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The best way to prep kale for salads, smoothies, & more (with kale straight from the garden)
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Kale is a healthy leafy green vegetable that can be used in salads and other recipes. If you want to use kale, it's important that you wash it first. To wash kale, you will need to remove the stems and submerge it in water. Then, rinse kale under tap water to remove any lingering dirt and debris. From there, store kale carefully until you need to use it.
Things You Should Know
- Use a sharp knife to slice the kale leaves from the stems. Then, fill a bowl with lukewarm water.
- Submerge the kale in the water and swish it around to loosen dirt and debris. Then, leave the kale in the water to soak for 10 minutes.
- Rinse the kale with clean water and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the kale in an airtight container and store it for up to 2 weeks.
Steps
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Remove your kale to cut and wash it as soon as you buy it. You should actually wash kale right away instead of waiting until you're going to eat it. This will prevent any dirt or debris from becoming set on the kale. [1] X Research source -
Remove the stems. While you can save the stems to use them for cooking later, it's generally easier to remove them prior to cleaning your kale as it's easier to get to the leaves. Use a knife to slice the leaves away from the kale's stem, getting as close to the stem as possible. [2] X Research source- If you do decide to use the stems, dice them prior to cooking as they can be very rough.
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Fill a bowl with clean tap water. Take a bowl big enough to fully submerge all your kale. Fill it with clean tap water. Leave a little headspace on the top as the water will rise some when you add the kale. [3] X Research source
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Submerge your kale in the water. Dunk your kale in the water. Make sure the kale is fully submerged. No leaves should stick out above the water's surface.
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Swish your kale around. After submerging your kale, swish it around in the water slightly. This will dislodge obvious dirt and debris. Be gentle, however, to avoid breaking apart the leaves. [4] X Research source
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Drain the water. After five to 10 minutes have passed, pour the water into a colander or similar device over the sink. [7] X Research source Shake the colander a few times to get all the water off the kale.
- It's okay if not all the water is completely removed. You will be drying the kale further with paper towels later.
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Rinse the kale under running water. After removing the kale from the sink, give it one last rinse under running water. This should remove any dirt that was loosened during the soaking process. [8] X Research source- Make sure to turn the kale as necessary to get every leaf adequately cleaned.
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Pat the kale dry with paper towels. Take some paper towels and lay the kale over them. Take some more paper towels and gently pat the kale. Get the kale as dry as you can before storing it. [9] X Research source
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Store you kale in an airtight container. Kale should be stored in an airtight container, such as a Tupperware container. You can also use a Ziploc bag with the air squeezed out. [10] X Research source
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Keep kale in the coldest part of your fridge. Kale gets more bitter when exposed to room temperature. Store your kale in the coldest part of your fridge to keep it as fresh as possible. [11] X Research source -
Discard kale after two weeks. Kale has a two week shelf life when stored properly. Date the container in your fridge that holds your kale. After two weeks have passed, discard your kale. [12] X Research source
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References
- ↑ https://kristineskitchenblog.com/how-to-wash-and-store-kale-for-smoothies-and-salads/
- ↑ https://www.noreciperequired.com/technique/how-clean-kale
- ↑ https://elanaspantry.com/mckale/
- ↑ https://elanaspantry.com/mckale/
- ↑ https://elanaspantry.com/mckale/
- ↑ https://livesimply.me/2015/07/17/prep-day-how-to-wash-and-store-lettuce-kale-spinach-and-other-leafy-greens-in-advance
- ↑ https://livesimply.me/2015/07/17/prep-day-how-to-wash-and-store-lettuce-kale-spinach-and-other-leafy-greens-in-advance/
- ↑ https://livesimply.me/2015/07/17/prep-day-how-to-wash-and-store-lettuce-kale-spinach-and-other-leafy-greens-in-advance/
- ↑ https://livesimply.me/2015/07/17/prep-day-how-to-wash-and-store-lettuce-kale-spinach-and-other-leafy-greens-in-advance/
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About This Article
Article Summary
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In order to clean kale, slice the leaves away from the stems as soon as you bring it home. Next, fill a large bowl with clean tap water and submerge the leaves in the water. Make sure the kale is fully submerged, and gently swish it around to loosen dirt and debris. Allow the kale to soak for 5 to 10 minutes, then drain the water and kale into a colander. Finally, rinse the kale under running water to remove any last bits of dirt, then pat the leaves dry with paper towels. For more information, including how to store your kale after washing, scroll down..
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Reader Success Stories
- "This was a great help. I knew nothing about kale. Now I know this is healthy for you. I'm also glad I learned the proper way to wash it. Thank you for your post!" ..." more
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"This was a great help. I knew nothing about kale. Now I know this is healthy for you. I'm also glad I learned the proper way to wash it. Thank you for your post!"
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"I found a recipe for kale, but it never explained that it must be washed first. You taught me this, and I am so grateful. Thank you!"
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