezing?
Immersing vegetables into a cold-water bath to halt cooking is calledshocking.
Freezing chard without blanching results in faded greens with off-flavor and texture.
The stems tend to have a slightly more earthy flavor, reminiscent of beets.
The extent of blanching is dependent on your taste preference.
If you prefer your greens to retain their raw and uncooked taste, you could blanch for 30 seconds.
So verify you dry the blanched greens as thoroughly as possible before freezing.
Once frozen, remove them from the tray and place them in vacuum-sealed or airtight freezer-safe bags or containers.
When stored properly, frozen chard can last 6 to 12 months in the freezer.
You may want to thaw the chard ahead of time before using in dishes like frittatas and tortillas.
Thawed leaves should be consumed within a few days.
Check out ourrecipe collectionto find out how you’re free to enjoy chard whatever the season.
