How do you eat frozen Swiss chard?

Frozen chard should be used within 6 months. Add it to cooked dishes, like soups, stews, pasta sauces or quiche. You could also use this in your smoothie recipes (though a whole cup might be too much for one smoothie) since it gets blended up.

Can Swiss chard be frozen raw?

The good news is, Swiss chard is a hardy green, which makes it suitable for freezing. Of course, you have to prep the greens well prior to freezing to extend its original color and flavor. When prepping the Swiss chard for freezing, you can either blanch the greens or flash-freeze them.

Can Swiss chard be blanched and frozen?

In fact, Swiss chard actually goes by the name “spinach” in South Africa. It’s relatively easy to grow in most parts of the United States, and it’s easy to wind up with more than you can easily eat. Fortunately, it’s easy to blanch and freeze both stems and leaves to enjoy later in the year.

Can cooked chard be frozen?

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.

Can you eat Swiss chard raw?

Swiss chard leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw Swiss chard is less bitter than cooked. A bunch of raw Swiss chard will cook to a much smaller amount. The stalks are thicker than the leaves so they take longer to cook.

What can I do with a lot of Swiss chard?

Use swiss chard in your favorite recipes.

1. Use it in smoothies. Chop it up (remove stems if you prefer) and use it like kale in smoothies.
2. Add it to soups and stews. Swiss chard holds it shape well when cooked and adds a nutritious boost.
3. Roast it with your favorite root vegetables.

What is the best way to preserve Swiss chard?

Place unwashed Swiss chard in a storage bag. Although a regular plastic storage bag will work just as well, if you will be storing your chard in the crisper section of your fridge, you may opt to use a perforated plastic bag. Do not wash your chard before storing it in the refrigerator.

What happens if you do not blanch a vegetable before freezing it?

Blanching is a must for most vegetables to be frozen. It slows or stops the enzyme action which can cause loss of flavor, color and texture. Underblanching stimulates the activity of enzymes and is worse than no blanching. Overblanching causes loss of flavor, color, vitamins and minerals.

How do you keep Swiss chard fresh?

Wrap chard loosely in a damp paper towel and store in an unsealed plastic bag in the crisper. It will keep well for a few days up to a week. Younger, smaller leaves will turn faster.

Can you vacuum seal Swiss chard?

I use a vacuum sealer. I find that it helps preserve the vegetables longer. If you don’t have access to a vacuum sealer, you can use freezer bags with a zipper, just make sure you squeeze all of the air out before sealing.

What does Swiss chard taste like?

The large, firm leaves are mild, sweet, earthy and just slightly bitter; on the whole, it’s a bit milder than spinach. The stalks — which can be white, yellow, red, purple, pink, striped and so on — resemble flat celery with a sweet taste slightly reminiscent of beets. Why is it sometimes called Swiss chard?

How do you freeze Swiss chard and kale?

Space the balls of kale, chard, etc., out evenly on a sheet pan, maintaining their shape but not allowing them to touch. Cover the pan tightly with a sheet of plastic wrap; this will keep them from collecting ice crystals. Place it in the freezer for one to two hours, until the greens have frozen partially.

How do you freeze Swiss chard for soup?

How to Freeze Swiss Chard

1. Squeeze excess water out of the chard (I squeeze portions in my hand over the strainer).
2. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment, waxed paper, or a silpat.
3. Freeze for 3 hours. Transfer to freezer bags once chard has frozen solid.

How do you dry Swiss chard?

How to Dehydrate Swiss Chard

1. Pick chard.
2. Wash chard.
3. Dry chard.
4. Cut chard into 4 inch pieces.
5. Lay chard flat on trays.
6. Turn dehydrator on {it took 3 hours at 135 degrees for me}
7. Cool chard.
8. Store chard in a dark pantry until ready to use.

Can you freeze Swiss chard for smoothies?

One of the easiest ways to freeze spinach, kale, collard greens, chard, or any kind of leafy green is to steam it, blend it, and freeze it in cubes. You can use the leafy green cubes in smoothies, soups, or stew.