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Swiss chard is a very nutritious leafy green. It is used raw in tossed salads, and it can also be cooked like spinach, kale, or collard greens. If you have a lot of chard and you don’t want to waste any, you can preserve it by blanching and freezing it for up to a year.
Steps
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Rinse your Swiss chard in cold water. You can mix rainbow chard with green or white varieties. Plan to freeze the chard within 6 hours of picking to preserve nutrients.
- If you are picking it from your garden, cut it at the base of the stem in the early morning for best results. [1] X Research source
- To remove the excess of water, spin the chard, shake it, or pat it dry.
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Cut the thick stems away from the leaves. Set the stems aside to prepare and freeze separately. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Chop your Swiss chard. How you chop it will depend upon your preference for preparing it. [3] X Research source You can cut them into long ribbons or small squares.
- Ribbon it by rolling the leaves vertically. Slice horizontally against the rolled leaves in 1-inch (2.5 cm) strips.
- Chop the leaves like you would spinach. Stack the leaves on top of each other. Slice them 2 times vertically. Stack them again and slice them 3 to 6 times horizontally, depending upon the size of the leaves.
- Slice them in half or into fourths, if you like larger sized leaves.
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Set a large pot of water to boil. [4] X Research source Use a stockpot instead of a saucepan to ensure you have enough space for even blanching.
- Blanching halts enzyme production. It stops the plants from ripening for several days to several weeks. It is recommended to preserve nutrient content for all leafy greens if you can’t use them within two days. [5] X Trustworthy Source EatRight.org Organization associated with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics providing advice about food, health, and fitness Go to source
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Fill a large bowl with cold water. Add 2 to 3 cups of ice cubes. Set your ice bath on a counter near the stove.
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Bring the water to a roiling boil. Add your Swiss chard leaves to the water. If you have more than 4 cups of Swiss chard, do it in several batches.
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Set the timer for 2 minutes. Remove the leaves with a slotted spoon after the timer beeps. Place it directly in the ice bath.
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Remove the Swiss chard from the ice bath after 2 minutes. [6] X Research source Spin it in a salad spinner. Pat it with kitchen towels to remove extra moisture.
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Repeat in batches as needed. Slice the stems into 1 inch (2.5 cm) ribs and blanch them for 3 minutes. Place them in the ice bath for 3 minutes before draining in a colander.
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Lay the leaves on kitchen towels until all your batches are done.
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Separate them into serving sizes. You can either weigh them on a scale or measure cup-sized servings.
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Squeeze the serving together to pack it tightly. It can also remove excess water. [7] X Research source
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Stuff them into freezer bags, leaving only 2 inches of headspace. You can also use freezer-safe Tupperware. Seal the lids tightly. [8] X Research source
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Separate the stems into serving sizes. They can be sautéed and used with onions or celery because of its crunchy texture. Stuff the stems into freezer bags.
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Label each container with the date it was frozen. Use it within 10 to 12 months. [9] X Research source
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Finished.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I steam chard to freeze instead of blanching?MicheleTop AnswererBlanching can be completed using boiling water, steam or a microwave oven. To steam, place the chard in a wire basket over rapidly boiling water, cover and start your timer. Steaming takes one and a half times longer than boiling. Microwaving is good for some vegetables, but not recommended for leafy greens. In any event, make sure to have your icy water handy, that's what preserves the color and texture prior to freezing.
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QuestionCan I freeze Swiss chard without blanching?Community AnswerYes, your Swiss chard should be fine without blanching.
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QuestionI would like to freeze a dish of Swiss chard and lentils. Will this be okay in the freezer?Community AnswerYes, this should be fine in the freezer for 2-3 months or so, but you need to make sure it's properly sealed.
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Tips
- If you plan on freezing a lot of vegetables and meats, consider investing in a vacuum-sealing machine. You can cut the item into your preferred serving size and remove it from the freezer a 12 to 24 hours before you use it in a recipe. [10] X Research sourceThanks
- There are more ways to preserve Swiss chard, including canning.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Stockpot
- Ice bath
- Sharp knife
- Freezer bags
- Colander
- Salad spinner
- Paper towels
- Slotted spoon
- Vacuum sealer (optional)
References
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/swiss-chard
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/healthy/article/stem-stem
- ↑ https://harvesttotable.com/harvest-store-swiss-chard/
- ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/how-to-boil-water-445229
- ↑ https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/four-steps/refrigerate/blanch-before-you-freeze
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/cooking-tips/article/preserve-leafy-greens
- ↑ https://www.pickyourown.org/freezing_greens.htm
- ↑ http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/freezing-greens-for-the-winter/
- ↑ http://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18455
About This Article
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Reader Success Stories
- "I did not know whether I could preserve Swiss chard at all, and our small garden was producing more than we could eat in a few weeks. I found this very helpful site and just followed the instructions. The chard looked beautiful after the boiling/cooling process, and I just put it in my freezer. Excited about having 'fresh' produce in the winter. " ..." more
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"I did not know whether I could preserve Swiss chard at all, and our small garden was producing more than we could eat in a few weeks. I found this very helpful site and just followed the instructions. The chard looked beautiful after the boiling/cooling process, and I just put it in my freezer. Excited about having 'fresh' produce in the winter. "
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"I have a lot of Spinach Chard left over. It has grown a lot even after the weather cooled. I am glad to know that I can freeze it and use it during the months that there is nothing in the garden. I know to save the stems separately and how long to blanche and that I can cut the leaves before blanching. Very helpful article."
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"Followed this process to the letter, and it seems to have worked well. I did combine the blanched stems with the leaves, since we usually eat them together. We'll see the results when the chard comes out of the freezer."
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"My sink was overflowing with cut Swiss chard. So glad I can freeze it and later put it in smoothies and veggie dishes. Great pictures and detailed instructions. Thanks for your research."
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"My chard is growing too fast to eat it all. I appreciated the step-by-step pics and instructions. It took only a bit of time to review and save my chard instead of throwing it away. :) "
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